Improving the academic performance at Haviland Middle School and completing phase one of the district’s master facilities plan are high on the list of the Hyde Park Board of Education’s 2005-06 goals. The board agreed on the list at its Sept. 22 meeting.
“These are lofty goals, but we think they are obtainable,” said vice president Sharon Matyas.
For the second consecutive year, Haviland was cited by the state as a school requiring academic progress, under the guidelines of the No Child Left Behind Act.
The district has taken several steps to improve performance at the school, including hiring academic intervention specialists and instituting a Saturday school program.
Earlier this month, Superintendent Carole Pickering gave a presentation to the board, updating the progress of the two-phase facilities plan, which was adopted in 2004.
Phase one work already completed includes numerous infrastructure improvements at various district schools, including a refinishing of the FDR High School gym floor, the installation of a wheelchair lift at Hyde Park Elementary School and bathroom renovations at various schools.
Work under construction or slated to begin shortly includes a roof replacement at Haviland, the installation of new fire alarms at four schools and improvements at all buildings to bring the district into greater compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Merit raise debated
Lorelei Case, assistant superintendent for business, received an $8,000 merit pay increase at the meeting. The board approved the increase by a vote of 5-1, with Trustee Dan Duffy casting the lone dissenting vote.
Some at the meeting said the raise was not appropriate in light of rising fuel costs that have triggered a moratorium on field trips.
Several board members said the money Case had brought into the district through grants and savings more than justified the pay increase.
“She (Case) is one of the lowest paid business administrators in the county. She totally deserves the raise. This lady has done a tremendous amount of work and saved the district hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Trustee Doug Heiter.
Resident Joseph Appuzzo said the raise was at odds with the district’s financial belt-tightening.
“How do you rationalize cutting programs with merit increases?” asked Appuzzo.
Duffy, speaking afterward, said he voted against the raise due to the fiscal realities currently facing the school district.
“I agreed with everything that was said (about Case’s performance), but I just thought it was not the right time to do something like this.”