The International Falls School Board decided Monday during a brief regular meeting to move forward with plans to improve community relations, attract new students and better retain and protect those of whom are already Broncos.
And part of that will at least include sprucing up the “institution-like atmosphere” of the cafeteria, Superintendent Nordy Nelson said. He outlined physical improvements, from a new dishwasher to educational achievement goals in order to improve performance, morale and numbers.
Nelson said he hopes to have the estimated $50,000 kitchen and cafeteria renovations completed by this summer. He said they considered a much more comprehensive plan that involved moving walls but believed it was too costly at about a few hundred thousand dollars or more.
Nelson also received Monday unanimous permission to continue to try to create a “Blue Ribbon” panel made up of 30 parents, grandparents as well as other community members and leaders.
This new effort would maybe meet monthly to face the challenges in front of the district. He essentially said they want to reach out farther into Borderland than just parents and grandparents (Although their input is essential, too, he said.).
“It’s important for us to get the community more invested in our schools,” Nelson said. “This panel is a good opportunity for us to let people know what is going on in the schools and then come back with recommendations for us.”
He said he’s asked each board member to approach a number of possible candidates and to bring their names back to the board by the end of April, with a May start in mind.
The district’s enrollment, along with the overall population continues to be on the decline – which also means less state contributions. Independent School District No. 361 now has more than 1,050 students spread across the two elementary schools and the high school, the district’s two principals, Melissa Tate and Tim Everson, reported Monday night during a sparsely attended hour-long meeting.
The district didn’t immediately have the information for how many students its lost in recent years and to where or why.
The district’s goals include trying to attract students from two other area schools, Nelson said. More students translates into better opportunities for everyone, he explained.
The goals also includes increasing staff development, Nelson said.
In addition to just getting more kids in desks, Nelson said the district panel’s three-major goals include improved “learner outcomes,” or performance standards.
“We appreciate the direction from the board for different options and will return to the board with other possible actions at some later date,” Nelson said.
There are also practical matters regarding day-to-day school food preparation, he and members of the board’s Facilities Committee and staff discussed. Some of it is not up to snuff with aging equipment that must be replaced.
Perhaps a key issue approved Monday was for the purchase of a dishwasher to replace one that repeatedly malfunctions and the district “just throws money away at,” Nelson said.
Without much discussion — actually throughout out the meeting since much of this was previously discussed at length during a working session last week – the board unanimously voted to approve a new Falls Elementary School dishwasher and installation for about $12,800.
The existing machine is as old as the building, Nelson said.
Board members also unanimously agreed Monday to hire a Minneapolis-based consultant, Robert Rippe & Associates Inc., to come in the the first week of April for about $2,500 to review the schools firsthand.
The firm has created a long-range food service plan as well as design recommendations for the board. The six-page document ranges from cost-effective to penultimate renovations.
Without it, the kitchens remain cramped and worn out, and an unattractive and uncomfortable high school cafeteria.
For now, the cafeteria is imagined in part with purple and gold with team logos, as well as different table configurations.
Once again, in light of Sandy Hook and other school shootings over the years, district Maintenance Director Jeff Veeder came to the meeting with school safety cost estimates. He’d been working closely with board member Willi Kostiuk, also a retired police investigator, on the issue.
For instance, Veeder’s brief update to board and public recommendations includes panic buttons for $4,000; gymnasium key cards and locks for $3,000 (It would be about $1,000 each for all the schools’ ID/electronic key cards, or fobs); and opening the office area to face the high school entrance for $30,000, with bullet-proof glass.
One of numerous choices still under discussion is whether to create an entrance camera and buzzer to get inside each of the three schools from either the vestibule or exterior. Board members have indicated they would prefer the indoors option – after all outside doors lock at 8:30 a.m. – but it’s more than $4,000 to $7,000 per school.
Committee members said they will keep working to protect students from an attack until they feel satisfied they can either prevent an incident or slow down a killer long enough for police arrive.
