Brownsville official considers four-day week
BROWNSVILLE – As the Brownsville Area School District’s Board of Directors discussed the agenda for Thursday’s regular meeting, some local residents brought up their concerns about rumors of the administration attempting to have school only four days a week. Superintendent Larry Golembiewski said that he had asked permission from the state Department of Education to have a four-day school week to save on the district’s costs.
“I looked at this with the state because of the cost of gasoline,” said Golembiewski. “Everything we use is brought to us by trucks, and by going to only four days a week and adding 45 minutes to each day we could save about 1/4 of our operating costs.” Golembiewski said he was waiting to hear from the Department of Education and until they respond, he could not bring his suggestion to the board for a vote. The board agreed they would discuss the matter further if the state granted the district permission to change their schedule.
Board members said they will be hiring a special education teacher this week. The district also needs a new custodian and, although Golembiewski said that they are not required to hire someone until next month, he would recommend that they hire someone on Thursday.
Also on the agenda will be a request for approval of a $750 pay increase for the woman who calls substitutes for the district, an appointment of after-school tutors and an increase in the library aide’s hours to seven hours per day so that she can work at both libraries in the high school/middle school.
The board also discussed change orders for the high school/middle school renovation project that will be brought to a vote Thursday. Director Stella Broadwater said she would like to see the total amount the district has spent on change orders so far.
Golembiewski said that it was more than $300,000 that the district has paid in change orders, but Broadwater said she felt it was more than that and she would like to see it in writing.
In another matter, Golembiewski announced that there would be no Halloween parades allowed outside of school property. “There are too many dangerous areas,” said Golembiewski. “Halloween parties and parades will be permitted on school property.”