MORRISTOWN - A payment request for the Village of Morristown's use of a school district building incited anger at the Union Local Board of Education meeting Thursday.
Acting Mayor of Morristown Gordon Price said he was appalled and opposed to the board's request for a $200 monthly fee. The village currently uses part of the district's administration building for its offices.
"We can't believe you even asked that of us," Price said.
"We can't continue to give things away," said Allen Mann, school board member. "You have your budget. We have ours and we have to try to take care of it."
School board member Doug Kemp pointed out that the district pays the water bill for the village's office.
"It seems odd that we are paying your water bill," he said. "You are using our facilities but you want us to pay your water bill."
A representative of the village stated that the $150 a year water bill is equaled to a single fire run, a service provided by the village.
When Union Local School District consolidated all of its school buildings on one campus, the plans left no provisions for administrative offices. Former school buildings were given to the community at a cost of $1, with the exception of Morristown. The district utilized Morristown's building as its administrative office. The village's office is located there, alongside the district's offices, with an agreement that the village mow the grass and plow the snow in exchange for rent.
Superintendent Kirk Glasgow explained that the board felt that wasn't enough. The school board recently sent a letter to the village requesting the $200 for monthly rent.
Later in the meeting, the board rescinded its request for a lease and is now discussing other options.
"We want to try to meet in the middle somewhere," Glasgow said. "We need to work together."
Also at the meeting, Glasgow announced that the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission project is wrapping up. The state funded 80 percent of the nearly $2.5 million project. The district borrowed the remaining $600,000. The project finished under budget, with $5,000 over the estimated cost.
Glasgow added that the district is trying to maintain its concrete, which is expensive.
"We can't keep doing that to maintain our facilities. At some point in the near future, we will need a capital improvement levy," Glasgow said.
Glasgow also said that he has been receiving complaints about the frequency of calls from the parent broadcast system. The system can call 2,200 phone numbers in 20 minutes, proving to be a useful tool for school cancellations and other important notices.
However, Glasgow said parents have been upset about the number of calls they receive. Glasgow said he was open to suggestions. He will be meeting with building administrators to discuss any changes.
A credit flexibility plan is required to be in place next school year. The district will need to form a committee soon to begin work on the details of that plan that will allow students to receive high school credit in lieu of seat time, Glasgow said.
"This is for students who are highly motivated, self-paced and willing to take on a project that is research based because there is a lot of work outside of the classroom," Glasgow said.
He also mentioned an alternative school program that other districts implement. Glasgow recently learned about these programs during an Ohio School Board Association Capital Conference. The program accommodates students who otherwise fall behind in their credit requirements.
Union Local middle and high school students will participate in Rachel's Challenge in December. Rachel's Challenge is inspired by the life of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine shooting in 1999.
The behavioral support program includes a one-hour presentation motivating students to positive change in the way they treat others, as well as a training session for student and adult leaders that shows how to sustain the momentum created by the assembly. The organization strives to create a permanent cultural change in schools by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.
The board approved a $3,000 purchase order for the program, which will be paid for by the Violence, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs grant.
Following the board's approval, students will be required to pay a $5 instructional fee beginning next school year. The fee will generate about $3,000 to help the district cover printer maintenance costs.
Also at the recent board meeting, the school board approved:
The Union Local Board of Education will next meet Thursday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. in the administration building.
