BOE Hears from Hive Students

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – The Dec. 9 meeting of the Harrison Community Schools Board of Education began with the students from The Hive leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Initially, that function had been planned for the Harrison High School football team, but as Coach Jamie Lipovsky explained, the majority of those players were at an away game supporting another of the school’s team playing that evening.

The Building Instructional Highlight was a Hive update provided by Stacey VanAntwerp and some of her students. They offered a PowerPoint featuring multiple aspects of their school and its staff, as well as some of the philosophy that drives student success.

That presentation was followed by the annual HCS Superintendent Evaluation, which elaborated on the multitude of categories and the Superintendent Judy Walton’s self-evaluation, each of which was followed by Board discussion and determination of their agreement or a need for more explanation. One category dealt with student outcomes, for which current data was unavailable, thus last year’s numbers were used. Ultimately, the final acceptance of the evaluation will be complete when some that current data is made available early in the new year.

The meeting’s Consent Agenda included approval of the following:

-Regular meeting minutes of Nov. 11.

-Financial reports for Nov. 1-30.

-Hiring of Ashley Greenfield, GSRP paraprofessional; Allison Squires, high school special education paraprofessional; Andrew Erskine, freshman basketball coach; Kailin Glazier, middle school girls track coach; Catherine Lock, middle school special education paraprofessional; Terra Hawkins, middle school special education paraprofessional; Elijah Hayes, high school teacher; and Shelby Battle, varsity assistant competitive cheer coach.

Under the Non-Consent Agenda, the Board moved to approve the Superintendent Evaluation for Judy Walton.

Under Informational Items, Walton informed of the resignations of Tamara Lewis, Larson Elementary teacher whose retirement will be effective in February; and Marty Fernandez, Larson special education paraprofessional.

Speaking in Public Comment was John Benoit who was complimentary regarding the success of the Hive program, and encouraged the district to capitalize on that asset to increase influx of Schools of Choice students and “keep people here.”

Also returning was Christopher Churchill, who again said he was respectfully asking for more time to present his concerns to the Board in public. He was again reminded that the BOC meeting is a business meeting done in the public eye, offering a limited Public Comment, and that the majority of school districts do three minutes. Churchill was again urged to submit his concerns in writing so that Board members could review it and be informed, enabling them to take up those issues if deemed necessary.

In her Superintendent’s Report, Walton noted that while Board Member Zach Driver was not present that day due to a family illness, he would be presented with a certificate of appreciation for his BOE service.

Walton also addressed Benoit’s suggestion regarding enticing students to the district, saying that the district does not admit Schools of Choice students in the middle of the school year unless that student had moved to the area.

“One of us cannot succeed at someone else’s expense,” Walton said, pointing out the practicalities of school finance, and the district’s intention to hold to the Schools of Choice window.

She did refer to the Welcome Home piece of the district’s Strategic plan, saying, “We don’t recruit from other schools … rising tides lifts all boats.”

Walton also informed that the Point Broadband fiber optics program, while having hit a bit of a snag with some equipment issues, was still on track for a June 30, 2025, completion date. She said that work was being finished up in Farwell, and that then it would be moving up to Harrison.

She also noted having been asked to serve as a judge for the We The People state finals in Lansing, which will address the theme of “What Challenges Face Educators in the 21^St Century?”

© Clare County Cleaver