Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
In three sessions Nov. 17, one in combination with Garfield, the Palouse school board addressed a range of topics, including software for Little Sprouts, an update on class size and configuration discussions, fifth-grade co-op with Garfield and the addition of a new board member.
The meeting opened with a change to the agenda. Board candidate Chris Cook’s interview would be waived, since he was the only candidate to replace seven-year member Darin Watkins, who moved to Pullman.
Jens Hegg, president of Little Sprouts daycare, spoke to the board to ask for completion of a software purchase before the non-profit changes hands from the school to Hegg’s group, which is set for Jan. 1.
Hegg informed the board that Little Sprouts just cleared $2,600 from their Nov. 12 banquet fundraiser, and the Palouse Arts Council elected to give 75 percent of their Haunted Palouse proceeds to Little Sprouts – whose volunteers worked in the Arts Council’s haunted house which earned $10,615. The council also gave an additional $1,000 as a donation.
Hegg said the organization now has $14,000 in the bank and expects another $5,000 to come from the banquet and their “X Marks the Palouse” treasure hunt with 102.5 radio.
Hegg then said the only thing remaining that the group needs before the changeover is the last three parts of ProCare software, which the board agreed to buy for the non-profit in May.
Hegg said Little Sprouts would like to have it as quickly as possible so they can install it, load information in it and train staff on it before the changeover.
“How quickly can it be used?” asked board president Mike Dymkoski. “We want to make sure that the transition is going to take place. We want to know that you’ve got your fundraising complete.”
Superintendent Bev Fox then added a comment.
“I think the other piece is licensing, and I think we’ll be fine but we can’t transition until that is signed off.”
Hegg said that the Little Sprouts non-profit group had indicated that $17,000 was their stated “drop-dead number” for funds which would allow them to take over.
“We’re ready to make that transition,” he said.
“So it sounds like you are set,” said Dymkoski. “Then licensing is the only thing remaining.”
Discussion followed about billing and then the board approved the expenditure.
Fox then gave a follow-up report on the issues from a special meeting Nov. 7.
The meeting regarded increased class sizes in the elementary grades.
Fox said that she talked with teachers and reported that they were not interested in doing a different configuration this year. One possible solution came to mind; perhaps it could be a matter of switching classrooms. Fox measured classroom dimensions of the 1965 section of the school, then measured a classroom in the 1974 section. It turned out they are exactly the same.
Fox went on to say that she doesn’t feel that hiring a new teacher is in the school’s best interest.
“I’m still really concerned about the economic climate,” said Fox.
“It’s simplistic to think if we split the classes we’d be saving $18,000 in Para-Ed time,” Fox said.
She then announced she will set a special board meeting for December to further address this and hear more public input.
Board member Brenda Brown raised a concern that one teacher in a room with young kids all day can be a problem, saying just to have another adult in there makes a lot of difference.
“The head coach has assistant coaches,” said Dymkoski, noting Brown’s comment.
The session finished, pie was served in the hall and a joint meeting with Garfield began, where Fox and Garfield Superintendent Zane Wells asked for the boards’ approval to explore the fifth-grade co-op.
The idea has been discussed before, but Fox reported it didn’t move forward because it meant adding staff. She said that a major piece of any potential co-op for the fifth-grade would be to negotiate seniority language for teachers. Fox said that the existing system for the 6-12 co-op has withstood reductions in force in both districts.
They discussed which facility might hold the combined class.
“It seems logical that the fifth grade would be in Garfield,” said Fox.
The boards gave approval for further investigation by Fox and Wells.
Outgoing veteran Garfield board president Craig Cochran looked to rookie Palouse member Cook.
“Any new-guy questions?” he asked.
“I was just going to take copious notes, but since you asked,” said Cook.
He asked a few questions and then said he’d let it “marinate for awhile.”
The joint session adjourned and the Palouse board continued.
They discussed a potential school bond next year, as it might relate to the next maintenance and operations levy in 2013.
“I feel confident that (taxpayers) would pass a bond in 2012,” Fox said. “My concern is if an increase in M&O levy is enough to take care of reduced funding?”
It was discussed that bonds and levies are most effective when targeted to a very specific thing, such as a 2005 levy for new bleachers.
The meeting concluded with talk of any likely candidates on the south hill of Palouse to replace Will Thurman, who served on the board since 2009.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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