In tri-board business, board members looked over a set of draft informational documents prepared by the Twin Valley Facilities Committee regarding various consolidation issues. Twin Valley School Board Chair Ed Metcalfe said the documents were “very preliminary,” and the board members’ job was to “pick them apart and see what needs to be explained better.”
According to the initial estimates, taxpayers could see a substantial savings if the two towns decided to combine their elementary schools. The projected savings in administrative and staffing reductions alone are estimated at $542,00.
Another $107,000 could be saved in maintenance, repairs, and utility costs associated with the annual operation of the Twin Valley High School building. Added to the savings in personnel costs, the towns could save a combined total of $649,000 according to the estimates.
Facilities chair Phil Taylor said that his estimates don’t include possible cost reductions in supplies and equipment, food service and kitchen staff, technology, insurance, and other areas.
Metcalfe noted that, under the scenario presented by the facilities committee, class sizes would range from 19 to 23. “That’s something the board will have to decide,” he said. “Do we want to change our class sizes from 14 to 20, or whatever.”
“One of the things that has stuck in my mind that Win Goodrich said when he came down here is that 18 students per class is where you start to break even, where the costs go into the black,” said Kincella. “I don’t think larger class sizes are necessarily a problem. Bill (Anton) came from a school where we had much larger class sizes and they didn’t have any problems.”
Another area of potential cost reduction is in financing. The joint school district is under the gun to repair or replace the high school facility to maintain its accreditation. State aid is available for 50% of approved construction costs – but the aid is only available if the construction results in the net reduction of at least one building. Proponents of the elementary consolidation have suggested that the savings from a merger could pay for construction at both of the two school sites.
According to the facilities committee’s estimates, the projected savings would support a bond of up to $7.7 million paid over 20 years. If the state comes through on the promised 50% state aid, the two towns might be able to leverage more than $15.5 million in construction funds without adding to their current tax burden.
But Metcalfe said the aim was not to spend a lot of money on a big project “One of the reasons we looked at this option was because there was a lot of talk that we wouldn’t see any state money for five years – some say never,” he said. “But this could pay for itself even if we never got the state money; the annual cost of the bond would be less than the savings.”
But there would also be costs associated with the decommissioning of the high school. Until the building is sold or used for another purpose, it could cost as much as $62,000 per year to heat, light, and maintain. Demolition of the 1900 section, if it became necessary, could cost as much as $225,000. Board members noted there were other costs, such as transportation, that would have to be factored into the scenario before the full savings could be estimated.
In dramatic matters, board members discussed a recent Gorilla Theater production of “Dog Meets God,” a play that deals with adolescent issues surrounding bullying, violence, sexual abuse, and substance abuse. Twin Valley High School drama teacher Dave Nicol said he suggested the play because it dealt with the issues that students at the school are facing. He said he didn’t like the entire play, however, and worked with the author to pare down the script.
“The overall theme of the play is identity,” Nicol said. “It deals with a lot of things that, unfortunately, our students do deal with on a regular basis, but the point that comes through is standing up for your identity.”
Nicol said he consulted with several other teachers, who read the script, before moving ahead with the production.
But board members were not happy with the play, or the circumstances under which it was presented. Board member Jason Crawford said he was “very disappointed,” and said that some of the language in the play was not acceptable. “I know the argument is that this is the language kids use all the time, but I don’t think that’s an excuse,” he said.
Crawford said he was concerned that there was no discussion after the production to put the concepts in the play into context for students. He also said the school should have sent out notices telling parents that the play would deal with controversial issues. “This play deals with incestuous rape, homosexuality, and death. I don’t think any of the staff know what goes on in these kids’ lives, and I’m afraid something like this could negatively affect a student.”
Both Nicol and Twin Valley High School Principal Frank Spencer agreed that notices should have gone out and a discussion should have followed the production. But Spencer said that dealing with issues that confront students is part of the school’s mandate.
“We have a responsibility to deal with a wide range of teenage issues,” Spencer said. “Lectures tend not to be effective; there’s a number of ways to reach minds, and Gorilla Theater is one of them. This would have been much more effective if there had been a discussion afterward.”
“I respect what you’re trying to do, and I can see what you’re trying to do,” Crawford said, “but this particular play bothered me.”
The board also approved an overnight field trip to New York City for the drama department.
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