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Superintendent highlights facilities upgrades, union talks and urges clearer athletics communication
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Edmonson updated the board about REA contract talks, recent building-level professional development, a new middle-school wheelchair ramp, a potential $5.5M Merriman building negotiation contingent on zoning, and trustees pressed for better communication from athletic administration after coaching changes.
Superintendent Dr. Edmonson briefed the board on negotiations, facilities work and district priorities during the March 23 meeting, and trustees used the report to press for clearer communication around athletics.
Dr. Edmonson said the district was several weeks into REA negotiations and plans to brief the board in closed sessions as needed. He highlighted building-level professional development conducted March 18 and said middle-school improvement work will be shared with staff this week.
The superintendent noted a recent elementary-school incident that involved law enforcement and reiterated his view—both personal and professional—that elementary students should not bring cell phones to school; he reminded trustees the state requires the district to adopt a cell-phone policy to maintain funding.
Dr. Edmonson announced accessibility work completed at the middle school, including a wheelchair ramp to allow students who use mobility devices to participate in ceremonies. He also named Antoine Mack as the district’s new football coach and said the district will hold a public event recognizing the hire.
On facilities and finance, Dr. Edmonson described renegotiation related to the Merriman building and referenced a contingent $5,500,000 figure tied to a zoning change recommended by a city subcommittee. "If the city council changes that zoning, we are good," he said; he later characterized the figure as contingent on additional approvals and market factors.
Board members, led by the chair and another trustee, pressed for more proactive communications from the athletic department after recent coaching and schedule changes became public on social media. One trustee said discovering staff or coach changes through Facebook "makes us look bad," and asked that athletic leadership keep the board apprised.
Dr. Edmonson closed by announcing summer programs (summer discovery and internships) and praising staff and recent student achievements. The board took no formal action on items in the superintendent’s report.
