Bronaugh school board discusses trailer classrooms

Saturday, September 15, 2018
Kindergarten teacher Jody Lindsey answers a question by Bronaugh R-7 board member, David Diggins, at Thursday evening’s board meeting. Five faculty members provided their annual program evaluations personally before the board. This effort, devised by Superintendent Dr. David Copeland, allows staff and board members to know each other better and the work of the school.

While the agenda was short for Thursday evening’s meeting of the Bronaugh R-7 school board, the six members present (absent: Jill Walrod) heard program evaluations from five teachers, approved new policies, the school bus ridership list and a new assistant boys basketball coach.

However, the item which received the most time and attention were issues related to the trailer which serves as the classroom for the pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes.

Summertime work on the trailer by R-7 staff and board members raised a number of concerns beginning with the structure’s lack of insulation and vapor barrier permitting the formation of a good deal of condensation between the inner and outer walls.

Said board member, Jill Walrod at the board’s August meeting, “It’s our job to investigate what’s going on behind the walls.”

At that time, board member Bill Rainey said he would obtain a kit, take samples, send them in to see if mold is a possible concern and obtain a clear interpretation of the results.

“The good news is that all five samples we took tested normal; there is nothing carcinogenic,” began Rainey.”

He said the tests show there is some mold present but it is not black mold. The technician with whom Rainey spoke told him all molds can produce allergic reactions depending on concentrations and individual sensitivities.

Said Rainey, “The big thing he emphasized to me is we have to stop the moisture to stop the problem; he said that to me several times.”

Kindergarten teacher Jody Lindsey was on hand for this discussion and told the board “We’ve got a dehumidifier and I think the container holds two quarts of water and I empty it twice a day and it’s full both times.”

The trailer already had air-conditioning and a window unit was added but she said it’s still hot in the two classrooms.

During the summer, Rainey and Board President Ryan Linn looked behind several pieces of the exterior skirting as well as tried to see behind the walls and ceiling.

“We looked in several areas, inside and out, and really couldn’t tell much except it gets really wet in the southwest corner of the pad the trailer rests on,” said Linn.

Mention was also made of a rush of air detected at the skirting near the bottom of the entryway ramp.

Board member David Diggins, who has a construction company, wondered aloud about an air-conditioning duct having a hole in it or not being hooked up and this explaining that rush of air and why it remains so hot in the trailer.

Rainey reiterated the need to address the moisture issue.

Diggins suggested putting down some Visqueen (polyethylene plastic sheeting) under the trailer and while Rainey and Linn liked that idea they also wanted to address the problem of water drainage.

The three focused on the option of installing several ground scupper drains along with a 6-inch line to transfer the water to the nearby courtyard which is lower; this would require going beneath a wide sidewalk.

“We may want to look at putting in some insulation or adding some on the outside and re-paneling the exterior,” added Linn. “We also might want to look at the windows; they’re not the most air-tight.”

“I think putting some money into repairs and upgrades would be a good investment and a whole lot cheaper than buying a new trailer,” added Diggins.

A local contractor will be contacted to provide an evaluation with the board reviewing the options at next month’s meeting.

Storm damage to one of the dugouts at the newly developed ball-field led Linn to contact the firm which had performed the original work.

“I talked to the wife and she warned me they had a 25 percent price increase due to steel costs,” began Linn. “But when she did a cost estimate per piece it came really close to the original price. And when I asked about them doing the installation and that this was for our school, she said her husband would donate his labor.”

All cheered as Linn finished his tale, noting the total cost would be $1,288.47. By a 6-0 vote, the board approved the expenditure.

Copeland prefaced the five, in-person program evaluations by saying, “Since we’re a small district, I think this is a great way for you to get to know and hear from all of the teachers over the school year and for them to get to know you better.”

Making presentations were Brittany Haynes, K-12 art teacher and yearbook sponsor; Lauren Meier, band/music; Leanda Shaw, Family and Consumer Science; Jody Lindsey, Kindergarten; and Sarah Morris, first-grade.

Each teacher provided an overview of their year-long curriculum, what they are currently working on and either showed examples of student work or told stories from this year.

After each had completed her presentation, Morris shared a strength she admired in that teacher. As the last to present, she concluded her own by speaking of the principal.

Said Morris, “Mrs. Dickey promotes high school and elementary kids working together such as the reading day we had last spring.”

She said there were teachers who wondered if some high schoolers would think this beneath them.

“But it was great,” said Morris. “The high-schoolers could tell the younger ones looked up to them and they did a great job of reading and interacting with the elementary students. So thank you Mrs. Dickey; you push us all to be the best we can be and help make this an awesome school.”

The board approved seven policies, some of which were updates while others were new.

The board reviewed and approved the ridership lists for the bus routes and for Michael Vena, science teacher, to be the assistant coach for boys basketball.

In her report, Dickey said the year is off to a great start with enrollment at 168, up one from the end of last year.

“In order to see more and be seen, I spend very little time in my office; I have what I call my rolling desk and I am in rooms or in the halls most of the day,” said Dickey.

In the superintendent’s report, Copeland said the audit of last year’s finances was completed on Aug. 29-30 with a report to be made to the board by December.

“As you know, this year, one of our biggest challenges will be cash-flow,” said Copeland.

Students with special education needs beyond the ability of the district receive services at a specialized facility with the district bearing the cost. A portion of those costs are reimbursed by the state but such reimbursements take 12-18 months which can create a cash flow problem. The R-7 district is presently facing this challenge.

Said Copeland, “We have to be very conservative but we still have to take care of things. I will keep you fully informed on how we are doing. But at this point, I can honestly say we’re off to a great start: students, staff and financially.”

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