The Board of Education meets tomorrow night at 7pm in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall. Several items of interest are on the action agenda (meaning the BOE is voting on something specifically), including the Ad Hoc Feasibility Committee, authorization to spend Capital Preventative Maintenance funds on a new Moody Playscape, a Spencer School naming request and the second phase of the Race to the Top Grant.
Just last week, the General Assembly approved an educational reform bill that was specifically designed to make CT more competitive to receive federal stimulus funds from the $4.3 billion Race to the Top competition. More information on this subject is available in a May 6, 2010 article in the CT Mirror. The deadline for the second round of competition applications is June 1, 2010.
The vote on the new Moody Playscape is particularly important because the old playscape has already been removed. Only the BOE can spend Capital Preventative Maintenance Funds, so it takes a specific vote to release this money.
The district's financial statement will also be of interest given the fact that the proposed BOE share of the city's 2010-2011 budget is $200,000 less than last year's budget. There will have to be some discussion (I would think) about how to readjust spending priorities if this budget passes.
Showing posts with label playscape. Show all posts
Showing posts with label playscape. Show all posts
Monday, May 10, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Moody's Playscape Deemed "Unsafe"
During the Public Comment session at tonight's BOE meeting, Moody PTA Treasurer Janice Drescher asked the BOE to fund a new playscape out of the Capital Funding account. Moody's playscape has been declared unsafe and it will be removed during the February school vacation week, but so far, no plans to replace it have been announced.
Ken Jackson, Director of Facilities, has said that money is available and he wants to replace Moody's playscape this summer. He estimated the replacement costs to be about $75,000-$80,000. Jackson also noted that Moody is the only elementary school in the District that hasn't had its playground updated.
BOE member Sally Boske told this reporter after the meeting that the playground "wasn't likely to happen" and that the PTA would probably have to fund the replacement through fundraising. PTA Treasurer Janice Frescher's response: "I have a real problem with this as a Middletown tax payer...all the other elementary schools have safe playgrounds, so why doesn't Moody?"
Given the current focus on childhood obesity and the push to get kids outside to play, it seems ridiculous that Moody can't get a new playscape. In fact, funds have been allocated for the last several budget cycles, but the money always disappears and the playscape hasn't been replaced. Never mind the fact that Moody's overcrowding situation has drastically affected where and how the children have recess: last year children were "scheduled" by grade as to what day of the week they could play on the playscape, and sometimes two weeks could go by without access to the playground.
Yes, the economy is tough these days, but there are some things that schools just have to have...teachers, students, books, desks, and a safe place to be a kid.
Ken Jackson, Director of Facilities, has said that money is available and he wants to replace Moody's playscape this summer. He estimated the replacement costs to be about $75,000-$80,000. Jackson also noted that Moody is the only elementary school in the District that hasn't had its playground updated.
BOE member Sally Boske told this reporter after the meeting that the playground "wasn't likely to happen" and that the PTA would probably have to fund the replacement through fundraising. PTA Treasurer Janice Frescher's response: "I have a real problem with this as a Middletown tax payer...all the other elementary schools have safe playgrounds, so why doesn't Moody?"
Given the current focus on childhood obesity and the push to get kids outside to play, it seems ridiculous that Moody can't get a new playscape. In fact, funds have been allocated for the last several budget cycles, but the money always disappears and the playscape hasn't been replaced. Never mind the fact that Moody's overcrowding situation has drastically affected where and how the children have recess: last year children were "scheduled" by grade as to what day of the week they could play on the playscape, and sometimes two weeks could go by without access to the playground.
Yes, the economy is tough these days, but there are some things that schools just have to have...teachers, students, books, desks, and a safe place to be a kid.
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