School Board Meeting Dec. 13
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
School Board Meeting Dec. 13 Nancy Marks School Board Hears Parent Concerns about Four Day School Week
The discussion about the 4-day school week came front and center during public comment at the regular school board meeting Tuesday night. Julie Mikula voiced her concerns about how she and her husband would adjust to the change for their kindergartener. Both Mikula and her husband are commuters for work. “I’m wondering about the consistency of the afterschool program which would be substituted for school time on Fridays. I worry about what it would cost our family,” she said.
Mikula intimated that some of the Townsend school teachers would seek employment elsewhere. In a written statement she said teachers’ salaries here are not high enough so the school cannot compete. She finished by saying “It has not been evident to me that the 4 - day school week would work”.
Board member, Shaun Scott, reported a second Strategic Planning session will meet on January 9 to evaluate the district’s strengths and weaknesses. He and a member of the public, Jeannie Steele, encouraged more public participation.
Before the update on continuing construction plans, Chairman Jason Noyes explained a clarification about where the monies will come from for the two new classrooms. This is a separate fund garnered from the sale of tax-exempt bonds, the interest of which is held by the county.
Hulteng, Inc. Construction Consulting manager, Shane Swandal, gave an update on continuing construction. The playground is ready for mulch when the weather warms. All the equipment is in place. Work on the two additional classrooms will begin in the spring.
Future Farmers of America (FFA) students reported on their trip to national competitions. The group plans to use their horticulture class and greenhouse as a project for next year’s competition.
Ed Shindoll and Jeremy Rice reported on bus routes and maintenance of buses.
Superintendent Susie Hedalen reported that the Safety Committee will be assessing every aspect of school safety including cyber security at a January 5 meeting as well as improving their emergency response plan.
Mrs. Hedalen reported the district would begin negotiations with the teachers’ union on February 7.
The board moved to approve the winter courses for Old Baldy Education Program Adult Education presented by Adult Education Director, Terey Artz. The program will be advertised online and in the newspaper through an insert.
The board also approved an updated job evaluation for Mrs. Hedalen. After agreeing to the resignation of Tatyana Naber, the board approved the hiring of cook Sandy Spidell and two new after-school tutors. Mrs. Hedalen is still trying to fill positions for custodians and substitute teachers.
Principals Sheri Heavrin, Christina Hartmann and Brad Racht reported that student absences due to sickness have been “brutal.” They had about 80% turnout for parent-teacher conferences. Also, they are seeing more behavior problems as the holiday season gets closer.
Racht said the middle school student numbers continue to climb. He's had 3 new students enroll in the last two weeks.
The principals reported Christmas concerts were very successful, as well as Captain Nick Rauser’s suicide prevention presentation to both students and parents. Canton Valley Woman’s Club donated wristbands for the students to wear to remind them to reach out if they need help.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Second Street next to the elementary school was rebuilt to make loading and unloading students safer. The street change was paid for through interest from the District premium funds which is held by the county. Those funds are separate from the $18.8 million bond issue passed by the taxpayers in 2020 to build the new elementary school .
