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WRIGHT TWP. — The bus driver controversy that canceled two days of school in Crestwood is near an end, with a state auditor general report soon to be released, district Solicitor Jack Dean said at Thursday’s school board meeting.
The meeting also included changes to a controversial field house and discussion of changes to high school curriculum and vaping polices.
Dean noted the district held an exit interview with the auditor general’s people following completion of the months-long audit that had discovered “a majority” of bus drivers from Rinehimer Bus Lines lacked required clearances. The district closed school for two days in October. While the initial problem had been that Crestwood didn’t have clearances in hand, after the meeting Dean said the problem started because the contracted company, Rinehimer Bus Lines — which is responsible for all clearances — didn’t have them for most drivers.
Dean said the audit notes the problem but also credits the district with speedy corrective action and for canceling the contract with Rinehimer. The audit will be public before the April board meeting, Dean predicted.
Field house update
During the meeting, the board approved several contracts related to the controversial field house, which critics have said is too large and costly. The board approved partial payment of $28,500 to Quad 3 Group Inc. for a redesign after bids for the structure came in too high.
The board also approved changes to a contract with Kobalt for work on the field house site. President Bill Jones said the vote restored work that had previously been removed from the contract out of fear it would delay completion, but that the project is on schedule and the board believes the work can be done. The total additional cost is $98,586 for concrete, pavement, fencing and bollards — heavy posts usually designed to prevent vehicles from going beyond a certain point.
And the board approved a $286,737 contract with Tremco, the company that has been replacing the middle school roof in phases. Jones said the money pays for the completion of the last section and for a 20-year warranty, including a 10-year comprehensive district roof maintenance program.
Curriculum, vaping
Superintendent Joseph Rasmus — given the job in January after the board struck an exit deal with his predecessor Joseph Gorham following the bus issue — announced several changes looming as his administration reviews previous policies.
Rasmus said the staff is looking at high school curriculum and expects to recommend revisions in response to complaints from parents. One mother told the board her daughter seemed to be denied a chance at biology because of courses she had taken in earlier grades, putting her on a career “wheel” that focused on other science courses. And a student complained about combining level 4 foreign language courses with Advanced Placement classes, shortchanging students in both. Rasmus hopes to have a clearer explanation of what the district will change at the next meeting.
Another parent complained about the rapidly growing problem of student “vaping,” inhaling vapors produced by e-cigarettes. There is widespread concern, she said, that vaping is being done undetected by students in school, and that they are inhaling dangerous substances with no adults realizing it.
Rasmus said the district is revamping policies to bring rules regarding vaping in line with those about tobacco, and there will be several levels of discipline.