CRYSTAL FALLS–At the April 28 Forest Park School Board meeting, Board Member Sue Casagranda explained the Community Schools committee met April 4 and learned the daycare program is losing about $400 per month.

“So, depending on the enrollment numbers for next fall, we will have to decide in May if it’s feasible to keep it open,” she warned.

“The daycare provides a great service to the community,” Superintendent Tom Jayne added, “but it has to be self-sustaining. Daycare is also feeling the effects of declining enrollment.”

Board Member Dr. Angela Seiter reported the policy and curriculum committee met and discussed elementary basketball guidelines, and handbook revisions. The committee is still working on a defibrillator policy, she added.

 “Volunteers using the defibrillator, once trained, are on a new level of care so the board needs to look at liability,” said Board President John Harrison. “I am very concerned with having a policy,” suggesting the district offer the training but avoid the red tape of a policy.

Jayne felt a volunteer would be covered under the “Good Samaritan” law, but Board Member Bill St. John said he would be more comfortable with a written policy.

Seiter said the policy and curriculum committee is also creating a MEAP analysis which will illustrate the desire to have sound rationale, and something more objective, when making decisions concerning how the district approaches Michigan assessment testing.

The transportation, building and grounds committee, Board Member Julia Leake reported, has discussed the list of building items to be addressed in the upcoming bond application, which has been submitted. The district is now waiting to hear back if they can postpone bond payments for one year in order to address building upgrades and repairs.

Jayne said it is imperative the committee look at next year’s budget in order purchase a new bus and then make a recommendation to the finance committee. He noted the district received $19,300 in reinstated state transportation funding, which can go toward a lease-to-own program.

In his monthly report to the board, Jayne noted Dwaine Anderson was selected “U.P. Athletic Director of the Year” by the other Upper Peninsula athletic directors.

Jayne has applied to the state to get eight hours and 15 minutes expunged.

“The district went over its allocated snow days this winter, so we have put into place an extra five minutes each day. If the state won’t dismiss the time, students will go to school through Friday, June 6, and teachers will to through Monday, June 9.”

 Jayne and Anderson met with representatives from Michigan Driving School about taking over the district’s drivers education program in case Anderson decides to quit the program to teach additional physical education classes. The cost for this program is $400 per student, but students would have a choice where to go for their education.

Leake expressed concern that, “Students who cannot afford the $400 may wait until they turn 18 and just take the driving test without the formal education.”

Jayne then reported 44 students signed up for technical education classes next fall, and 15 of them will take classes at Forest Park or West Iron County.

“The goal for Iron County classes was 30 students, or 15 from each school district,” Jayne noted, “so we met our goal. And Forest Park was guaranteed seven slots in the health occupation program at the ISD in Kingsford, so all interested students will be enrolled.”

Board Members Lisa Bloomburg and Jim Nocerini volunteered to sit on an Intermediate School District collaborative board, which will meet to discuss ideas for shared programs ISD-wide, for now and into the future.

Jayne noted in reviewing MEAP assessment scores, Forest Park students get higher scores the older they get. Overall, he said, Forest Park is far above the state average in all categories. He also noted the Michigan State Police drug dogs made an unannounced visit April 18, and there were no findings of drugs in the buildings or vehicles.

In other reports, Director of Secondary Education Dan Seder said he and guidance counselor Harold Payne continue to develop scheduling options for the next school year. Although things are temporarily on hold until they know how many teachers are retiring, he hopes to have everything in place by July 1.

Director of Elementary Education Becky Taylor reported Chandra Ziegler organized an online author visit to celebrate national poetry month. The famous children’s poet, Ken Nebitt, was live via the Internet, communicating with students.

At the last staff meeting, she said, teachers had a healthy conversation in regards to where they were with math lessons and where they need to be at the end of the year. Everybody seems to have embraced the new program, she added.

The kindergarten reading program has found all students reading either words or entire stories this year, and many will reading about four months ahead of schedule when they enter first grade.

Deb Nowak received a grant for the walking trail behind the school, and will use the money to purchase five apple trees and two berry bushes, which students will plant.

Looking ahead, grandparent’s day is May 7 and track and field day is June 3.

Turning to agenda items, a retirement letter was accepted with regret from elementary teacher Verl Hudson, who taught for 34 years. Chandra Ziegler was selected as the girl’s track coach.

The district is looking for a summer school teacher to teach high school classes for 48 hours at $25 per hour. Because the district is losing its at-risk funding, this may be the last summer the program is offered. The district is also soliciting for banking services and milk bids.

A resolution supporting equitable funding for schools and the two year school calendar were both adopted. The senior band participation scholarship criteria was approved; six students will be awarded scholarships this spring for their participation in band programs beyond classroom obligations.

Tom Angeli of Iron River attended the meeting and handed out information on TEAM, or teaching educating and mentoring, a kindergarten through high school program he would like the district to consider as a replacement for the sixth grade D.A.R.E. program.