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Parent urges district to keep nature-based students at Bertram, not bus them daily to Eastview
Summary
A Monticello parent told the school board the district's plan to send nature-based students to Eastview for specials will disrupt young students and recommended busing teachers to Bertram instead.
Amy Spry, a Monticello parent and member of the public comment period, urged the Monticello Public School District board Monday to preserve the nature-based program's on-site learning at Bertram Elementary.
Spry told the board the district's move to have nature-based students attend "specials" classes at Eastview then be bused back to Bertram will be disruptive for young students, particularly kindergarteners and children with ADHD and anxiety. "This added transition isn't easy on the 5 and 6 year olds," Spry said. "Please consider busing the teachers to Bertram for the lessons. Keep the nature based kids at Bertram."
Spry said the district eliminated the nature-based specials teacher this year as part of budget reductions; specials are now scheduled to take place at Eastview before students are bussed back to Bertram for the remainder of the day. She said nature-based students typically arrive dressed for outdoor learning and that parents worry about keeping layered outdoor gear together during the midday transfer. Spry also said she was told parents could not pick up their child after specials to avoid daily bus rides, and that if her child missed specials she would be marked truant.
In her remarks Spry suggested an operational alternative: instead of bus transfers for roughly 60 students, bus the three specials teachers to Bertram so students can remain in the nature-based environment. She said that would not increase mileage reimbursement costs and would reduce transitions for younger students.
The board did not take action on the matter during the meeting. Spry spoke during the citizens' comment portion; board policy 206 and Minnesota open meeting law were cited by meeting staff when explaining the limits of in-meeting discussion and follow-up procedures for citizen comments.
The district superintendent and other administrators were not recorded responding to the specific operational request during the public comments segment. Spry said follow-up contact before or after the meeting is the usual avenue to continue the issue, as the board does not engage in back-and-forth during the public comment period.
Spry concluded by asking the board to "Keep all nature based learning curriculum just that, nature based."
