budget

SCHOLASTICS

New Buffalo school board hears about potential ‘student advocate’ for at-risk students, approves amended 2020-2021 budget

Members of the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education heard a presentation about a potential student advocate position at their Monday, June 28, meeting.

Middle school principal Bradley Brunner (who had prerecorded a presentation), said that a “growing population of students,” particularly during the pandemic, is “going to have a lasting consequence for years in our secondary building:” the growth of the at-risk population of students.

Students who are economically disadvantaged, for example, such as those who qualify for free and reduced lunch, could be labeled as “at-risk” of dropping out of school or not graduating on time. Brunner said if he were to apply the two at-risk criteria of “not meeting the core academic curricular objectives in LEA or math” and “chronically absent as defined and reported to CEPI” to the middle school, in sixth grade, there are currently 14 students who meet one of these two criteria, 13 students in seventh grade and 11 students in eighth grade, totaling 38 at risk students.

Brunner said that a student advocate is someone who has the “time and the resources and the knowledge and the skill to work with individuals that fall into this category, make sure they stay on track to graduate, to paying attention to their attendance, and to their grades and to their behavior so that they continue on as successful graduates of our school.”

Advocates would be “forming relationships” with students at lunch or at extracurricular activities.

High school principal Wayne Butler said that both schools have a teaching staff that is dedicated to students; however, the issue lies with having “time” to spend with the at-risk students. “Some students just need a little bit more - an advocate could form supportive relationships with the kids...They assist them in their at-risk areas,” he said.

Hilary Cunningham, the middle/high school social worker, said she could see herself, the guidance counselor, and the advocate working closely together, as students struggling with absences or lower grades “have something else going on too.”

Cunningham could tackle the “mental health pieces” and guidance counselor Lisa Price could set a target to get missing assignments in, while the advocate can “really help

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA to follow it through and have the full support of myself and Price.”

Board members approved amending the 2020-2021 Budget, as presented.

Regarding the 2020-2021 General Fund Revenue, Pano Arvanitis, director of finance, said that the majority of the district’s funds come from local taxes ($13.7 million). State aid was a lot higher than usual ($1.7 million) due to Covid revenues this year, as well as federal aid ($717,854), due to Covid funds. Total 2020-2021 General Fund revenue was $16.3 million.

Regarding 2020-2021 expenditures, Arvanitis said a “conscious effort” was made to spend as much of the Covid-related revenues on sanitizing, personal protection devices, upgrades to the heating and air (the district purchased the ionization units), which all came under the operation expenses. Expenses also went toward the Bison Virtual Academy. Other expenses included overtime wages and substitute expenses (which were a little higher) due to Covid protocols.

The General Fund balance as of June 30 is roughly at $4.3 million, which is about 29 percent of the district’s expenses.

Board members heard an update on the school district’s technology department from Jacob Stella, technology director. Stella said that student and staff technology in the elementary school includes 130 iPads just in preschool through first grade, 12 staff iPads, 170 Chromebooks between second and fifth grade, a lab full of 24 Chrome Desktops (he said this summer, they’re looking to remove the lab since labs aren’t needed anymore since the district was one to one in preschool through high school), and 35 staff MacBooks.

In the middle/high school, there are 180 MacBook Airs, the middle school has 150 Chromebooks (which will be replaced this summer), 40 staff MacBooks, 24 iPads, and 36 kindles altogether. There are also 30 Windows Desktops, and 24 Windows Laptops.

Elementary classroom technology includes two ActivWalls, four ActivPanels, 21 televisions, three projectors, Apple televisions and document cameras in each room, sound systems in the classrooms, cafeteria and gym, and a printer in each classroom.

Middle/high school classroom technology includes five ActivPanels, one ActivWall, seven projectors, 30 televisions, an Apple television, document camera, and sound system with microphone in every classroom, and 14 printers. Plans for the summer are to replace the Chromebooks in the second grade and the middle school, removing the last computer lab at the elementary school, looking into upgrading outdoor security cameras, and upgrading the district’s wireless system.

