SLE Outside and Alcohol Policies Dominate School Board Discussion

SEELEY LAKE – Public comment on the SLE Outside store, current school district policies for conduct on school property and the Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace were topics of discussion at the Seeley Lake Elementary School Board meeting, Nov 15. The board made no changes to the current policies. They anticipate discussing the profit and loss report for the SLE Outside store at their January meeting.

Business owner Duane Anderson inquired about the profit and loss statement for the SLE Outside store.

District clerk Sally Johnson said she had only received the reports from the county through August. She anticipates getting the statements by the end of the year. Johnson has done some internal cost estimates but nothing conclusive.

Superintendent Chris Stout said that preliminary sales estimates show the store is not currently self-supporting.

Stout said he is discussing various avenues for the store with other local community members and asked if Anderson would be willing to meet and help shape the efforts of the store.

“I think it would be far better to be in a cooperative scenario rather than an adversarial one,” said Anderson who owns the competing business Rocky Mountain Adventure Gear in Seeley Lake. “The last thing I want to do is put you out of business but we are trying to stay in business.”

Anderson said that if the store is teaching capitalism, then there is nothing better to teach that than the competition his store provides.

“I really hope that is it not the board or superintendent’s feeling that we are somehow out to displace [SLE Outside]. Rocky Mountain Adventure Gear was here before Seeley Lake Elementary Outdoor Store and I hope that we will continue to be here right along side with them going forward however long you decide to be in business,” said Anderson. “Ultimately the mission [of SLE Outside], as I understand it, is a noble cause. Consequently if I can contribute to that cause I would be happy to do so as my time will permit.

Also in regards to the student store, Curtis Friede presented the board with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Commission minutes from the Commission’s May meeting where a comment was made about the students who work at the SLE Outside.

Friede highlighted testimony made by State Senator Sue Malek who testified with members of the Seeley lake Community Council in favor of reducing the speed limit through Seeley Lake, “[The Seeley Lake Schools] are planning and have started a new Sporting Goods Store that is run by the schools. So they have references to services for the kids. Troubled kids are put to work in this store and taught about economic development.”

“For a senator to call the kids that work at the school store troubled kids and when I talked to her on the phone, she made it sound like this was a way for the school to help the kids that may not have a better upbringing,” said Friede. “I was really disturbed with her comments because it made it sound like Seeley Lake was a problem community.”

In contrast to Malek’s comment, Stout said that the students working in the store already have good family support, potential and college readiness. He feels this is a point of failure with their store philosophy since they haven’t reached the point of sophistication where the store has been a model and tool for students that need it most.

Since this was brought up during public comment and no action could be taken, the board agreed to put further discussion and the possibility of drafting a response letter to Senator Malek on the next agenda.

Seeley lake resident LaRee Morris responded to the letter she received from Stout that the September board meeting in regards to her complaint about alcohol being served on school grounds during the Bob Marshall Music Festival.

Stout said in his response that the school district has treated the ball fields as a park since 1983 when the board entered into a 25-year inter-local agreement with Missoula County

“I don’t believe when all this was established anyone anticipated a three-day party on school grounds with lodging included. The 25-years have been up since 2008 and I believe it is time to change this [agreement],” said Morris. “Our kids have one grade school in Seeley Lake and one playground. I counted at least 10 places where you can purchase alcohol and enjoy that. I don’t feel the grade school needs to be turned into a bar. Everything should be with the kids in mind.”

Morris said she had an issue with people who were drinking and camping at the park. She asked the board if there was any intention of allowing something like this to occur from June 1 through Aug. 31. They responded there was nothing planned for this summer.

The board discussed the SLE School District policies Conduct on School Property-4015 and the Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace-5020. Stout recommended that in the future the school should not participate in projects that allow alcohol on school grounds.

Chair Todd Johnson questioned whether there should be a special use permit process for outside groups should they want to use the park and consume alcohol. Stout felt the two main issues with the Bob Marshall Music festival were the sale and distribution of alcohol on school grounds and that the school was directly involved with the event. He doesn’t feel an outside event would be as troublesome for the public.

“That isn’t setting the example that the school is participating in that activity,” said Stout.

The board agreed that there should be better signage stating tobacco and alcohol are prohibited on school grounds. They maintained the current alcohol and drug free policy for the school grounds and the park. If an outside group wanted to have an exception to these rules, they can take their request before the board.

In other business:

• There will be new signage for loading zones and one-way signs to help with the parking congestion and increase safety for students before and after school. The board recommended having a traffic guard in the morning, like there is in the afternoon, to help direct traffic and escort students across the street.

• The board approved hiring Brett Haines and Tylen Dial as head and assistant basketball coaches and substitute teachers Erika Wilson and Rita Rossi.

The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the SLE Technology Lab.