Arlee Schools partner with Big Brothers, Big Sisters
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
3 of 3 free articles.
ARLEE — The Arlee School Board heard several presentations from different entities in the Mission Valley, in addition to regular board business, at its Oct. 11 meeting.
First to speak was head of maintenance Gregg Dougherty, who requested that the Arlee School Board help alleviate some of his crew’s duties. Dougherty said right now he is working with a crew of 4-and-a-half custodians and requested that either the school board hire one more or allow him to approve overtime. According to Dougherty, his custodians do not receive overtime for cleaning the gymnasium after sporting events. Last year, the custodians also took on the role of cleaning the lunchroom, prior to this; it was the duty of the lunchroom workers. The school board hired a halftime person specifically to come in and clean up after meals. Dougherty said they also recently lost a full time worker, which brings their number to the current four full-time and one half-time worker.
“This is not a problem that was created by us,” Dougherty said. “I can’t send my workers over to clean the gymnasium thoroughly because their hours are maxed out.”
Dougherty said he and his workers have heard negative comments about the lack of cleaning after games.
The school board took no action at this time. Superintendant John Miller will meet with Dougherty and his crew to negotiate a solution to present to the board at a later meeting.
Executive Director Julia Williams from Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Polson was on hand to present the possibility of starting the program in the Arlee district.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters is a mentoring program that pairs up high school students with elementary students. Interested mentors would be required to interact with their mentee for a minimum of 45 minutes a week. Mentors will also attend trainings that will teach them how to mentor and work with younger children. The school board voted unanimously to start implementing a partnership with the program.
“There is a sector of our student population that could benefit, and the time is now,” School Board member Troy Felsman said.
Jay Preston, CEO of Ronan Telephone, also made a presentation to the board. His company was one of the businesses awarded money from the 2009 stimulus bill that seeks to increase reliability and improve communications in rural areas. Ronan Telephone Company is currently in the progress of putting up 330 miles of fiber optic cables that would stretch from the Mission Valley to Missoula. Preston was asking the school board for an easement to come across a corner of school property and to lease a space for a 10x10-foot building that would serve as a transport facility to larger facilities.
“It is a step in a direction of competition,” Preston said. “What we find is that the cost is higher in rural areas, because there really isn’t any choices.”
Several in attendance said the Arlee community currently has few options when it comes to communications services.
The school board approved the easement and the lease. Preston estimated that it should take about two weeks for the crews to finish up work on school property. They have already started work on the route north and south of Arlee.
In other news, High School Principal and Athletic Director Jim Taylor brought up discussion of the possibility of student/athlete drug testing in the future. If drug testing was required of athletes at Arlee, an oral swab of the cheek would produce automatic results. Then 10 percent of the athletes would be randomly tested throughout the season.
“I’m not for this; I’m not comfortable with this,” Felsman said. “We are blurring our roles; we are here to educate and not enforce.”
Felsman was also worried about further alienating students from homes where drugs are used, and as a result, the possibility of them showing up positive.
“There is a sector in our community that feels like it does not belong. This would further seclude these kids,” Felsman added.
“I would be for it,” school board member Shelly Fyant said. “When they get into the real world they will be drug-tested. When do those choice start? If you set the standard, your kids will rise to it.”
Though the issue of drug testing was merely a discussion and no votes were made, Taylor said he would present the idea to the student body and the student council to garner their thoughts.
School board chair Amy Burland agreed with adding the students’ voice to the discussion.
“I see this as a process before we make a final decision,” Taylor said.
In addition to school board news and presentations, a couple of positive announcements were shared.
Taylor shared with the board a letter that was sent to the school district from an elementary principal who praised the sportsmanship of Clayton Trimble who helped a Superior football player who was cramping. Taylor said this incident exemplifies the good characteristics of Arlee students.
Also, Arlee teacher Anna Baldwin was named the Distinguished English Teacher of the Year by the State of Montana.
