Board Meeting Report - September 20, 2022

The Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, included a public hearing on proposed changes to school fees. The biggest change would allow higher fees for overnight trips, so students don’t have to share beds. A second public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, starting at 7 p.m. More information about the proposed changes can be found on the district website. 

The Board of Education honored two men who recently received honorary high school diplomas. Garth Jones Robinson and Melvin B. Van Wagoner both attended West High School (Class of 1962) but left before graduation to serve in the U.S. military during the Vietnam war. 

Next, the Board approved the creation of a new Self-Contained Paraeducator position to support our Special Education classrooms and approved for up to 20 of these positions to work full-time and be eligible for medical benefits. The new position would differentiate special education paraeducators and the unique responsibilities they have. 

The Board then studied two important topics.

• The first issue was a proposed renovation of the Rose Park Community Learning Center. The renovation would allow additional programs and community services, improve safety and accessibility, and improve parking at the site. The estimated cost of the renovation is approximately $980,000 with the possibility of adding a new section to the community learning center for $50,000. 
• The second study topic was the district’s Strategic Plan for Student Achievement, which will guide the work of the district for the next five years. District leaders have been working in committees to help shape this plan and shared their progress with the Board on Tuesday. The Board and Cabinet leaders participated in an exercise to help refine and direct this work moving forward. The Strategic Plan for Student Achievement is scheduled to be finished by March 2023.