Winslow School Board Tables Item On Changes For 2009-10

By Sam Conner
   The Winslow School Board tabled an item which was likely a good part of the cause for an overflow crowd at its March 18 meeting. There was a promise that the issue would be addressed in a place and manner that would be more conducive to input from the public. The item in question was a presentation regarding proposed changes for the 2009-10 school year at Winslow High School and Winslow Junior High School, and establishing grade level schools and administrative changes. The board may have adopted or revised the suggested changes, or rejected them. That likely will happen at or after the next meeting in which the suggestions are discussed.
   Early in the meeting, two persons spoke in the call to the public. Sabrina Butler said that she had written Board President Loren Sadler and Assistant Superintendent Doug Watson to suggest a fuller study and discussion of grade level schools. She recommended that a committee of parents, teachers and others be formed to study the subject and make recommendations. She also suggested that it would be good to get input from parents and all related subjects.
   Karen Crane spoke and thanked the district for providing a good educational opportunity for her daughters, and expressed the hope that Winslow could continue to provide that type of education for all children of the community.
   The board accepted the resignation of assistant basketball coach Becky Barris. After the meeting, Superintendent Bob Mansell said that the overlapping of the basketball and softball seasons was the reason for the resignation. Barris is also the varsity softball coach.
   The board recommended the termination of employment
of seven teachers and a counselor. Mansell indicated after the meeting that some, if not all, of this group could be rehired if funding is sufficient.
   After the meeting, Mansell also said that the district did not know how much less it would have in funding for the next school year. That is still to be determined by the state. He did say that the school would have two percent fewer students and possibly at least 15 percent less funding, or about $1.8 million as a worst case scenario. He said that the district is planning for a worst case scenario, but hoping for a far better one.
   The board accepted the following donations: $42.06 from Target’s Take Charge of Education program to Washington School, $27.48 from that fund to Bonnie Brennan School and $106.69 from the fund to WHS; and $500 to the WHS Band from the Winslow Woman’s Club.
   De scri ptions of the positions of assistant superintendent and counselor were approved. Mansell said that the board had long been in the process of adopting position de scri ptions.