A large crowd is expected for the 7 p.m., Feb. 27, meeting of the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education, so the meeting place has been changed from Rawsonville Elementary to the Belleville High School Auditorium, which seats 800.
The main item on that meeting’s agenda is the final recommendation from the consultants studying the use of school buildings and the declining student population.
The recommendation is expected to include the closing of two elementary schools and, perhaps, one middle school, as well as reconfiguration of grades in the schools. The specific schools will be identified, as well as the financial and other background for the choices.
At the Feb. 13 regular school board meeting, Board President Martha Toth said she estimated 200 people attended the first public forum on the topic and more than 100 attended the second meeting, so the board wanted to make sure there was enough space to seat the estimated 300 or 400 who might attend the Feb. 27 session to learn which schools would be closing.
While most of the board members gave the impression a final decision would be made on Feb. 27, Trustee Scott Russell urged the board to proceed cautiously and not rush into a decision. Trustee Sherry Frazier agreed.
He said he talked to a board member from another district who likened closing a school to “a death in the community”.
“Maybe it would be worthwhile to postpone a decision,” Trustee Russell said.
Toth said the district has to start at once if it is closing a school because there are so many details to attend to.
Russell said members of the audience may stand up screaming over the closings and the board should proceed cautiously and may want to “mull over” the information.
“We want the public to know we may make a decision to close schools,” Toth stated.
Board Vice President Brenda McClanahan urged the board not to take a negative view of the situation and to emphasize, instead, that the school closings will help the district to keep viable and move forward.
“If we prolong the decision, I can’t execute what you decide,” said School Supt. Michael Van Tassel. He warned that if the decision was put off until the end of March, there are a huge number of things that need to be done that he wouldn’t have time to do.
“We have to avoid painting ourselves into a corner…” Russell said, adding that
it’s not a good idea to have to make such a big decision in a hurry.
Toth said the board chose to do this right by having the professional study with a lot of information gathered and now it has to make a decision.
Treasurer Toni Hunt said a lot of things are going on this summer, including moving into the new high school.
With the construction under way on the new high school, it may be confusing for people to find their way to the auditorium entrance. Parking is at the back of the school and there will be signs to assist people to the meeting on Feb. 27, Toth said.
Toth also announced, in anticipation of a big crowd at the upcoming meeting, that she is changing the procedure for public comment until the new board policies can be adopted.
She said she found the board cannot limit the total time of public comment (due to an Attorney General’s opinion), but speakers can be limited to 3-5 minutes each.
Toth said there will be two public comment periods at meetings, but she will no longer allow public comment during the agenda.
The first public comment allowed will be at the beginning of the meeting for comments on items that are on the agenda. The second public comment will be allowed at the end of the agenda for comments on topics that were not on the agenda.
In other business at the Feb. 13 meeting, the board:
• Hired John Cast, as of April 1, to a new position that will manage the scheduling, supervision, and use of the new pool as a part-time position, with no benefits, at a salary of $15,000 per year. Van Tassel said Cast has been a district swim coach on and off for years;
• Hired Marcus Leon as a full-time accountant in the business office at a salary of $50,000 ($73,055 with benefits). The contract with Plante Moran (which cost $24,000 per month since October) expired as of last Friday. Leon interned at the Brighton Public Schools and last worked at Bed Bath & Beyond. He has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in accounting;
• Recalled five high school teachers to be paid with $150,000 of 31A federal at-risk funds to assist students in the areas of reading and math as individuals or in small groups of 2-3. They are Laurie Hoffman, Kristy Hickson, Kimerly Glime, Heather Bell, and Erin Knotts. Toth said the MEAP test results will be released to the public soon and, “They are not where they should be.” This move is to improve the situation;
• Approved the hiring of Caitlyn Hrbal (1/31/12) to intervene with at risk students in BHS English and Hilary Fenton for at risk students in BHS math (2/7/12);
• Approved requested terminations of teachers Norma Schropshire at Rawsonville Elementary for personal reasons and Kelli Crawford at Elwell for other employment;
• Approved the retirement of Brian Brice as Director of Plant Operations as of Feb. 10 and the requested termination of Lola Dailey as BHS Food Service worker as of Feb. 27 for personal reasons;
• Approved a short-term, state aid anticipation note from PNC Bank for $6 million at interest of 1.42% and also approved a $25,000 increase in the budget for the fees. There was $35,000 in the budget and the fees are $60,000. The loan will be from Feb. 24 to Oct. 22;
• Approved a resolution to look for ways to consolidate services with other districts and then passed a Best Practices Incentive Resolution, which both are aimed at getting the $100 per pupil promised by the state for following best practices. The money is expected immediately;
• Heard the first reading of an Anti-Bullying Policy required by the state. The second reading and passage will be at an upcoming meeting;
• Heard an update on construction of the new BHS, noting the old BHS will be demolished in July/August, the cafeteria expansion will be in July/November, with the parking lot and retention pond going in during that time, as well. Paul Wills, of Plante Moran CRESA, said the school keystone/ cornerstones for 1921 and 1953 will be put in place in the outdoor area in the middle of the new school wings. He said trophies will be moved to the new building and they are allocating bricks from the old building for fund-raising opportunities for community groups. The graduation class composites will be taken out of the old school over spring break and will be placed in the new school;
• Was informed of field change orders approved by Supt. Van Tassel including a raised glass handrail in the pool, added security sensors, band lamps and ballast, added white boards, structural support for the greenhouse, and fixed chemistry teacher stations;
• Approved spending some of the available bond money on 35 classroom sound enhancement systems (little microphones for teachers and speakers in the ceilings), adding electrical power for the overhead doors (which was inadvertently overlooked), auditorium sound upgrades, new auditorium dimmer rack, and added epoxy flooring;
• Approved adding a two-year conversational Spanish language and culture course as a way for students not going on to college to fulfill the state’s requirement for foreign language;
• Approved use of school buses for summer programs for the Van Buren Township Recreation Department at established rates;
• Accepted Toth’s explanation that she had made the decision to allow the Boys and Girls Club to use a bus on Feb. 10 to go to Bloomer Boys and Girls Club in Detroit and then brought it after the fact to the board for approval. She said while the request was made in plenty of time, a three-week gap in board meetings presented the problem and she thought a special meeting was not necessary for this;
• Received a State House Resolution honoring board members from State Rep. Dian Slavens, who marked School Board Appreciation Month, celebrated in January;
• Heard Toth announce that next Monday’s meeting on Feb. 20 will be a study session to review the updated policies, starting at 7 p.m. at the Administration Building;
• Heard Toth announce that New Tech will be accepting enrollment applications from eighth graders beginning in early April for 125-150 spots that will be open next fall. The specific announcement will be put on the district website; and
• Was informed the Moose Lodge will again host the spaghetti dinner to raise money for the band beginning at 5 p.m., Feb. 25. Also, Kindergarten Roundup is beginning early, with the first session Feb. 22.