Posted: 3/1/05
Proposed locker changes upset students
School board also approves new web site company
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Three Caledonia High School students objected to a proposed change in the way lockers will be assigned next year at the February 22 school board meeting.
Ninth graders Heidi Miller, Marissa Shepherd, and Amber Schoh said they had gathered 143 signatures of students on a petition against the idea that principal Ron Helmers is proposing.
Helmers wants to assign lockers alphabetically next year for grades 9-12. Currently, lockers are assigned alphabetically within the grade.
Students feel more secure when they have lockers by their friends, Miller said.
Helmers said he hoped the new system would get students moving around more during the breaks and would use the commons area more. Students huddle in the hallways now, he said. ìThey sit on the floor and put their legs out,î he said. ìIf I could move 200 kids out of that hallway, it would be wonderful.î
Helmers implemented the all-school alphabetical locker approach at Winona Senior High School and it worked well. ìIt ended up being a lot safer, a lot fewer problems,î he said.
ìWe feel secure with people our own age, people we know forever,î Shepherd responded. ìWeíre just going to sit someplace else probably.î
Seniors are intimidating in hallways now, Miller added. ìThey think weíre scum. They think they rule over us.î
Then the school needs to address that problem, Helmers responded. ìNo one has more authority or seniority than anyone else,î he said. ìIím going to do everything I can to make sure thatís not a problem.î
Incidents like what Miller alluded to should be reported to the office, Helmers said. ìI will take care of business and things will change,î he said.
Miller said that complaints would get back to the other students. Helmers answered that he tells students who are reported to the office, ìYouíre not going to get even with them. Because the penalty is harsh.î
Board member Barb Hurley thanked the students for coming in. ìChanges are hard. We havenít seen a lot of changes in this school in a long time,î she said.
Board member Mike Novak said said the student council should be involved in this change. He also asked for a report on how hallway supervision is going.
Helmers said that student council members were aware of the idea, and he was ìplanting the seedî at this time.
New web hosting contract
The board also passed a motion approving a web hosting contract with rSchools Today.
Moriarty and community education director Nancy Runningen recommended the change. Moriarty said he was not totally happy with the current web page. It is not as user friendly as it could be, and it isnít being used, he said. The change will free up technology director John Lukachís time, Moriarty added.
RSchools Today will design the web site and train staff on upkeep. Teachers will be able to manage their own area and do things like list assignments. Thatís where parents will value it, Moriarty said.
It will help with community education too, he added, because people will be able to register and pay on-line. Several other school districts in the area are using rSchools Today, Moriarty said, and some information such as athletic schedules would be merged with them.
The general fund cost after E-Rate discounts will be $1,888 for 2005-2006 and $1,088 for 2006-2007.
The community education cost will be $6,537 the first year and $2,945 each year after that. Runningen said community education has money to pay for this expense.
E-Rate is a federal program that gives rebates on telecommunication costs.
Other business
ï The board approved an on-line learning contract with Southeast Technical College. ISD #299 will pay for college credits that students take with the college. The goal is to keep students in school rather than choosing Post Secondary Enrollment Option. When that happens, the school loses state aid.
ï Insurance rates could face a big increase, Moriarty said. Blue Cross/Blue Shield is estimating a 30-35 percent increase in premiums. Moriarty will be meeting on February 28 with some insurance providers to review options.
ï Helmers said that attendance at the high school had dropped to slightly below 95 percent in the second term. A few senior boys accounted for most of the absences, he said.
? ï In personnel items, the board approved the contract for high school agriculture teacher Andrew McNamara for $14,699.70 and FFA advisor at $1,781.36. He is a full-time teacher who was hired in January to replace a teacher who resigned in December. Eliott Kranz was hired as assistant baseball coach at a cost of $1,673. A contract was offered to Gail Martin for elementary special education teacher as a long term substitute for Cindy Staggemeyerís maternity leave.
ï The board approved raising the credit requirements from 28 to 29 for incoming freshmen next year. Helmers said some students are finishing early, and this would help prevent that. Eight seniors completed school in January this year, he said.
ï The board approved by a 4-1 vote the purchase of a 11 foot tri-deck mower from Hammell Equipment for $9,200, and a used commercial grade garden tractor from Green Power Equipment for $6,209. Novak voted no. He did not say why. Schulte, who owns Green Power, abstained. The purchase is part of the schoolís change to doing its lawn care in-house during the summer rather than contracting it out, as has been done in the past.
ï Board chairman Charlie Wray was absent from the three-hourlong meeting, as were elementary principal Connie Hesse and middle school principal Brian Doty.
Caledonia Argus
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