November 15, 2023 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Moving 6th grade back to Valparaiso at this time does garner additional room here at the Jr/Sr level, BUT, the space we really need for special education is life skills/transitional space and the space that will be recaptured will not suffice for that program.  I don’t think that the pros of this move outweigh the cons of this move at this point and time.

It was also mentioned that moving PK to the elementary side might be more advantageous than moving 6th graders.  Moving PK would require facility work as we would need to develop specific classroom space with restrooms and the appropriate playground.  That move would garner space that, with slight renovation, would be appropriate for special education life skills/transition.  In addition to facility work, another concern for this move might be the loss of preschool clients in the south sector of our district where we are growing the most.  Once we lose them will they return at school age?  That move merits further consideration and study.

I would recommend spending the next year or two developing a more exhaustive short term plan.  This plan may include adding some space here at the Jr/Sr campus to alleviate the immediate needs and moving toward a grade 6-8 middle school programming philosophy.  Some of that movement can happen next year without moving kids.  Examples may include consistent bell schedule grades 6-8, consistent and viable curriculum 6-8 in math/science (already have it in ELA), continued growth of consistent support structures appropriately designed for grades 6-8, and expectations geared specifically to grades 6-8.  This buys time to let a new superintendent be part of the solution and own the direction of the district.  I think that parents/patrons will better appreciate moving grades  (K-2/3-5)  together if they recognize it as part of a well developed, visionary plan to create the best educational opportunities for all students. 

Jared, Patty Hudson, and I attended a workshop at Omaha Truck Center that was put on by the representatives from Thomas regarding the EV buses.  There were a variety of school districts in attendance as well as Thomas national experts and Thomas local service providers. We gained a lot of information and insight at this meeting.  All three of us were glad that we attended.  A bus similar to ours was being displayed.  They had it hoisted up so we could see the underside of the bus and they provided a walkthrough of all aspects of this EV bus.  We were then taken on a ride and people could drive the bus if they wanted to.  Key takeaways:

• These EV buses have been on the road for many years in other parts of our nation.  There are more than 30 Million Miles on these buses with not a single case of a thermal event.  

• The Thomas bus uses a Protera battery which contains 20,000 separate cells within the battery to promote safety.  The lifespan of the battery should exceed the life of the bus. This is the same battery that has been used in motor coach vehicles.  

• There are key techniques in maintaining battery life such as switching off the battery when the bus is not in use for long periods of time (holidays/summer/etc).

• There are available resources that can answer questions and support the operations of the bus.   

• The charging station that we have purchased is reliable from an industry perspective and from their experts viewpoint.

• The battery charges quicker to the 90% mark and then the last 10% charge takes longer.  With our quick charger, we will have plenty of time to get to the 90% mark which will meet our needs.

• Quiet rides have resulted in quieter student voices and reports of quieter bus in general.