Absenteeism up at Bessemer due to illness

BESSEMER - The Bessemer School Board at its Monday meeting heard absenteeism is up recently due to illness.

Teacher Sherry Nyquist was suppose to make a presentation to the board, but was out sick for the day. Many students were also out sick or went home sick from Washington Elementary on Monday, said head teacher Diana Hansen.

"Today we were at about 37 by the time the day was out, of students out with sicknesses and sent home," Hansen said.

Tax concerns

Superintendent Dave Radovich discussed the possible road tax changes.

"Bessemer would lose about $213,000," he said. "It's very devastating throughout all the schools in Michigan. ... Some schools are in a $3 million bracket."

He said he has been urging teachers and staff to contact their legislators to vote against this change. He encouraged the board to do so as well.

"If we had to take a $213,000 cut, it would really hurt us, very much so," Radovich said.

Board member Al Gaiss also had some concerns about the tax issues.

"We've been trying to get the roads taxes increased to 24 or 25 cents per gallon. It's been at 19 cents for 20 some years," Gaiss said of the Michigan Municipal League.

"It seems to me that with the price of gas going down to the $2.60 range ... that adding 5 or 6 cents more to the gallon of gas would be the way to go," Gaiss said.

"They've got to look at another way besides just raising the gas tax. That's not it," board member Bill McDonald said.

Transportation concerns

"The reason I'm here tonight is to address some communication issues with the transportation department," said parent, Tina Abrolat.

She talked about having better communication between the school transportation and parents. She said she has never received communication from her daughter's bus driver, and she doesn't even know who her bus driver is.

Abrolat also said she hopes robo-messages could be sent in the mornings if a bus is running late or gets stuck; noting her daughter waited outside for an extra 20 minutes one day when the bus never showed up.

"If we can get robo-calls reminding us to vote for referendums, why can't we get a robo-call saying 'Hey, this bus is broken down. It's not going to make it or it's going to be late'?" Abrolat asked.

Abrolat's family does not have a radio or cable, so she cannot find out that way, and her family is new to the area, so they do not know many people, she said.

"I understand things happen," she said. "I'm just asking for communication."

Board chair Bob Berg thanked her for her considerations.

Discussion, action items

A board reorganization meeting will take place in January.

Board members will so be assigned to committees. The requests for being on certain committees must be turned into Berg by Jan. 19, and will be announced at the January board meeting.

The committees include building and grounds, personnel and negotiations, curriculum, finance, extra-curricular and Bond-Ad Hoc.

There will also be a special board meeting on Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. to discuss personnel issues, and will only be the five-member board, said Radovich.

The board approved the adoption of many policies with no opposition.

Also, the board approved the Gogebic Miners football co-op with Wakefield-Marenisco School to last through November 2019.

"Either district can nullify it by giving a seven-month notice," Radovich said.

There are only minor changes to the previous agreement, including small language changes, location of games and uniform choices.

Administrative reports

Hansen, for Washington Elementary, said that she had the second school improvement meeting last week with the high school that went well.

At A.D. Johnston, Principal Dan Vander Velden spoke about having a television installed at the junior high area, which displays anti-bullying messages and announcements. They hope to possibly install one at Washington Elementary, too.

"At the junior high, we have 40 kids that have stepped up this week and they are called our Anti-Bullying Leadership group," Vander Velden said. "These students are brainstorming activities and spreading the word to other kids in the junior high against bullying."

The ones that aren't meeting, will see videos against bullying and saying why it's important to not be a bystander.

He also talked about the junior high quiz bowl and many projects the Key Club has been involved in.

"Our Key Club has been really active," Vander Velden said. This includes organizing a talent show, the recent can drive, making blankets for DOVE, volunteering at Santas workshop and the Thanksgiving at Washington Elementary.

Radovich also discussed that the schools have "a zero-tolerance policy on bullying" and that is can only be enforced if people report any incidents that happen. This was in response to an earlier comment by McDonald.

Radovich also wanted to remind students that they can change mid-year through school of choice before the next semester begins.

Students must apply by Jan. 3 by bringing in their filled out application to either Washington Elementary or A.D. Johnston main offices.

The applications can be picked up at the schools or found online, said Vander Velden.

There was also some remarks about how well students are doing in schools with nearly 70 percent of students in the high school on honor roll, said Gaiss, and 25 percent having all A's.

Radovich said this was because of all the great people involved. "Everybody has a little part to play," he said.