AG board ponders charging students to park at school
Albert Gallatin Area School District students who drive to school may be paying for the privilege this year. At Monday’s work session, school board members discussed adopting a policy that will only allow people with permits to park on school grounds. District employees would be given the parking permits for free, but board members discussed having students pay a nominal price.
School police Chief Jim Bielecki said the majority of area schools require students to pay to park.
Bielecki said having permit-only parking at the school would make the grounds safer and would allow for better monitoring. The move would also give school police authority to cite a vehicle without a parking permit under the state vehicle code, he said.
The board discussed giving students the option of paying $30 per semester for a parking permit or a reduced rate of $50 for the year.
Board members said any money collected could be put into a separate account and be used to pay for upkeep of the student parking lot and/or student programs. The money would not be used to pay for salaries or other general fund expenses, they indicated.
Board members said they unanimously support adopting a permit-only parking policy for the school district. However, board member Edward Andria said that while he supports the permit-only parking policy he does not think students should be charged to park.
Bielecki said student permits will cost about 50 cents a piece and must be bought every year.
In regards to other matters involving security, Bielecki asked the board to consider purchasing “private property” signs for all school buildings and grounds.
As for other matters, board members discussed building a sensory room for use by students with autism and emotional problems.
The proposed room would be located at D. Ferd Swaney Elementary, across from the room where students with autism are taught, and would cost between $20,000 and $30,000. Expenses would be paid for from grant money that must be used for special education purposes, according to school officials.
The room would create a calm, relaxed atmosphere geared toward creating needed stimulus for autism students, but could also be used by students who have emotional problems or who exhibit aggressive behavior. Students would use the room for 20-minute periods at least once a day, or as needed, and would then return to the classroom and be able to focus easier on their schoolwork.
Board members John Kopas and Ken Plisko said they can’t support spending about $30,000 for a sensory room without first knowing what else the money could be spent on.
“I’d like to spend the money so that it will help a bunch of kids and not just a handful,” Plisko said, adding that the money needs to be spent wisely.
Andria said he feels the sensory room could be a good idea that would benefit autism students and others with emotional needs. He suggested putting the item on the agenda to be voted on at the next school board meeting.
Board members did not reach a consensus at Monday’s work session, but agreed to further research the matter. School officials said they would provide board members with a list of what other things the special education money could be spent on.
As for other business, Smithfield Elementary Principal Candice Jordon asked board members to quickly work toward having more classrooms so that students don’t need to be taught in trailers.
Jordon said the trailers have been used for several years and that there are problems with the temporary classrooms.
“The trailers we are putting children in are horrible,” she said, noting that the school trapped 28 animals from beneath the trailers last year. Three animals were recently removed from near the trailers this year, she said.
School board Pre2sident Janet Swaney said the district is working to rectify the situation and hopes to do so as soon as possible.
The contractor responsible for the project is supposed to present information to board members at the next board meeting.