August/September 2016 | Volume 24, Issue 1
www.the-courier.org | news@isd15.org
FREE
The Courier
Independent School District 15 Communications Department St. Francis, Minnesota Serving the communities of Andover, Athens Township, Bethel, East Bethel, Linwood Township, Nowthen, Oak Grove, St. Francis and Stanford Township
ISD 15 transportation and maintenance employees team up on cost-effective project Heidi Anderson
Staff Writer
As community members drive around Independent School District 15 (ISD 15), they may notice various district-owned pick-up trucks being used for a variety of projects. Many of these trucks are a result of an ongoing, cost-effective project in the transportation department. Steve Tharp, a mechanic and third-generation employee of the ISD 15 transportation department, searches for trucks that will fit the district’s needs, are in decent condition and are available at a low price. Tharp also works with grounds supervisor Paul Carpenter to find trucks that will fit the needs of grounds workers. Tharp says that since each of the trucks has a strict regimen for maintenance, most will likely last for at least eight to ten years. According to Tharp, the district can purchase clean, used trucks, equip them with the necessary accessories and complete any minor repairs for about one-fourth of the cost of a new truck, even on state bidding. If trucks were purchased new, there would still be additional costs to properly fit them with the necessary add-ons. One used truck was purchased for $6,250. The truck
Each of the used trucks was purchased at a low price and then fixed up to fit the needs of Independent School District 15 transportation and grounds employees, saving the district money. The Courier Photo
had a contractor box, which was unnecessary for the district’s use. Carpenter said they were able to sell the box at an auction and used the funds from the sale to purchase the necessary parts needed to fix up the truck. The trucks that Tharp and Carpenter found have come from a variety of organizations and businesses. One was previously with the Cincinnati Fire Department, while another was used by a power
company in South Dakota. Carpenter said that sellers are always happy to hear that their truck is being sold to a public school district. Many of the used trucks come from outside of Minnesota and do not have the rust and other wear and tear issues that come with winter weather driving. They also search for trucks that have common parts. One of the trucks has the same parts as large school buses, while another uses the same as smaller buses. Carpenter says that the collaboration between the grounds and transportation departments is natural, because grounds crew employees know what they need their trucks to do and the mechanics can make it happen. At the June 27 ISD 15 School Board meeting, Superintendent Troy Ferguson praised the employees working on these trucks for how they understand their part in the District’s Strategic Plan. “That’s being very responsible for the taxpayers,” Ferguson said. “They’re doing that out of a commitment to help us reach that mission.” Tharp said that working on projects like this is one of the things he likes best about his job. “I truly enjoy working with people on projects, helping people and trying to do what’s best for the district and the people who live here,” Tharp said.
Bountiful early harvest Dave Berger
CSVC teacher
Crossroads School & Vocational Center student Brayden Filas harvested a few vegetables from the school’s Victory Garden. Photo by Dave Berger
Students tended to lush garden beds and harvested many early vegetables including peas, beets, carrots, lettuce, radishes and spinach as they returned for summer school at Crossroads School & Vocational Center July 11. Much of the harvest came from the covered “hoop-mahal” which is one of the raised beds covered with a shower curtain. Identical crops were planted in the hoop-mahal, the experimental bed and an uncovered raised bed, the control bed, in early May. Students discovered that seeds germinated much more quickly in the covered raised bed and their data showed a much faster growth rate in the covered bed. When they began harvesting in July, the carrot and beet tops were pushing against the shower curtain roof, which is at least 45.7 centimeters above the soil compared to the open bed in which the carrots and beets only reached 17.8 centimeters. Dedicated Anoka County Master Gardeners have returned to teach students throughout the summer months. Straw mulch was applied to the tomato and pepper plants in order to reduce weeds, modify soil temperature and maintain soil moisture.
Some of the tomato plants are almost one meter high with lots of flowers and tomatoes starting to form. One Haralson and two honeycrisp apple trees were planted as bare root stock in May and are doing well. We want to thank the volunteer work experience program at Bar None for making sure the garden was watered and weeded during the month of June. Lisa Wong, University of Minnesota Extension, Anoka County educator, will be teaching students how to cook using fresh produce from the Victory Garden this summer. Also, the control and experimental beds in the garden will be replanted and data will be collected and used by students returning in the fall. The hypothesis is that the covered experimental bed will allow the vegetables to be harvested much later in the fall compared to the open control bed.
Inside Schools in Action............................................ 2 School Board Highlights............................. 11 Community & Business............................... 13 Community Education................................ 22 Sports & Outdoors....................................... 25 Meetings, Events & Benefits........................ 27 Life.................................................................. 28