After hearing the generally upbeat report on the district-wide facilities improvement projects at its August 28 meeting, the Board of Education then approved new regulations governing the use of facilities by outside groups. The new regulations set specific deadlines for requests — 30 days in advance of the date requested.
But for repeated use or seasonal use of certain “high demand” facilities, the deadline for requests is much earlier — October 1, for example, for booking a facility in the busy period of March 16 to June 15.##M:[more]##
The regulations also set fees for facilities usage, ranging from $5 an hour (plus custodian fees) for a small group using an elementary or middle school commons to $1,”820 as a minimum charge for using one of the new turf fields at the high schools on a weekend.
The public portion of the meeting, which lasted just a little over one hour, included comments from three members of the public. Linda Geevers, speaking as the West Windsor Township Council liaison to the school board, addressed the problem of students from High School South smoking on private property across from the high school. “The neighbors are very tired of this,” Geevers reported. She asked the board if the school had the authority to confiscate cigarets if they were found in a student’s possession on school property.
The board policy prohibits possession of tobacco, the board agreed. But, added Thomas Smith, assistant superintendent, pupil services and planning, “we don’t do searches.”
To which Geevers responded: “All you have to do is look across the street and you will know who the kids are.” The board noted that the issue has been discussed with South principal Charles Rudnick.
Pete Weale of Fisher Place, West Windsor, also addressed the board, reminding them of several issues he has raised in the past, including a proposal to videotape board meetings for airing on the community cable channels. “I don’t want this to get lost in a committee,” said Weale.
And Beth Feehan, who has lobbied in the past for more nutritious school lunches, thanked the board for getting fresh foods from area farms included in the menu offerings provided by the operator of the district’s cafeterias. “There’s still room for improvement,” said Feehan. “And I would suggest that next time you review the contract” of the school lunch provider, “have a parent on the committee.”
In other action the board also approved various field trips for students, as well as for administrators and the board itself. Student trips approved include:
High School North Model Congress to Washington, D.C., from November 15 to 18, approximate cost per student, $300; High School North New Jersey Special Olympics to the Winter Games, Parsippany Sheraton Camp, Gaw Mountain, from January 27 to 29, no cost; High School North Model United Nations to the Ivy League Conference, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, from January 31 to February 2, $250; High School North Model Congress to the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, from February 8 to 10, $300; High School North Model United Nations to Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, from February 28 to March 2, $300.
Also High School North Washington, D.C., Seminar, from March 11 to 15, 2008, $700 per student; High School North Senior Class Trip to Disney World in Florida, March 12 to 16, $950; High School North Peer Leaders to the Pine Tree Environmental Center, Tabernacle, NJ, April 10 to 11, no cost; High School North Model Congress to Rutgers University, New Brunswick, from April 17 to 20, $300; High School North New Jersey Special Olympics to the College of New Jersey, Ewing, June 6 to 8, no cost.
Also Grover Middle School Project Pride to Camp Bernie, Washington, NJ, from April 23 to 25, no cost; Grover Middle School Outdoor Education to Timber Tops Camp, Greely, PA, May 19 to 23 and June 2 to 6, $160 per student; Grover Middle School Grade 8 Quebec and Montreal trip, May 24 to May 27, $650.
Also Community Middle School German Class trip to Washington, D.C., from March 24 to 26, $500 per student; Community Middle School Project Pride trip to Happiness is Camping, Blairstown, NJ, April 23 to 25, no cost; Community Middle School AMIGOS to the Delaware Water Gap, from May 2 to 3, $100; Community Middle School Outdoor Education to Camp Canadensis, Canadensis, PA, June 4 to 6, $160; Community Middle School Grade 8 French Class Quebec and Montreal Trip, from May 24 to 28, $750.
Also High School North and High School South Varsity Baseball/Softball teams to Fort Pierce, FL, from March 21 to 28, $1,”000 per student.
The board also approved the attendance of up to nine Board of Education members and up to five administrators at the annual New Jersey School Board Association conference in Atlantic City, October 24 to 26, with travel and related expenses not to exceed $600 per person plus $1,”100 group registration.
Among many bid awards on the August 28 agenda was the approval of a $58,”250 bid for the movable interior partitions at High School South to the Tomkin Company. The process of upgrading the partitions at High School South, originally built as an “open classroom” facility in the 1970s, will continue through the early week
