Board tackles safety concerns at meeting
By Ali Bronsdon / Leader Staff
The Polson School Board met Monday night to discuss a long list of agenda items including next year's school calendar, budget priorities, student attendance, enrollment and personnel, but one of the overriding concerns of both board trustees and school administrators was safety.
Cherry Valley Principal Elaine Meeks expressed her continuing concern about student safety during the morning drop off and after-school hours. The school's parking is limited and some parents are letting kids out of the car in the middle of the street as other parents back out, unable to see a small child in front or behind the vehicle, she said.
"It's a significant hazard because our students are so short, they are less likely to be seen in front or behind cars," said Meeks, who has already taken measures to ensure student safety like making sure a crosswalk guard is on duty at drop-off and pick-up times and assigning additional after school supervision to the front of the school.
The city of Polson acknowledged the problem at a meeting March 5 and is working with school personnel to come up with a solution that will go into effect next year, according to Meeks.
Some options being considered include making 8th Avenue a one-way street, moving teacher parking to accommodate more parents or painting a designated drop-off lane along the sidewalk west of the current loading zone.
In other school board news:
? Polson High School Assistant Principal Dan Kimzey informed the board that he is working with the city's Special Response Team to plan an unlawful intruder simulation drill for the near future.
This drill's main purpose would be to familiarize the team with the building and facilitate communication between administrators and law enforcement in case of an emergency. The school will notify the public prior to the drill's execution, which would be after school or on a weekend.
? Polson Elementary Schools will be conducting the third-annual Walk-A-Thon Fri. May 16 at the Linderman track with a kick-off party planned for Monday, April 21. This event will be the main fundraiser for Linderman and the only fundraising event for Cherry Valley this year.
"We are really looking to make this a big event that everyone can be proud of," said Cherry Valley's Drew Hanson, one of the Walk-A-Thon's main organizers.
The schools hope to raise between $20,000 and $25,000 that will go toward bringing outside educational opportunities into the schools in the form of assemblies and visiting authors as well as a grant committee where teachers can apply for mini-grants from the PTO. Money will also go toward supplementing the schools with expenses, books, events, family fun nights and art programs.
? The board approved next year's school calendar beginning Tuesday, Sept. 2, with the last day of school being a half-day on Tuesday, June 9. The calendar includes 178 total days, two-and-one half days off for Thanksgiving as well as a one-week spring break from March 30-April 3. Christmas break is from December 24 to January 2, with a half-day on Dec. 23.
?The board approved a three percent levy increase for both the elementary and high schools.
"I just don't see how we can get around it," said the board's vice chair, Elke Allik, who believes the numbers speak for themselves.
Linderman Elementary's recent high enrollment requires the schools to add a fifth grade teacher as well as additional staffing in the form of aides or an accredited teacher at Cherry Valley. The cost of these two salaries would exceed $250,000 and a three-percent levy increase would only cover about half of that expense.
Polson High School will meet all its needs with a three percent levy increase. These needs include adding Spanish and reading specialists as well as a new technology fund.
A three-percent levy increase would amount to about $13 per year for a $200,000 homeowner, according to school board chair Theresa Taylor.
? A mill levy of up to one mill was approved by the board for the district's Adult and Elementary Adult Education programs. Funds go toward supporting family fun nights, summer reading programs, family involvement and the Powwow.
"The Elementary Adult Education program is a great avenue for us to engage young parents and increase learning opportunities for new parents in our district," said Linderman Principal Steve York.
? The board approved Linderman Elementary's Karen Lenz and the high school's Sue Moore for retirement, while Lori Russell and Leah Clairmont were approved as two new aides for the after school program. The board also approved the hiring of Dave Grin as morning Weight Room Supervisor.
? Superintendent Sue McCormick will draft a letter of support of the Mission Valley Aquatics to be reviewed by the board at the next meeting. This letter will express the board's support of the project, but not state a commitment to the facility once it is built.
? The board moved April's regular meeting from Monday, April 14 to Tuesday, April 8 and May's meeting from Monday, April 12 to Monday, April 19. Both meetings will take place at 7 p.m. at the district office building.