School Board eyes three plans in response to community feedback

Details

Published on Tuesday, 14 February 2012 12:43

Dale Denwalt
Daily Elk Citian

Elk City's school administration will be preparing three scenarios to follow the failed bond proposal that would have created a new grade school.

Superintendent Buddy Wood said he would be contacting a building contractor to draw up plans for three possible steps the board could take.

The first scenario would be similar to the proposal that failed: The creation of a new school building. What and who that school would house is unknown at this point.

The second option is to renovate existing schools to bring them up to a standard, and expand those schools that need more classrooms.

A third avenue would be a combination of the two.

FUNDING

Going forward, the board faces a tough discussion with the public on funding any new large projects. Voters rejected a $35.89 million bond last year that would have built a new school for pre-kindergarten through third grades. Wood has said publicly at community meetings that he does not think Elk City is ready for a bond issue.

"I don't think the community's hungry for it yet," he said at the school board meeting Monday. "I know that the staff and the schools are."

Bricks and mortar aren't the only thing the school needs, Wood said. 

"I had a conversation with two high school teachers in the last week, wanting to know about the possibility of laptops for the high school," he said. "One grade of laptops would be about $500 per child. That's $70,000."

He submitted a $1.3 million needs-list to Chesapeake Energy.

"Folks, we haven't even touched what we need to be doing," said Wood.

TIES TO HOUSING

A burgeoning issue in Elk City is the realization that there may not be enough housing to sustain an influx of workers. The board is worried they may not have enough classrooms to sustain their children.

"Someone's going to come in here and want to develop some housing, an apartment complex, and our schools system can't handle 'em," said Wood. "And they're going to go off to one of the surrounding communities and we'll have lost that opportunity for our district."

The issue of school facilities also affects other policies. For instance, if the board wants to expand pre-kindergarten to a full day, they will likely place portable buildings at Pioneer Elementary, said Wood.

EDUCATION

During the meeting, board member Brandon Storm asked what the next step is.

"I think that we still have to educate," Wood replied. "Elk City is a community of people that want to know the why and the how and the what for. And I understand and appreciate that. And I don't pretend to know all the answers, but I will get it for them."

In addition to possibly holding more community meetings, the board and superintendent are planning a media push that would include information about exactly what a school bond is, does and would mean for people living inside the school district.

"We've got a decent feel of the few things that we want to look at. Now we need that next step to see the impact that we're going to be hit with, given each one of those scenarios," said Wood.

PRINCIPAL DEE

Northeast Elementary's principal, Dee Wilhelm, was tapped to give the monthly principal presentation to the board during its Monday evening meeting. He thanked the board for placing him at Northeast, and said it was a better fit for him.

"It saved my career. I was at the far end of going off the deep end," he said. "As you know, where I was at was tough, so I really appreciate that a bunch."

Wilhelm was previously principal at the Junior High School, which consisted of eighth and ninth grades. 

"I left a great bunch of people, but I went to just as good or better people," said Wilhelm.

While at Northeast, he has overseen several projects that recognize students' good behavior, including field trips for well-behaved students and "Hero Training" for those who need help adjusting their behavior. One project, Star Students, picks several kids each month for recognition. 

"They're not necessarily the best students, they're just the best kids," he said. "They act right, they do the right thing all the time. And it's a wide array of kids - it's not the most popular, they just do the right thing."

Board President Shawn Wilson commended the program.

"And let's face it, that's the only recognition some of those kids get, the only pat on the back," he said. "You hate to see in school the only ones that get attention drawn are the trouble-makers. It's really neat to see the attention and the rewards."

Wilson has even seen a change in the attitude at the school since last year.

"From what I've noticed, from walking in before and walking into that school now, the attitude is not even comparable. I do know that when you go in there, you can feel the difference. People are taking care of business, but it's very friendly. It's light, and I like it," he said.

OTHER BUSINESS

The school district's auditor reported that the financial statement was prepared without any problems.

The board approved a graduation policy that allows students one class or one proficiency test shy of completing high school to still participate in graduation ceremonies. It also approved a policy of naming school facilities.

A new physical education teacher was hired. Monique Galmor will teach at Pioneer Elementary and the Intermediate High School.

Kim Spillers and Mary Hill, both cafeteria workers, have submitted their resignations. Also resigning was Starr Timmons, a paraprofessional and Anna Granados, a custodian at Northeast.