Salem School referendum on hold

Fourth grade teacher Amy Baumhardt and students Colton Wyatt and Amanda Adams demonstrate the use of flexible seating and explain the classroom benefits (Gail Peckler-Dziki/The Report).
Fourth grade teacher Amy Baumhardt and students Colton Wyatt and Amanda Adams demonstrate the use of flexible seating and explain the classroom benefits (Gail Peckler-Dziki/The Report).

District still awaiting information from Baird update

By Gail Peckler-Dziki
Correspondent

Salem Grade School District Administrator Dave Milz reported that he is still waiting for the Baird Forecast Model update at the district’s Nov. 14 School Board meeting.

This report is expected to have information that will aid the school board in a referendum decision.

Milz said Baird received the school’s recent numbers from Business Manager Susan Jarvis.

“Susan sent them our most recent figures,” Milz said, “and we had hoped to hear from them today. We didn’t and hope to hear from them during the week.”

Once the district receives those figures, they plan to schedule a special meeting to make a decision on the potential referendum.

The district, which expects to retire a loan, could ask the taxpayers within the district to maintain the current levy to use for additional operating costs.

Before the board meeting, Milz said the primary concern is short-term borrowing.

“You have to spend more money when you borrow,” he said.

Although interest rates are currently very low, Milz warned that they would rise again.

When asked what cuts would need to be made without adding cash to the operating costs, he said nothing definitively.

The School Board needs to have a decision by Dec. 13 for a Feb. 21 referendum.

Board to consider meeting change
The Salem School Board currently meets the third Tuesday of the month, the same day as Westosha Central High School.

Board member Nick Pauloni believes a change to Thursday could benefit the taxpayers, who could have an opportunity to attend both meetings.

“Salem feeds into Central and when I attended a meeting, I found the information very useful to me,” he said.

Milz, however, is concerned about scheduling and requested the change get revisited either in January or the following school year.

Furthermore, newly elected board member Steve Brown said it conflicts with a Thursday night class he teaches at Gateway Technical College.

“I specifically asked for a Thursday, since I have this board meeting on Tuesday.”

The board plans to solicit resident input on the idea at the next Salem School Board meeting scheduled Dec. 20.

Another option is to shift the meeting from the third to second Tuesday.

Flexible seating for classrooms
Teacher Amy Baumhardt, who teaches the fourth-grade, brought in the flexible seating and several students to demonstrate.

She received a $1,000 educational grant to launch the project.

There are still about 10 regular desks in her classroom, but there are other places for students to learn.

Wobble seats, cube seats and exercise balls all provide somewhere to sit. There is also a stand-up table and a place for some students to recline on their stomachs.

Baumhardt discussed the proper use of each piece of furniture with students and discovered that giving students a choice of where to sit and providing seats with some range of movement has led to better concentration for students.

“They are happier and they are working,” she said.

The arrangement allows her to gather all students for a mini lesson and then she sends them back to small groups to learn collaboratively.

Board President Dana Powers suggests a trial run for essential oils for aromatherapy in classes.

Curriculum Coordinator Michelle Marschel said that some teachers have already used them.

She will be setting up a trial run and keeping any data collected in the near future.


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