New Centertown school, renovations at Bobby Ray discussed
Warren County teachers are one step closer to receiving a supplement for their health insurance benefits after Thursday night’s school board meeting.
Prior to the meeting the negotiations committee and Warren County Education Association representatives signed an agreement on the WCEA’s proposal. The WCEA now has the responsibility of having the proposal ratified by the teachers. The WCEA and the negotiations committee came to an agreement earlier this month on the fate of the $194,000 allotted for raises and benefits this school year.
Also before the meeting began, the Building, Grounds and Insurance Committee met to discuss further plans for a new Centertown school. Derrick Clemow of Upland Design Group presented the results of preliminary tests on the two sites. Based on the findings, one site was eliminated and another took its place.
Some further testing, including a decision from the state on a blue line stream located on one of the properties, will be necessary. The board hopes to have enough information to make a decision on a final site at its next meeting in February. Clemow continues to gather information from Centertown Elementary staff members to determine their needs for classroom space and school organization.
Clemow, with some help from Bobby Ray Elementary principal Bonnie Collier, then presented the committee with potential plans for a major renovation at Bobby Ray.
Collier addressed several concerns, not the least of which is the steady growth of the student body.
“In three years our enrollment will be 598, if we just maintained our enrollment now, assuming no growth,” said Collier. The cap for enrollment at Bobby Ray is set at 450, lower than some larger schools in the county. However Bobby Ray currently has a total enrollment of 509 and a waiting list. The cap was set because at one time there was some concern about even reaching 450.
“For some reason the board at that time was concerned that people would even want to go to school at Bobby Ray. That’s obviously not the case,” said director of schools Dr. Jerry Hale.
“It’s exciting,” said Collier, referring to the number of people wishing to send their children to Bobby Ray. “But we’re in every space we have. I am concerned about who is going to go to the closet next year.”
Collier and Clemow have met to discuss the need for more classroom space, better security and vehicular access. Based on a cursory examination Clemow quickly prepared some very preliminary plans.
“What we have for you tonight is really just food for thought,’ said Clemow. “It is not necessarily a solution.” He gave three possibilities for consideration, all of which include a new gym and some safety updates for existing buildings. Board members agreed to discuss the plans further at their retreat in February.
Once the board meeting itself was called to order, Priscilla Wanamaker presented the results of a mid-year survey on the extra-curricular drug testing policy for Warren County Schools. Of the 732 tests given to students in grades seven through 12, five true positives were returned, one of them a repeat positive.
Responses to the survey indicate 66 percent agree the drug testing policy is fair and appropriate, and 64 percent agree that Warren County Schools should continue drug testing for all extra-curricular activities.
James Bennett, principal at WCHS, reported to the board that attendance is up, to about 93.5 percent, throughout the school. He also let board members know that results of the Student Advisory Committee surveys will be available for their consideration at the retreat.