Dickey outlines five-year district facilities plan

Superintendent Jordan Dickey outlined a five-year multi-faceted facilities plan during Thursday's regular monthly meeting of the Bronaugh R-7 Board of Education.

Dickey said after much time spent working on the plan, she anticipates it being approved next month, adding that's in not an "exhaustive list." Priority No. 1 is moisture in the bathrooms, according to Dickey. "There is water coming through the bricks, causing the paint to bubble on the inside. We are working to get this fixed asap."

Other phases of the plan, include

• Overhaul of elementary area. "We have plans to renovate the woodshop into a fifth/sixth-grade center," Dickey said. "This is a bit down the road, but we are working on getting started, hopefully soon. Once this is complete, we will move Pre-K and Kindergarten to the elementary. It is not a great situation for them to be in the high school hallway, but we are making it work right now."

• Double-entry at the front entrance. "We are going to build a second entrance, so when people enter the school, they can access the office through a window — and will be locked away from the rest of the school building. This has been a safety concern, and in the works for a while," Dickey noted.

• Repaint cafeteria

• Repaint the high school hallway. "Not a huge need, but definitely something we've been wanting to do," she said.

• New carpet in the elementary, and the music room (2-3 year plan)

• Finish updates on the elementary playground (should be completed this summer).

• Tint windows throughout the school. "Not a huge priority, but a goal that would eliminate the need to replace blinds every summer," Dickey explained.

"On top of these things, we will keep doing normal maintenance throughout the building, and address needs as they come up," Dickey said. "We are keeping in mind priorities might change each year."

During her Superintendent's report, Dickey apprised the board that the district is set to receive $57,000 in Federal CARES Act money, that must be spent on items in response to the Covid-19 crisis. "One of our big plans is to go 1-to-1 with Chromebooks in grades 7-12, and provide additional technology and workbook resources for our elementary school."

The Board also held a discussion of the financial position of the district. Dickey said the purpose of the plan was to reflect on where the district currently sits financially, and to set goals for fiscal improvements. "The board has a goal of increasing the fund balance to 25 percent, and being able to sustain that," Dickey said. "The board also has goals of increasing (its) base salary. We also want to establish a plan to provide raises to classified staff. Overall, things are looking well, and we are doing okay."

Also during the meeting, Michaela Wagner, the district's OPAA food service site-manager, was present to discuss OPAA-related matters with the board. "Our seamless summer program has ended, and food service is wrapped up for the summer," Dickey said, recapping, part of Wagner's presentation. "Next school year, Michaela plans to personally plan the staff specials each week, and is wanting to implement a second entree at breakfast."

After Wagner concluded, Dickey then delivered a presentation on food service financials. "We were able to serve almost 6,700 meals during the COVID closure," summed up Dickey.

In other agenda items

• Graduation was officially moved to 7 p.m., June 20, with the baccalaureate ceremony slated for 4 p.m.

• Approval of extra-duty letters, and letters-of-intent

• Approval of Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP)

The board made the following personnel moves during closed session:

• Approved Alexis Brown for position of 2020-21 Parents as Teachers (PAT) Parent Education Program

• Approved Patty Lessman for position of 2020-21 Special Education Director

• Approved Katherine Davis for position of 2020-21 Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher

• Approved Cheyenne Brewer for position of 2020-21 third-grade teacher

The board's next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 18.