School Board Adds Meetings to Upcoming Schedule

While campaigning for the before this spring’s April election, Russ Spahn and Cathy Walsh were adamant about reversing a decision that had the board meeting just once a month.

Both Spahn and Walsh, , wanted two meetings each month.

At Monday's meeting, the board and administration settled on a compromise.

In addition to adding a meeting on June 11, the board voted 6-1 in favor of the administration's proposed schedule that now includes two meetings in September and October of this year and two meetings in April and June of 2013.

The remaining months will have just one meeting, but the board and administration have the flexibility to add additional meetings as necessary.

Before the vote was taken, Spahn, who voted against the motion, recommended there be two meetings each month. Walsh agreed.

“I’d rather see a meeting of the whole in those months where we can discuss issues,” Spahn said.

Board member Dave Richlen said he understood the desire for a second meeting but felt this year’s schedule worked out well.

The board decided to . The board had met twice a month for eight months each year, and once during the three summer months and December before cutting back.

“There are only so many administrators and preparing for board meetings is very time consuming and takes us away from focusing on improving student learning,” Superintendent Conrad Farner said. “It’s really a lot more efficient for us to prepare for just that one meeting a month.”