Last school year, microphones and sound systems were replaced or installed in classrooms; the district 33 Kajeet hot spots were purchased to send home with students who don’t have internet access; and the intercom/bell system was upgraded.

Board members approved appointing Superintendent Dr. Jeff Leslie and Arvanitis to the New Buffalo Area Recreational Authority as representatives of New Buffalo Area Schools.

The administrative contracts for Adam Bowen, elementary principal, and David Kelly, director of Curriculum/Special Education, were approved for two years (2021-2023).

The 2021-2022 administrative work agreements were approved.

Hazard Pay for all active 2020-2021 employees, with an evaluation of at least Effective, in the amount of $600 was approved.

Board members approved the following for coaching positions for 2021-2022: cross country: Vance Price, high school boys; Nathan Jones, high school girls; Ed Fidler, middle school. Football: Matthew Johnson, head coach; John Visel, assistant coach; Rex Gotcher, assistant coach; Adam Lijewski, middle school. Soccer: Erik Beers, high school head coach; Nicolas Talbott, high school assistant coach; Natalie Walter and Pano Arvanitis, middle school. Tennis: Amy Ingle, high school boys. Volleyball: Lisa Tertel, eighth grade. JV Basketball girls: Lisa Price.

Board members accepted the letter of resignation, with regret, from Cynthia Lang, a paraprofessional.

Board members approved continuing tuition as it currently is within the district.

The Operation Agreement for participants involved in the LaPorte County Career and Technical Education Area Vocational District #6 was approved.

Proposed solutions ranging from lifeguards to jet-ski patrols could be presented to the Michigan City Common Council for action as soon as next week in response to a rash of recent drownings and rescues.

The call for additional safety measures as soon as possible came from a Thursday, June 24, meeting of the council’s Public Health and Safety Committee.

Councilwoman Angie Nelson Deuitch, who chairs the committee, said there’s no time to waste with beach season about to kick into high gear.

“In the short term, we need to get people and we need to get equipment,” she said.

Getting lifeguards back on that stretch of Lake

BY STAN MADDUX Michigan shoreline could be one of the first things achieved.

Lifeguards were not placed at Washington Park this year.

Michigan City Park Department Superintendent Ed Shinn said just four of 20 applicants for the position earned certification and it takes more than a dozen lifeguards before he can start filling shifts.

Nelson Deuitch said a $400 fee lifeguard applicants must to pay for training to obtain certification was a likely factor in the shortage.

“If I got to spend $400 before I even get my first paycheck that’s a problem,” she said.

She asked Shinn to reach out to the applicants to see if they work toward certification if the cost is covered by the city.

Other ideas from the meeting included patrolling the water on jet-skis to reach people struggling in the water more quickly and providing life rings on the beach.

Councilman Don Pryzbylinski said anyone could grab a life ring and use it to try and rescue someone having trouble staying afloat.

“We have to be proactive,” he said.

Shinn said he has plenty of beach safety equipment except for a jet-ski and drone if keeping an eye on swimmers from above is desired.

He felt the best solution is educating the public about the dangers of Lake Michigan especially people from out of town unfamiliar about the risks such as undertows.

Just recently, Shinn said people after paying to enter the park started receiving a pamphlet outlining when to stay out of the lake and other water safety information.

The pamphlet is stapled to their admission ticket so they’re forced to at least give it a glance instead of just tossing it aside.

“You have to let people know the lake will swallow your children up,” he said.

An 11-year-old girl drowned June 19 when she and two family members were hit by a wave and pulled into deeper water, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

A 14-year-old girl was pulled from the water unconscious next day and was last reported on life support.

Donald Turner, 28, of Portage drowned June 13 after helping his girlfriend to safety after she had been struggling in the water, DNR officials said.

Officials said most of the problems, so far, have been at steep drop off about 100 yards east of the lighthouse pier.

La Porte County Emergency Management Agency Director Larry Butcher said he would speak with DNR officials about the possibility of keeping swimmers away from that area.

DNR has jurisdiction of the water while the public beach is under the jurisdiction of the municipality.

“We can’t continue this trend. This trend is alarming. It’s early and the summer hasn’t even hit,” Nelson Deuitch said.