S/T School Board Receives Update On Classroom Construction Projects

By Naomi Hatch
   Gary Sims, project manager for the construction of new classrooms, gave an update to the Snowflake School District Governing Board Dec. 3.
   “Schedules are on line except one location,” reported Sims. He noted that there is not a lot of activity at Highland Primary School, because they are working on the parking lot and doing the masonry work. He reported they are setting trusses at Taylor Elementary School and Snowflake Junior High School, and will be topping the building off at Taylor Intermediate School.
   He noted that the high school project is not going as well, and that he expected the contractor would be asking for an extension on that project. “They were hoping to complete it over Christmas break, which would put them over the contract, but I don’t think they’ll complete it then,” said Sims.
   In other business, Superintendent Hollis Merrell reported that the legislature cut some of the soft capital funding for schools, and when it convenes again, legislators will be looking at other ways to make cuts.
   Madrigal instructor Mindy Flake was present to answer questions regarding a request to approve a Madrigal trip to participate in a heritage festival in San Francisco, Calif. She noted that the students are conducting fund-raisers to pay for the trip, and they would be traveling by bus. They will perform in San Francisco and have opted to get a rating.
   “This is a good challenge for kids to be up against other choirs and see what they can do,” said Flake.
   There will be clinicians from all over the country teaching at the clinics.
   Board President Travis Tenney complimented Flake on the wonderful program she has.
   A motion to approve the trip passed unanimously.
   A public hearing was held on the 301 performance based compensation system. Highland Primary School Principal Alma Yates explained that each school must be performing or above, and district officials have chosen to tie the performance plan into those labels.
   “If a school is performing or above,” said Yates, noting that all schools are and have been for years, “teachers in that particular school will receive that portion of the 301 money. If a school fails to be a performing school, then the school would have to develop an improvement plan based on the areas in which they are deficient, then that improvement plan would become the 301 project for that school. So it’s pretty simple.”
   Following the public hearing, the board approved the plan unanimously.
   The board also unanimously approved advertising a request for proposals (RFP) for E-Rate funding for the 2010-11 school year. This RFP will cover the bidding for basic telephone service and cell service in the district.
   The board unanimously approved a request for the debate team to attend the Winter Trophy Tournament scheduled Dec. 3-5 in Needles, Calif. Merrell explained that he had not received the request in time to include it on the agenda of the November board meeting, but he felt it should be approved.