Fireworks Close Call & Donor Support
The Council School board finally has a complete set of trustees after months of running ‘under strength.’ Cynthia Jepsen was sworn in as the trustee for Zone 1 at the board’s regular meeting on July 8. Additionally, current board member Jen Hamaker was appointed to be Vice Chairperson. Trustee Lynn Mendenhall is the current Chairperson.
It was announced that FFA/Ag teacher Tyler Power was able to secure another grant for his classroom. This came from Milwaukee Tools and provided $1,500 worth of power tools and toolkits. The welding scholarship that was previously awarded will be able to fund five students starting in the fall.
There was a near-miss with fireworks at the elementary school over the fourth. A personal firework, from an attendee at the show, ended up in a ground level windowwell and burned a wooden crawlspace access panel. It was discovered when Maintenance Supervisor Royce Bauer smelled smoke the following Monday. It was also noted that personal fireworks were seen landing on the school roof as well.
Superintendent Brian Joyce reported that an anonymous donor will be donating up to $65,000 to the district. $20,000 would be used to fund a part-time teacher for Pre-K. With the levy failure, this is one program that was cut. $40,000 would go to the purchase of new Chromebooks - an expense the district has been deliberating for some time. The last $5,000 would go to the PTO art program. This wasn’t finalized as of this meeting, but Joyce expects it to go forward.
Joyce was also happy to report that the Special Ed program in the district recently achieved 100% compliance.
The district is also looking for a new School Resource Officer as Deputy Chris Carlisle retired. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office will be advertising for the position. This is a grant funded program where the district and ACSO work closely together to ensure an SRO is present in the school buildings. The position splits time between Council and New Meadows schools.
Extra-curricular fees were discussed for non-enrolled students. It was estimated that about 15% of certain athletic teams are homeschool or online students and the district does not receive any funding for these students. It was discussed to charge $100 per student per activity but waiving some or all of this fee if the student was enrolled in at least one class at the school. No action was taken on this but the board as whole seemed strongly in favor of implementing something like this. The board tabled action until a special meeting on July 14, after the print deadline for this issue.
Action items included approving Remington Crowell’s Senior Project of a football lineman’s camp, the purchase of a water wheel sprinkler, AC mini-split systems for the shop classroom and weight room, increasing meal prices by 10 cents and approving a 3% increase for the classified staff salary schedule. There was discussion last month of putting these salary increases on hold but the board voted unanimously for this. Additionally there was a graduation requirement change with English classes. The requirement for a 9th grade English Composition class was dropped and changed to a Creative Writing class.
A $42,000 security camera system upgrade was not approved and final decisions on Chromebook purchases and finalizing bus routes was tabled until future meetings.
The board then went into executive session and afterwards approved the hiring of a new substitute teacher for the elementary school. There is a special board meeting on July 14 at 6:30. The next regular board meeting is on August 12 at 6:30. Board meetings are set for the second Wednesday of each month.
