BRIMLEY — The Brimley Area School Board met Feb. 16 with all board members present.
The board recognized Julie Timmer and Jessica Kinsella for placing first and second place in the Business Professionals of America Regional Competition. They qualify for the state competition to be held March 14.
The board also recognized Dana Case, Meghan Parish, Jessica Kinsella, Olivia Searcy and Shannon Hascall of the school band for attending the District Solo & Ensemble Festival.
Public Comment
Vickie Newland read a letter to the board questioning the application of the school's disciplinary point system and “hidden punishments” some students face that are not outlined in the student handbook. These include being made to stay in the classroom while other students attend assemblies or school activities. She said that being excluded from these activities is “student labelling” that hurts the students by acting as a “form of segregation.”
Newland requested a clarification of the point policy.
Tim Wilson of the Football Lights Committee said the committee was ready to make a proposal to the board. After various generous donations by local companies, Wilson estimated the committee will raise a total of $35,000 towards the purchase and installation of the lights for the football field.
He said the committee wanted to make Brimley sports “something our community can be proud of,” so asked the board to earmark $50,000 for the remainder of the cost for the lights. The additional money will go towards a concession stand, new score board, ticket booth, restrooms and dugouts for the baseball field. (See “New Business” for the board's decision)
Current Bills
The board unanimously approved payment of bills totalling $617,416 — $596,488 from the general fun; $3,004 for capital projects; $18,321 for food service and $2,607 for athletics.
New Business
At a previous board meeting, Bookkeeper Sally Piche had requested a leave of absence to attend college classes. The board decided to hold off on the request until a temporary replacement was found. They approved Piche's leave of absence and hired Bill Beaune as part-time temporary bookkeeper.
Due to a leave of absence extension granted to the current kitchen aide, the board agreed to temporarily hire Sharon Sutton until the end of the school year. The board also hired Kathy Alexander as a temporary crossing guard.
The board accepted resignations from Head Baseball Coach Terry Moran and Assistant Baseball Coach Ken Amo, with regrets. Board Secretary Gordi Newland asked if they gave a reason for leaving and hoped there were no ill feelings. Superintendent Alan Kantola said that the two were leaving for personal reasons.
The board also accepted the resignation of Junior High Girls Track Coach Ron Petts.
Dave Kingsbury was hired as the head baseball coach for the 2003-2004 season with all board members voting, “yes.”
The board passed a resolution regarding the regular school election to be held on June 14. Kantola said the resolution deals with posting of the election and registration deadlines. He said the last day to register to vote is May 17 and the last day to run for one of two seats is April 12, adding that candidates must declare their candidacy by submitting a petition with five signatures or paying a $100 fee to the Board of Education.
The school's current law firm has changed its name from Thrun, Maatsch, and Nordberg, P.C., to Thrun Law Firm, P.C. Kantola recommended the board to retain the firm as the school's legal counsel for a fee of $1,100 — the same as last year. The board approved this request with Treasurer Maryann Charles voting, “no.”
Kantola provided the board with a list of projects — along with estimated costs — that the board had discussed in the past, but not acted on. The list included mounting televisions with cable hook-ups in the elementary and middle school classrooms ($15,000); the purchase of security cameras for the building ($16,000); the purchase of a new school administrative software program that includes parent access to student grades, homework and records via the internet ($15,000); support for the football field lights ($20,000) and completion of the concession stand, baseball and softball fields ($14,000). The total for these projects is approximately $80,000, all of which would come from the school's fund equity.
Concerning the $50,000 request from the Football Lights Committee, Kantola said that there is enough money in fund equity to cover the additional $26,000.
Charles said that she would like to see the Football Lights Committee's request granted because it's been “a long time coming.”
The board unanimously approved Kantola's budget considerations with the additional $26,000 for the Football Lights Committee.
The Brimley Healthy Schools Committee, headed by Mary Schwiderson, has been meeting over the past four months to examine health and nutrition concerns in the school. Schwiderson made a presentation to the board, recommending that nutrition education be a stronger part of the curriculum. She also said the committee has examined the vending machine, cafeteria and classroom offerings and are working on finding healthier alternatives to pop and junk food. She hopes to purchase juice and milk machines that offer cheese, milk and yogurt and slowly phase out pop machines.
Funding for the driver's education program has been cut for next year. Kantola said that approximately 25 students partake of the program every year at a cost of $200 per student. He said the program is a valuable service to the community. He would like to see the school pay for drivers education instead of canceling the program or making parents pay the fee. No action was necessary at this time.
The board adjourned into closed session to conduct student expulsion hearings.
The next meeting of the Brimley Area School Board will take place Monday, March 15, at the Brimley High School Cafeteria.
