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By MARK GUYDISH markg@leader.net
Tuesday, March 11, 2003 Page: 3A
DALLAS TWP. – The Dallas School Board spent the first part of Monday’s
meeting reassuring a crowd of about 50 parents, children and district staff
that no changes will be made in the elementary schools without public input.
Board President Ernest Ashbridge drew applause when he said no action will
be taken for the 2003-2004 school year because “we feel parents and teachers
must be heard.”
On March 3 a district task force unveiled a proposal to split grades
between Wycallis and Dallas elementaries. Both currently teach up to fifth
grade, but the new plan would put fourth and fifth in Wycallis and the lower
grades in Dallas.
Board Member Frank Natitus said that, on a closer look, enrollment numbers
didn’t look as big as they had thought. He said space has become tight
primarily because the district has been shrinking class size in the early
grades.
Natitus said he expects a new task force to be formed to look more closely
at the problem, with an open invitation for the public to participate. He
would like to set up a system so those interested could submit their names via
an e-mail address on the district Web site, www.dallassd.com.
The board’s assurance that nothing would be done this year evoked praise
from the audience members. Demetrius Fannick, who had questioned the plan at
two previous meetings, thanked the board for being “receptive and
responsive” to criticism.
In other business, the board was given an update on renovations at the
middle school that should be done near the end of April. Extensive problems
with seats in the auditorium have been corrected, and long-delayed cabinetry
and countertops are either in place or set to arrive this week.
Even so, the board withheld payment for some work. Although two payments of
$22,628 to Reynolds Construction Management were approved – covering December
and January – a motion to pay the same amount for February died when no one
would second it. The board has been critical of the company’s oversight of the
project.
A motion to pay several bills totaling $150,250 also died for lack of a
second. Ashbridge said the board did not want to pay it because it included
almost $43,000 to Institutional Furnishings, the company handling the table
tops and cabinetry that had to be sent back and replaced.
Mark Guydish, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7161.