Emergency Board Meeting - August 1st, 2019
Far more community members than usual showed up to this board meeting. Before the board voted on three items on the agenda, the public was allowed to make comments and ask questions. First the three decisions and then the most interesting questions and comments:
1) First day of school will be September 3rd. (APPROVED 5-0) Staff will start work on August 13th and will use the time to move to new classrooms and get things set up. Plus there will be some training.
2) Move high school to elementary site. (APPROVED 5-0) All elementary grades (except possibly sixth grade) will be moved to the B-wing and grades 7-12 (and possibly 6th) will be housed in the A-wing.
3) K-6 Assistant hired. (APPROVED 4-1)
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QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS:
1) Separation of elementary and high school students - This concern was raised by several community members in various forms. The plan is to have an actual fence built to separate the A-wing and the B-wing so that upper grades do not interact with lower grades. However, some sharing of facilities located in each wing will be required, but it will be highly controlled. Upper grades need to use the cafeteria (B-wing) and lower grades need to use the library (A-wing). Administrators assured those at the meeting that at no time would upper grades be using the same restrooms as lower grades.
2) Food/Cafeteria - At this time the district does not have a functional kitchen. Food will be brought in from outside source. Possibly food will be prepared in town or possibly food will be prepared in Ridgecrest. Options currently being considered.
3) Student Parking - Various solutions discussed for student parking. One possibility will be to utilize the pool parking lot.
4) Office Locations - At this time it looks like the high school will use the elementary office and that the elementary will use room B-1.
5) Daily Schedule - Bus pick up times and bell schedule will be more or less the same as last year with minimal alterations.
6) Shortened School Year - District applying for waiver to allow for late start without need to go later into June.
NEXT MEETING: August 7th