USD 383 Board of Education

April 17, 2013
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

Gail Urban provided the board with an update on the Fieldhouse project.  The grassroots group working on the project had utilized the district's e-mail lists to send surveys to families to determine if there would be interest in having a regional facility.  The next steps will be to conduct a market study, site analysis, and feasibility study.  The group has raised $40,000 toward the $100,000 needed to fund a feasibility study.  The group hoped the board would consider contributing $10,000 for the feasibility study.  Board members Walt Pesaresi and Darell Edie felt the district has other more pressing needs that will need to be funded.  The item was only for discussion.

The board discussed a facility analysis for the College Hill Preschool building.  The bond improvement project only provided for the installation of new door locks and the removal of friable asbestos for the building.  The analysis would provide more information about additional improvements the building would need for long-term use.  The board approved the facility analysis.

Board members discussed student fees and textbook rental fees for the 2013-14 school year.  The board spent considerable time discussing the parking permit fee for MHS West Campus.  The current cost is $50 and has been that amount for a few years.  Pete Paukstelis felt the $50 price is too low and doesn't encourage students to ride the bus instead of driving.  Paukstelis proposed to raise the parking permit price to $100, and Pesaresi and Edie agreed.  Beth Tatarko was opposed to the idea of raising the price and establishing an arbitrary price without having investigated what other district's charge or without more thought.  Tatarko was also concerned about students who drive in order to go to after school jobs or to participate in school activities, such as sports practice, that the district does not provide transportation for.  Dave Colburn and Curt Herrman were also not supportive of raising the parking permit price.  The board approved the student fees and textbook rental fees with the exception of the parking permit fee.  Administration will provide the board with additional information about other districts' parking permit prices at the next board meeting.