Wakefield-Marenisco nixes homemade treats in school

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Wakefield — Homemade treats are now an official casualty of last November’s vote by Michigan citizens to legalize recreational marijuana throughout the state.

The Wakefield-Marenisco board of education voted Monday to ban any further bake sales in relation to the school and to allow only prepackaged treats for school events, including casual classroom parties.

“It’s going to be much more readily accessible,” said superintendent Jason Gustafson in relation to marijuana, which sometimes is used in baked goods such as brownies or infused in candy such as gummy bears.

“We need to be more cautious,” added the superintendent, who added that the new rules also apply to the state’s general wellness guidelines.

Gustafson defined acceptable prepackaged treats as items in a sealed package that have been purchased from a store.

Trustee BrandonYuchasz and secretary Stacie Rooni voted against the ban.  All others voted for it, and no one was absent.

In other news, Gustafson reported that the Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School has lost eight days so far this year to weather-related closures. It also allowed noon releases on two days and had a two-hour delay on another day.

“State law currently allows for six weather days each school year,” stated Gustafson in a written report that he read aloud to the board. “There is also a waiver that schools can apply for to allow for another three days (allowing nine total).”

Gustafson said the state has assured those waivers will be granted. In addition, he said legislation has been introduced “that would allow for any school days missed during a statewide state of emergency to be automatically forgiven and not be included in the nine days.”

Regarding the legislation, however, he added, “This is still in the works … and is not a guarantee.”

Gustafson said some schools downstate, as well as in the central U.P., already have had as many as 17 closure days due to weather.

Board members also:

—Voted to hire Kari Seifert as the junior high track coach and Alexis Headley as the Gogebic Miners softball coach.  

—Voted to purchase a new bus at a cost of $89,735. The bus will hold 66 passengers and the driver, and delivery is estimated for December.

—Agreed to use a recently acquired energy grant to fund labor to wire school lights so that ballasts are not needed. Gustafson said the City of Wakefield will order LED bulbs for the school, and bids will be sought for the necessary electrical conversions.

—Learned from the superintendent that bus driver Paul Jacobson was in a minor accident on Feb. 12 when a car spun out after its driver tried to pass the bus. Gustafson said nobody was injured and bus damage was minimal.

—Learned from Gustafson that teaching staff had a professional development day on Feb. 15, during which members learned more about classroom management, student trauma and action-based learning.

The board will meet next on March 25 at 5 p.m. in board chambers on the second floor of the Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School. The public is welcome.