By Mary-Justine Lanyon
After Amanda Markovich, president of the Rim Teachers Association, reported to the board of trustees at the June 27 meeting that many teachers were working at summer jobs “to help make ends meet,” Trustee Scott Craft expressed his opinion.
“The teachers’ hard work is appreciated by the staff, the students, the community,” Craft said. “It’s tough, especially when they are at the lower end of the pay scale. I will always fight for the teachers to get what they deserve. I hope we can eventually get there. We have made some good strides.
“Next,” Craft added, “we have to take care of the students. In my opinion, they have been left out for a while. We have to get this bond passed so kids have the best possible learning environment.”
Jennifer Whiteside, the director of educational services, presented the district’s proposed library plan to the trustees. It includes a detailed “weeding” practice – MUSTIE – through which books that have Misleading information, are Ugly or worn, have been Superseded or are Trivial, Irrelevant or can be found Elsewhere would be removed from the district’s libraries.
What will not be weeded are the classics, local and state materials, annuals and other school publications, materials that might be considered archival and dictionaries and biographical sources.
In acquiring new materials, the district will consider a number of criteria: Does it support and enrich the Rim curriculum? Will it appeal to the students for whom it is intended? Are its contents, vocabulary and formats suitable for the students for whom it is intended? Is it accurate, up to date and objective?
The plan also includes a process for reconsideration of library materials, Whiteside said. “We want to make sure they go through a thoughtful process.”
If a book is challenged, it will not be removed but will be reviewed again in light of the objections raised. Any concern will start at the school site with the principal. From there it would on to the superintendent and then to a review committee. The committee’s decision can be appealed to the board of education.
Trustee Cindy Gardner said she would want to make sure that differing views were present on the committee to review materials.
Three action items called for the turf on the playgrounds at Lake Arrowhead Elementary, Charles Hoffman Elementary and Valley of Enchantment Elementary to be repaired.
“I am so excited we can take care of the turf at these three schools,” Gardner said. The funding – a total of $258,259 – will come from the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP).
President Jordan Zarate pulled approval of the revised mobile communication device policy from the consent calendar.
“I appreciate all the research sent to us and the work that has gone into developing this policy,” Zarate said. “I don’t disagree that cell phones are a problem but I have a concern about this policy – how it was developed and how it will be implemented. This policy feels unnecessarily punitive,” he said.
Zarate added that “anxiety among students is at an all-time high. Their behavior toward phones is in line with an addiction. I don’t think this policy will be conducive to good mental health.”
He was also concerned that he didn’t think the policy spelled out how the district would work with guardians or single parents – how long they would hold a student’s phone for.
“We have all talked about the importance of bringing in stakeholder voices, especially students. (This policy) is missing the voices of parents and students. I feel like we need to get their voices represented.”
Associate Superintendent Shannon Hansen said the district would send the policy out to parents and would schedule parent meetings throughout the year to get their feedback. “Input from parents and students is very important,” he said. “It will be important to work with parents who work down the hill and can’t get to school on time to pick up the phone. We will have to be flexible for exceptions. I think this is a good starting point for us.
“We will get feedback from students and staff and make adjustments,” Hansen said.
Gardner noted that, because the students have the use of Chromebooks in the classroom, the need to use their cell phones is gone.
The vote by the trustees was 3-1 in favor of the revised policy with Zarate voting no because of his concerns.
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