Posted: 12/26/06
Power outage debate: what to do about extra-curriculars?
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
How should ISD #299 handle extracurricular activities when school is called off early because of a power outage?
That topic received about 20 minutes of debate by school board members and administrators at the December 18 board meeting.
The discussion was prompted by a power outage in Caledonia on December 7. The elementary school lost power, but the middle/high school did not. Students were sent home early that day, but sports practices took place.
Board member Barb Hurley said she thought there was a procedure in place that if school was closed for any reason, extra curricular activities would also be cancelled.
Early closings are usually weather-related, and there is a safety factor then, Charlie Wray said.
Naomi Fruechte said it would be foolish to cancel extracurricular when they can easily go on. Games or concerts almost have to go on because of schedules, she said.
Chuck Schulte said he liked the consistency that if school is closed, extracurriculars are cancelled.
But should the district call off a game in Stewartville because there is no electricity in Caledonia, superintendent Mike Moriarty asked.
The board should trust Moriartyís judgement, Wray said.
The question is, ìWill practice be held?î Hurley said.
Thatís an administrative decision, Wray responded.
But thatís the point, with consistency no one will have to wonder, Hurley said.
High school principal Ron Helmers said the outage didnít interrupt the high school at all. Practice times were moved up and there was supervision in the building, he said. Cancelling everything would penalize the kids, Helmers said.
If early closings arenít weather related, make sure announcements are made on the radio about practice, Hurley said.
Parents and their children need to communicate, Helmers said.
It boils down to the safety of kids, Mary Frank said.
Coaches should tell the kids they can make long distance calls from the school, Joyce Knutson said. ìThose are the things we can very easily work on,î she said.
Wray said administrators should direct coaches not to penalize kids who canít make it back to practice due to early closings.
Elementary principal Connie Hess said all parents or emergency contacts were contacted at the elementary school. ìWe had eight cell phones going in the two offices,î she said. That covered 300 kids in 1-1/2 hours who were assured they had a safe place to go.
New phone system needed
The power outage also came up in a discussion by Moriarty about the need for a new phone system.
The current system has been causing problems for a couple years, he said. The company that sold it doesnít handle it any more, and the closest technician is in St. Louis, Missouri.
The loss of power shut down the phone service at the elementary school and district office. The high school still had service. Moriarty said he wasnít aware that would happen. Parents were alarmed by that, he said. Contacts were made using cell phones and phones at the middle/high school, he said.
The district now has a plan in place in calls will be rolled over to the high school if a similar situation occurs, Moriarty said.
The district needs a long-term solution to the phone troubles, Moriarty said. It will have to go out on bids, but Ace Communications told him that it would cost about $52,000.
The current system isnít that old, only about five years, Schulte said. He said he was frustrated with that, so he hoped the district would buy from a reputable buyer.
Wray said the current system was recommended by their engineering company at the time, and the board relied on that advice.
Board members agreed by consent to have Moriarty continue the process for a new system.
Collaborative memo approved
The board voted to approve a ìmemorandum of understandingî with the Houston County Family Services Collaborative
The collaborative provides a family service worker to all school districts in the county, including ISD #299.
ìWe get a lot of benefits from our family service workers,î Moriarty said.
Recent audits of the 30 largest school districts showed some reporting errors, Moriarty said. School districts were turning in administratorsí time as well as time with at-risk kids, which the state Department of Education said was acceptable but the feds did not.
The county is concerned because it is the fiscal agent for the group, Moriarty said. He felt the district should share financial responsibility because it has benefitted from the program. Moriarty said that he is not concerned about it. Money is being set aside to pay for any possible fines, he said.
The county is asking the school district to reassert its membership, Moriarty said. ìHonestly I believe the document is restating a fact thatís already there,î he said.
Other business
ï Levy certified: The board approved a final levy certification of $2,146,819.32 for 2006 payable 2007. The district levied the maximum in every category except under health and safety, where it levied $55,911 rather than the maximum of $345,972. Last year the total levy was $1,875,385, making this yearís levy an 11.9 percent increase over last year.
ï Recognition policy: The board approved an advertising and recognition policy for items on school district property. It prohibits advertising on school grounds, athletic fields, and on or inside school district buildings. Recognition of individuals, organization, student groups, athletic teams, and businesses is permitted but has to be approved by the school board.
ï Speech coach hired: The board approved hiring Laura Eglinton as the speech coach for the 2006-07 school year at $1,325.67.
ï Fluency tests: Middle school principal Brian Doty handed out results of AIMS Web tests, which measure reading fluency. There is a correlation between fluency and comprehension, Doty said. The tests are competitive and fun, he added. Students are grouped by ability, and work together and support each other, Doty said. ìKids really have fun with it.î The tests take up limited class time and are having an effect, Doty said.
ï Lock down: High school principal Ron Helmers said the school has done a lock down to help develop a crisis plan in case of emergency. It will help identify people coming into the building. The plan is looking at cameras and walkie-talkies in the future, he said.
ï Math placement: Board member Chuck Schulte asked how administrators decide who goes where in the math sequence. Helmers answered that it it mostly a teacher decision, but parents have the final say. As the school drops from four sections to three at the high school, there will be a lot of distance between top and bottom students, Helmers said. Honors sections are virtually gone because there are not enough students, he said. He asked if 8 or 11 or 14 students would be enough for advanced placement history or English. ìItís going to be increasingly difficult for our teachers,î he said.
ï Technology lab: Moriarty said a new technology lab is coming to the high school next year. It will include pro-engineering software that the district received through a State of Minnesota initiative to provide this software free to districts that sent teachers to be trained in its use.
ï Last meeting: Schulte and Frank each received an engraved bell at the end of the meeting from Moriarty. It was their last meeting; neither of them ran for reelection. Schulte has been on the board for five years, Frank for four. They will be replaced by Matt Hendel and Michelle Werner. Their first meeting will be Monday, January 8, 2007, which is the annual reorganization meeting. Meetings are at 7 p.m. in the elementary school media center.
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