Daily Times, Glasgow, May 4, 2012
Glasgow school board discusses several topics
by Tyler Thompson
Glasgow Director of Pupil Personnel Randy Wilkinson addressed members of the board of education on the pressing need for student accident insurance during Wednesday’s special-called meeting at the central office.
“It’s the same company, but the price has increased,” Wilkinson said. “It’s for all students, not just athletes. This is for any school activity. The economy has been tough and people are losing their jobs and losing their insurance coverage.”
Wilkinson said that due to the company paying so much in claims, the premiums have increased over the past few years.
The board did not approve the coverage as they are still researching and weighing their options, Wilkinson said.
“The agent is Roberts Insurance and Investments and we’ve been with them for the past few years,” Wilkinson said. “They’re the writers and the agent. They have been the agent for us since 2007. Things are not looking real good in the insurance business and they’re paying out a lot in claims.”
In other business, Alliance Corporation Project Manager Scott Holt was present to update the board on the progress of the high school gym.
“The bleachers are in and are currently being assembled,” Holt said. “The air conditioning will be on for graduation and the PA system is going through the final preparation stage. We’re waiting for the building inspector to come through, which should be in the coming days. It’s really in good shape.”
The board approved the 2012 senior trip to King’s Island in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Tuesday, May 15. The students will travel by charter bus for the one-day trip.
The board also approved a motion to hold a surplus auction on Saturday, June 2.
The district will be auctioning off items such as desks, chairs, library shelving, tables, locker room lockers, furniture, kitchen equipment, refrigerators and stoves from the home economics department, to name a few.
The board also approved contracting for a full-time nurse for the 2012-13 school year at the middle school, high school, South Green and Highland Elementary.
Superintendent Sean Howard said they will be paid $30,000 from the district and $10,000 from the four schools.
“Each school will pay $2,500,” Howard said. “The district will be paying $30,000 of the $40,000 for the nursing services.”
Howard said that having a full-time nurse at each school will only help the schools’ attendance records.
“Everyone loves the nurse,” Wilkinson said. “It’s been beneficial to the kids, to the staff. Everyone really wants a full-time nurse. It’s the comfort level. It prevents us from sending kids home.”
Glasgow High School Principal Keith Hale said the benefit is one that cannot go without any further action.
“It’s really that important,” Hale said. “At my level … it really helps with full- and half-day attendance. It’s the medical dispensing. It’s watching the field trips and making sure that someone has shots for some reason. You cannot believe how many different medications we have to dispense throughout the day. It really keeps kids from taking an aspirin and going home.”