Although he acknowledged that conditions could suddenly change, Supt. Bryan Pruitt kept an upbeat tone at Monday night’s school board meeting as he described the opening weeks of school. He showered praise on staff and students for their work in adjusting to the Covid crisis.
The three principals echoed Pruitt’s positive tone. Middle School Principal Cindy Holt said the numbers fluctuate, but she currently has 145 traditional students and 68 virtual. She said her teachers “have been working double time to try to provide excellent lessons.” She addressed the problem students have had using the school-issued Chromebooks to access distance-learning materials. For those with other devices to access the Internet, she said the digital lessons are working well.
Elementary Principal Clare Lesieur explained that the Chromebooks come with extensive filters to protect students from inappropriate material. Many of the lessons come through YouTube, and filters block access to anything on that site. Holt said some students have watched lessons on a phone and done their work on their computers.
In the elementary school, Lesieur described “how hard teachers are working, providing two pathways” for learning. “Things are getting a little easier,” she said, although everything requires more planning and preparation time. She reported that even the youngest kids have adapted well to the restrictions of social distancing. “We’re doing everything we can to keep them safe,” she said. The elementary school currently has 115 traditional students and 70 learning from home.
High School Principal David Gilmore said, “We’ve always had hard-working teachers, but even more so now.” He described a gradual return to a feeling of normality, with volleyball season underway and basketball season fast approaching. More students have returned to the classroom, with 140 on campus and 50 in distance-learning. The school began the year with only 130 in person.
“It’s been a challenge,” he said. “We’re all doing new things, but the teachers have met the challenge.”
Pruitt said the state is working toward providing more bandwidth to school districts, but that will be a long-term solution. The district will continue to look for safe ways to provide content to students learning from home.
Selling bonds to save money
The board authorized the sale of bonds totaling more than $11 million because of more attractive interest rates. The bonds were carrying an interest rate of 3.46 percent, and the interest on the refinanced bonds will be as low as 1.8 percent. Pruitt said the district will save more than two million dollars by the time the bond is fully repaid.
School bus costs more due to Covid add-ons
Each year, the state requires school boards to approve several plans. As with other state and federal agencies, the district must have a plan to actively recruit minority teachers and administrators, and that plan was renewed. The board also approved the financial report for the 2019/2020 school year, as well as a budget for the coming year. Those documents will be posted on the school’s website after state review.
The board approved the purchase of a school bus, although Pruitt noted that the Covid crisis has driven up prices by $7,000, and the new bus will cost $101,000. The district will have air conditioning on every bus running a route, the only district in the state with that distinction. Pruitt noted that under present Covid conditions, even when the buses are running their air conditioners they keep some windows open to keep fresh air circulating. Overall, Pruitt said the bus fleet has “safe, dependable buses that we carry our students on.” He credited the good roads in the district for prolonging the life of the bus fleet.
In the absence of Chairman Chris McClung, board member Al Larson ran the meeting. Jason Morris and Candace Spaulding attended by Zoom, and Larson welcomed new board member Jayme Wildeman.