Northwood’s Site Based Committee meeting
On 3 April Northwood High School’s Site Based Committee held a meeting to discuss concerns of teachers, students and parents about the environment there. Invited were members of the Board of Education (BOEd) and three of us were able to attend.
The major concerns were safety, class size and space. Nothing new to some readers but growing concerns now shared by certain members of the BOEd.
Safety issues were centered around the lack of communication and lack of lockable classrooms in the POD along with traffic flow and science lab safety. Solutions discussed and offered:
!. Provide each teacher in the POD with a hand held radio until the summer vacation when a $26,000 communication upgrade will be made to the entire school.
2. Since locks were just ordered some three weeks ago, installation should be promptly completed upon their arrival.
3. A state traffic engineer looked at the flow during peak times and opined the major problem was not the actual traffic pattern but the drivers who held up traffic while their children were being let out for school. The school is to take another look at the situation and try to alleviate it by driver education and an appeal for driver cooperation.
4. Science lab safety concerns were discussed but no conclusions were arrived at pending new requirements by state officials.
The next issue was class size. There was no solution determined but discussions did show other district high schools had similar class size issues. The BOEd submitted budget does have a request for funding 16 new teachers and 16 teacher assistants. One parent discussed the need for more arts classes and it was determined this issue was best addressed by the principal depending on the availabily of teachers and the overall school’s academic needs.
The next concern was space, an area which the principal said was her number one concern for added storage. Her comments praised the Fire Marshall for his inspections and willingness to work with the school as this matter was addressed. The committee also made note of the aging condition of the school albeit it is the newest high school in the district and their concern Northwood was being left behind and ignored. Much of the “aging” is really normal wear and tear and deferred maintenance. Possible outcomes suggested were:
1. A separate storage building where non-climate controlled and seasonal items could be stored. The principal is to determine how much added space is needed and how it could most effectively be used. Once that determination is made, the BOEd will take it under advisement for funding.
2. The issue raised about general school condition is well known by the central office, the BOEd and now, the public. Major expenditures have already been discussed by the BOEd and an efort will be made to cause repairs and replacements as needed.
3. The recent discussions by the BOEd about replacing the field house and building a stand alone, single story building between the POD and the caretaker’s house were explained along with the caveat any improvements will depend upon funding allocations.
This meeting was an excellent opportunity for BOEd. central office staff and the Site Based Committee to exchange ideas and to discuss possible solutions. Unfortunately there were no guarantees made but I left with a better idea of Northwood’s priorities. I feel certain that meeting will be a matter for further BOEd discussion and action.
To the members of the committee - Many thanks for the opportunity and for your frankness. May it spread to other schools as well.
Gerald Totten