C-M seeks community input at SIAC meeting Jan. 22

COLFAX – In Monday’s meeting, the Colfax-Mingo Community School board approved the list of residents recommended to be a part of the School Improvement Advisory Committee.

According to the superintendent, this committee’s purpose is help the district receive community input on education, from curriculum instruction and assessment to learning goals and objectives. Colfax-Mingo superintendent Jim Verlengia said the group will also have some input on the district’s facility planning.

“This is something we have been wanting to get started earlier. Now that we are mid-(school) year, we are finally getting started,” Verlengia said at the meeting.

Verlengia said the district selected members for the committee based on recommendations. The list includes students, parents, district leaders, C-M staff, community members and area leaders.

“We have student voices in there because they probably know more about us than we know about ourselves. Always getting the input is critical. Getting input from the community where it counts is very, very important,” he said. “There are board members actually on the committee. So the board will hear first hand from individuals rather than hearing from me about what was said or coming from minutes.”

As the district and city of Colfax are searching for ways for more collaboration, the district invited Colfax City Councilwoman Karla Jones to join the committee.

The two entities held a joint meeting Dec. 6. At the meeting the city and the district discussed potential sharing agreements, as well as the benefit of a joint promotion campaign.

“We would like a representative from city council. We invited the mayor as well to another meeting,” he said. “We want to continue to establish those conversations with the city council, the board and the district.”

Verlengia, C-M Elementary principal Brian Summy, high school principal Todd Jones and board members Mardell Tomlonovic, Brandie Gean and Patrick Utz were also listed as potential members of the committee.

The list only contained one resident from Mingo, C-M parent Kendra Perry. Verlengia said more members from Mingo will be participating in the upcoming community needs assessment.

“It really wasn’t an oversight. We will continue to reach out,” he said. “I think we will have a nice representation when you get these two groups together.”

According to Verlengia, the first SIAC meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 22. All members of the community are welcome to attend.

“I hope all of these folks come,” the superintendent said. “We have three meetings the rest of this year, then the committee will be in place to continue on next year.”

Student Transportation Services

With the district’s contract with Durham School Services expiring in the summer, the school board discussed potential options on how they would like to proceed with filling its need for student transportation services at Monday’s scheduled meeting.

According to district officials, Durham has been contracted by the district for six years. If the district decides to renew its contract, this will be the third time C-M decides to use Durham for transportation services.

Under its current contract, Durham’s transportation services has cost the district about $375,000 per year, according to the school.

“It is a tremendous expenditure,” Verlengia said. “We are limited in the number of company’s that will provide this service to us. We want to make sure whatever we settle on is the most cost effective as well.”

In addition to selecting a company to fill the need, the district leaders will have to consider the length of service contract. The district leaders said a three-year contract is typical for most districts – which has been the length of the two contracts C-M has had with Durham.

The board also discussed potentially housing their own buses or hiring their staff drivers. The district currently does not have a transportation director.

“If we choose to go down that route, that is going to severely impact our saving money and our PPEL money for quite some time,” Verlengia said. “Easily, $80,000 a bus, even used, is somewhat conservative. I don’t know that (for sure) yet. Let’s say we have to have 10 buses, that’s $800,000. Add in a transportation director, we are back at $1 million. That is not a reason for us not to look into it, just one of those things to consider.”

According to Verlengia, the board vote on the decision on the transportation services need will not be made until March. He said the board plans to discuss the services in future meetings.

Other Business

• Discussion of the district financial trends and fund balance documents.

• Approval of resignation of secondary language arts teacher and drama coach Katherine Craven.

Board member Doug Van Dyke was not in attendance at the meeting. Board vice-president, Jan Myers attended the meeting via telephone conference.

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@jaspercountytribune.com