Board Meeting Focuses On School Updates

Orchard school board members met for another monthly meeting, with much of the meeting focusing on school updates.

Getting a head start on the 2018 summer projects, Principal Cathy Cooper brought to the board several proposals on updates the school hopes to accomplish before the next year. Discussion of these projects were the focus of the meeting, as board members considered the importance of each. Among the projects, new carpeting, bathroom updates, new door installations, and more were approved to be finished this summer.

Along with building improvements, board president Candice Hoke brought concerns to the board regarding security cameras. She explained that the amount of liability in this day and age concerns her, and that many area schools have benefitted from cameras. All board members agreed that it would be something to seriously look into.

“The thing is, we’re so small now that I can’t say this year there have been times that I would have gone to a camera. But, in years past, I would have. But, right now, we are pretty small,” Cooper stated.

The board requested Cooper look into different options, and that a decision could be made at a different time.

Along with other approvals, a motion was made from DeAnna Clifton and a second from Kristi Schutt to approve the 2018-19 school calendar. Important dates on the calendar are the first school day beginning August 15, Christmas break from December 20 to January 4, graduation on May 11, and the last day on May 17.

The next board meeting is set for May 7 at 5 p.m.