L’view transportation policy discussed

KELSEY CLEMONS/independent correspondent

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education heard a request from a parent for more flexibility in the school transportation plan, while also hearing about activities related to Fire Safety and Prevention Week during its October meeting on Thursday.

A Lincolnview district resident, Amy Lauf, came to the board to address issues with the district transportation policy. Lauf said she had recently needed a safe place for her young son, a Lincolnview Elementary student, to go after school when her older daughter could not be home with him. Lad said she wrote a signed note asking that her son be allowed to go to the after-school Latchkey program, instead of being sent homo in the bus, but her request was not approved. She then called the transportation director, who asked if it was an emergency situation.

“I think the safety of my child is an emergency,” Lauf said, noting that she felt the district transportation policy should be more flexible to allow for a variety of situations where a parent or older sibling cannot be home with a child and asked the board to redefine what constitutes an emergency, as related to the Latchkey program, since she feels the current policy has too many “gray areas”.

Latchkey Coordinator Rhonda Longstreth also talked about some examples she has been given by parents that involved needing a safe place for a young child when the parent or other older child could not be home after school. Longstreth also sought more direction from the board on what constitutes an emergency situation.

Also Thursday, Lincolnview Elementary Principal Nita McKinney spoke to the board about Fire Safety and Prevention Week at school. McKinney shared that the Middle Point Fire Department was very engaging and that students have enjoyed the activities a great deal.

McKinney thanked Middle Point Fire Chief Craig King and the fire department for the hard work they put into the special week.

The Lincolnview PTO was thanked for sponsoring a planetarium in the gymnasium and for all the hard work put into making a planetarium a possibility.

High School Principal Brad Mendenhall notified the board of several changes in the high school diploma requirements and updated the board about great results from last year’s AIR test. Mendenhall also told the board about the great turnout for a pep assembly honoring athletes participating in state competitions.

Superintendent Jeffrey Snyder also spoke to the board about an additional example of outstanding student participation through a generous donation from Walmart. A total of $1,000 was donated to the teachers from Walmart and was raffled off in $50 gift cards and other prizes.

Snyder also went into detail about amended appropriations approved during the meeting, due to a donation of $42,000 from Eaton Corporation to be used in the vocational agricultural program for equipment upgrades. Snyder also publicly thanked Eaton, and hoped to report back on the impact the donation will have on vo-ag students.

The board also approved several supplemental contracts. They include: Valerie Parsell, co-Junior Class advisor; Kristy Ringwald, Sophomore Class advisor; and Sandra Dowdy, home tutor.

In addition, the board also approved personal service contracts to both Erika Berryman as co-Junior Class advisor and Kenzie Dobbelaere as high school play set designer.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a contract for Jeff Snyder as a Class 1 domestic water systems operator and the wastewater systems operator from November 1 through October 31, 2016.
• Approved student activity accounts and related programs for the 2015-2016 school year
• Approved a contract with Gattshall Excavating and Trucking for snow removal during the 2015-2016 school year.
• Approved an overnight trip for the boys’ golf team to the State Golf Tournament.

The next meeting for the Lincolnview Local Board of Education will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 17, in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall.