Superintendent Amber thanks community after storm, announces re-start of district committees
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Superintendent Amber thanked residents and operations staff for their response to a major winter storm, said bus drivers are still having trouble reaching some narrow streets, and announced the formation or reconvening of committees on strategic planning, academic engagement, facilities, safety and policy.
Superintendent Amber thanked community members and district staff for their response after the district closed schools for a week during a major winter storm, and said the district will reconvene several administrative committees to revisit strategic planning and facilities needs.
"Can't tell you how appreciative I was, when we had to close school down for a week due to this big storm," Superintendent Amber said, noting volunteers who cleared sidewalks and neighbors who helped families get to bus stops.
Amber said she toured the bus garage and spoke with drivers, and that "they are still struggling to get through some of our streets in the district, where it's very narrow to begin with and there's still a lot of big piles of snow." She asked the board to pass thanks on to operations staff and named Doug Swartz as being present to help with facilities updates.
Amber announced that the district is (re)starting several administrative committees to move forward on the strategic plan and other priorities. She listed expected board assignments: Altman and Liban on a strategic planning committee; Brown and Meyer on an academic engagement committee; Treasurer Nicole Marshall will continue to run the existing finance committee with Altman and Valentine serving on it. Amber said Valentine and Brown will staff the legislative committee, Leben and Brown will serve on safety and security, and that Dennis and Schwartz would present a facilities update soon.
She described the rationale for the renewed focus on facilities: the district has many older buildings and an unsuccessful bond last fall, but it expects to receive state "early assistance" credits in the next couple of years and wants to revisit long-term planning. Amber said an "administrative committee" may include up to two board members; if more than two participate it becomes a public board meeting.
When asked how residents could get involved, Amber said the district will publish openings and information on its website, in newsletters, and in a mailed district newspaper intended to reach households without current students. "We're actually working right now on... our newspaper that we'll be mailing out," she said.
No formal motions or votes were recorded during the superintendent's remarks. Amber closed by thanking staff and community members for their efforts during the storm and for forthcoming work on committees and planning.