Paving project discussed, eighth grade trip approved

POTOMAC – At their Oct. 11 meeting, the Potomac School Board continued discussion on paving handicap parking spaces and ADA playground equipment in response to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) complaint. They also approved the eighth grade capstone trip plans with World Strides in Tampa, Florida and continued discussions on the Strategic Plan and Goals, Curriculum Management Policy and Plan and the professional responsibilities and goals for the principal.

During public comment, a representative from the Blackfoot Church expressed several concern about paving the church’s parking lot. First she wasn’t sure if it was necessary to pave all of it, second would it satisfy the complaint, third it would need to be done in a way that didn’t fill the church basement with water during spring run off and finally there was a concern about created a skating rink like some areas in the sidewalk. She said the majority of the congregation feels the school should pave their own property for the handicap parking spaces.

The board made no comment to the church representative until they discussed it on the agenda.

Vice Chair Cliff Vann said he even after serving nine years on the board, he didn’t realize that the parking lot was not school’s property. He felt the church needed to have a lot of say in the discussion and final decision.

“I want to start with an apology,” Vann said. “I do not take for granted the relationships between here, and the church or the community center. We are connected and this shows a deeper connection that I was aware of.”

Principal John Rouse admitted that he was aware that the parking lot was on church property. However he hadn’t approached the church yet because he wasn’t sure if the project would be feasible. He also did not think the church would have an issue paving the lot since it would be an improvement paid for by the school from which they would also benefit.

After more research into funding possibilities, Rouse and Clerk Heather Marcella found out that the school could not use transportation funds to offset the costs for paving the handicap parking spaces. However, they can use COVID relief funds (ESSER) to help with costs related to purchasing the ADA accessible swing since playground equipment which can more easily be sanitized and promotes social distancing is an allowable expense.

To fund the paving project, they can use the general fund or the building reserve fund. A third option that Marcella found was using the safety and security sub-fund within the building reserve. With Board approval, they could transfer excess funds from, for example, the general fund to the safety and security fund. This would allow them to hold onto money for two years instead of being required to spend it by the end of the fiscal year June 30. If they don’t spend it in two years, it would need to be transferred back into the original fund.

Rouse added the paving would be an appropriate expenditure from the safety and security sub-fund not only for ADA access but for emergency services access to the building.

“It gives us a little flexibility,” Marcella said. “It doesn’t mean we are going to get money from anywhere else other than where we already have it but we can roll over funds.”

Rouse said based on the current occupancy of the school, they must have three paved handicap accessible spots that are paved, stripped and have signage at the right height to meet ADA requirements. He said it doesn’t matter whose property it is, it matters where those that access the building park.

The board suggested moving the handicap parking to the front.

Rouse said that wasn’t an option because first they needed more than one space and second it would make it more difficult on handicap people that need access to the building.

If the church will not allow the school to pave the lot, Chair Dr. Courtney Hathaway believed that the school would be required to remove part of the playground or green space to make more parking.

“We are a public school, we need to provide as much access to people who need accessibility whether they are students or there is someone who needs to come into the building,” Rouse said.

Since the board did not realize that property was not theirs to pave, Hathaway suggested they table the discussion to a Facilities Committee meeting where they can meet with the church and find out what they church would want and would be most beneficial to the church. The board agreed and the discussion was tabled. The church representative commented that the church would be happy to work with the board.

Also from the Facilities Committee, Trustee Wes Mitchell said the brick tucking repair is on hold due to the funding question with the paving project. They are looking at pushing that out to the spring or next year depending on funding.

Several eighth grade students presented the plan for their capstone trip to the board. They have put a deposit down on a trip with World Strides in Tampa, Florida. They would get to swim with manatees, visit the Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry and engage in several other learning opportunities over the five-day trip. The total cost would be $21,730 for nine students and chaperones to attend.

The eighth graders have already $9,000 towards the trip. This included the gift from last year’s eighth grade class. They have several fundraisers planned including candy grams, Papa Murphy's pizza sales, raffles and selling firewood.

Vann said this is the most any class has fundraised by October. The board unanimously approved the eighth grade trip and look forward to monthly updates from class.

The board unanimously voted that Trustee Jayme Fairfield would write a mission statement that they will review and approve with the Strategic Plans and Goals at the November meeting.

When discussing the Curriculum Management Policy and Plan, the board asked Rouse to define the term equity.

Rouse explained that children are treated equitably not equally. There are many variables that affect the services that each student needs to reach the state standards of education including their physical and mental abilities, socio-economic status and language barriers.

“We need to make sure each child gets the support they need,” Rouse said.

However Rouse added equity for a student that is performing above the state standard does not require that they need to be challenged. Instead that is provided through enrichment activities and the math curriculum that is ability based.

“We have some very talented teachers that look for opportunities to do that with individual kids but as an [educational] system, we do not have systems in place where we will necessarily identify and accelerate a kid,” Rouse said.

The board unanimously passed the Curriculum Management Policy and will have a second reading and approval of the Curriculum Management Plan at the November meeting.

The board also reviewed and discussed the Principal’s Performance Goals/Expectations on which Rouse will be evaluated. They made several revisions including the addition of these goals and expectations: engaging and debriefing with staff to share challenges, strategies, best practices and successes implementing the curriculum management plan during this time of hybrid learning; begin implementation of the Curriculum Management Policy and Plan; attend as many key community events as possible; take every effort to hear parent and community member concerns with compassion and ensure that those parents feel heard and that their concerns will be looked into and taken seriously; and develop a staffing and financial plan for the school where there is no grant funding.

The board will finalize the principal’s performance goals and expectations at the November meeting.

In other business, the board unanimously approved Jeremy Sisk as a substitute, Natalie Howard as the Artist in Residence and the Audit Proposal and Contract with Nicole Noonan.

The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. For agendas and minutes visit the school’s website http://www.potomacschoolmontana.us/.