Schools
109 Air Conditioning Project Progresses
Board also hears reports on curriculum and school improvement as well as getting an update on superintendent search.
Air conditioning for the schools was an intense topic at Monday’s Board of Education meeting and those who waited until the end learned the project may become reality.
The District recently sent out a request for proposal for companies which could meet the schools’ cooling needs and hopes to have more information in the next few months. It will be a thorough search.
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“If we’re lucky it will cost $7 million,” Board member Nick Begley said. “If we’re not lucky it could cost a lot more. That’s why we have to make sure all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed.”
During her report to start the meeting, Superintendent Renee Goier told people at the meeting everything which would be done to ease the situation for students and teachers on an interim basis was being done.
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“All it takes is one hot open house,” one parent said aloud.
Board President Ellen London put things in perspective. “We’re going to make it work as best we can,” he said.
Before Begley gave his report at the end of the meeting, parent Marla Dobryn made an impassioned plea for air conditioning in individual classes. Her daughter has severe allergies which are exacerbated by extreme heat.
She talked about being denied special accommodations for her daughter despite the recommendation of two physicians including one recommended by a school official. “They told me if I took legal action they would put her in Caruso,” she said. “Why should my 9-year-old be there (at a middle school)?” Dobryn left before Begley gave his report.
In other action, Communications Director Cathy Kedjidjian told the Board the progress of establishing groups for public input into the search to replace Goier, .
There will be daytime and evening meetings of varying sizes. Whether interviews will be conducted solely by Board members or will include members of the public has not been determined. “We’re still looking at that,” Kedjidjian said.
In further action, Goier introduced new teachers and staff members in the district, school officials gave reports on curriculum development and steps being taken to improve the schools, a state requirement.
Patch will have stories later this week on the details of all three topics.
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