Board Update
3-20-2000

"Police accuse SR teen of bomb threat"
So read the headline in the March 17, 2000 Eagle.  According to the paper, around 4:00 pm on March 14, police allege that a 16 year old student threatened to detonate a bomb at the high school during school hours. Searches were done at the school, and no bombs or bomb-making materials were found. Criminal charges against the boy are pending.  Calls to Superintendent Reggie Bonfield were not returned.

At last night's Board meeting at Moraine Elementary School, citizen Katherine Gardiner asked about the latest bomb threat, and asked why parents had not been told about it. An interesting, though convoluted, discussion followed.

Dr. Bonfield stated, "I don't know what the police are referring to in that article."  (Gee, that instills confidence).  He continued, "I know of no bomb threat that was called in to the school about a bomb going to go off on the 14th."  When Gardiner explained that neither she nor the paper said anything about a threat being called in, Dr. Bonfield assured her that "When we have any credible information we can give to parents, we will do that..."

Hm... I guess the reporting was all wrong.  I guess a police investigation with pending criminal charges isn't credible.  And if the building was searched, I guess they weren't really looking for a bomb.  Safety first.

When parents were notified about the earlier e-mail bomb threat for Thursday, March 8, 60-70% of the students were absent from school.  Bonfield said this was because of the District's good communication with parents.  Now let's see. Good communication with parents.  How many children were absent because of the latest threat?   How many parents knew of the latest threat?  Apparently Gardiner left messages at the District office on Friday and Monday and her calls were not returned, even though people were in the office.  Gardiner summed it up well.  "If a police report has been filed, and this type of situation exists, parents should be notified."  Exactly.


Still No High School English Teacher
When High School English teacher Kimberly Robertson resigned in January, a search began for her replacement.  Although a name was presented to the Board during last month's Business meeting (Scott Fritsche), no action was taken.  In last night's meeting, action was taken, this time with a "no" vote for hiring Scott Fritsche as a High School English teacher, Step 1, $29,997.  A motion was made to approve, but no second was made for a looooong time.  Finally Youngman seconded, but wanted to hear what his colleagues problems were (I guess he meant problems with the motion...!).

Adams railed against the high starting salary of a beginning teacher (so we all made a mistake by not going into education as young men, Youngman quipped), but then the truth was told.  Apparently, the Board's personnel committee did not get to review all of the applications received by the District.  Not enough time, everyone's in a big hurry, said Adams. In the past, this committee has saved the District some real problems, he said, and as Dr. Christmann pointed out (to Mr. Adams, I guess), look at the grade point averages here...that kind of thing would have come out in the personnel committee.

Too little time, too little power - the remedy?  The Board's usual response - delay, delay, delay.  Bonfield reminded the Board that a sub was currently teaching the English classes.   Adams and Christmann voted no, Angerett, Duryea and Youngman voted yes.  A majority of 5 was needed.  (Giesler showed up after the vote,  Smith, Thompson and Watson were absent).  I guess the Board knows best.

Teachers and Sabbaticals
CAD instructor Mel Price is asking for a sabbatical for "study"  for the second semester of the 2000-2001 school year.  Concerned about finding a replacement,  Bonfield asked the Board to move on this quickly.  Giesler expressed concern about sabbaticals and their purposes. Is it part of their contract, he asked?  And if we can't find a replacement, do we have to approve it?  Duryea suggested that Board members could talk to the solicitor before the next meeting if they had questions.  I sure hope the teachers' contract is clear...because this Board doesn't seem too fond of sabbaticals. The vote should take place next week.

Teachers and Advisory Committees
SRAE teacher Kim Creasy and SRHS teacher Sid Snyder have been invited to become members of SRU's Teacher Education Advisory Committee.  An honor, you would think.  But then again...the Board isn't so sure.  Just how were these particular teachers selected, Adams and Christmann want to know. Their names were "given" to the School (sic) of Education.  Do these teachers have the highest SAT scores? Do they excell in anything?  Do their students have higher achievement test scores?

After all, everyone knows that teachers are only as good as their GPA or their students' test scores, right??? Well, our Board seems to think so.  Just read The Bell Curve, Adams says. Let's look at their SAT scores, their PRAXIS test scores (Christmann's interest).  Our Board sure knows how to tell if someone's a good teacher.  I'm glad they're looking out for us.

Miscellaneous
Angerett would like the Board's Athletic Committee to get moving on an idea to re-organize Youth Soccer and Youth Football to include grades 7, 8 and 9 (9th grade is currently varsity).  If there are no 13 year olds in football, then 120 young men will be left with nothing to do.  100 cheerleaders will be left out in the cold.  And if the Board wants to hear from some mad mothers, just let that happen.  The issue was sent to the Dr. Watson and the Athletic Committee.

HOME ALUMNI INFO ARCHIVES CONTACT ME CURRENT ISSUES EDUCATOR AWARDS

LINKS PHONE NUMBERS PRIVACY VIOLATIONS SAFETY UPDATE   BOARD SCHEDULE

THIS JUST IN!