School board holds regular meeting Dec. 18

The Orcas Island School District board had a rollicking good time on Thursday, Dec. 18 as the threat of snow, ice and winds combined to keep all but the heartiest school supporters away.
Board member Charlie Glasser communicated by phone conference, with his remarks kept to a pithy minimum.
As the upcoming school bond work session had been postponed, the OISD board quickly dispensed with the consent agenda and reports. OISD Business Manager Ben Thomas was not able to attend, and so there was no business report.
The Farm to Cafeteria program will be further discussed at the Board’s January meeting. OISD Board President Janet Brownell noted that the San Juan Island School District’s new cafeteria program has increased the number of school lunches from 200 to about 600 daily. The district also prepares box lunches to sell to the community. The San Juan program is funded with a three-year grant.
Superintendent/High School Principal Barbara Kline commented on a conference, to take place Jan. 7-9. on using technology to improve student learning.
The board was in agreement that the elementary school music program, scheduled for that night, should take place once school begins again in January. Board member Tony Ghazel said that the students had worked hard to perform for the community, who enjoyed the children’s concerts whenever they were performed.
The board will need to reschedule the two missed snow days this past week, and hope that there aren’t further snow days this winter.
Board member Scott Lancaster spoke on a security matter brought up by the San Juan County Sheriff Bill Cumming at an earlier meeting: the need to re-key outdoor locks in the school building. The board discussed whether to pay for that expense out of the $33,000 left over from the current bond funds.
Lancaster said he would get an opinion as to whether that money can be used to replace about 20 exterior locks. In the discussion, it was brought out that OISD has a very good bond rating.
the board was in favor of replacing the keyed locks with a number pad.
The Board scheduled their retreat workshop to discuss the OISSD’s Strategic Plan for Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. This meeting is open to the public, as is the regular OISD Board meeting on Jan 22, beginning at 3 p.m. for the re-scheduled bond workshop, followed by the regular meeting at 5:30 p.m.
Marta Branch, OASIS high school teacher, mentioned that some of her students will be attending a Washington Alternative Learning conference in Olympia in February, which wil include a tour of the state Capitol and legislative sessions. Branch suggested that the OASIS students travel with the OISD board members, as they will be in Olympia at the same time.
Both the OASIS and Waldron School Improvement Plans, which Kline noted were more like annual reports, were approved by the board.