Bussing decision is tabled by School Board

— Angie Steffen 

Laurel Advocate

COLERIDGE — Laurel-Concord-Coleridge board members decided to table a decision on bussing at their Feb. 11 meeting.

Six citizens attended the board meeting.

Bus driver Lori Hansen spoke about considerations the board should take under advisement about their decision whether to turn busing operations over to Mid States School Bus of Wayne. Hansen was given a five-minute time limit to speak.

“LCC bus drivers count it a privilege to drive,’’ Hansen said. “We get thanked every time we see the faces of the kids walking up those stairs into the bus.’’

“Mid States School Bus told us bus drivers will make $10 more per day,’’ Hansen said. “We were told we will lose benefits. We will lose five holidays and sick days and I will lose my retirement,” Hansen said.

Hansen said after talking to board members she learned the main reason the board is considering this is because of a lack of bus drivers.

“We as taxpayers pay money to the district. Shouldn’t we keep money in the district?’’

Supt. Jeremy Christiansen highlighted some of the details from the Mid States Bus proposal.

“The contract would involve a three-year try and buy option,’’ he said. “This is an opportunity to consider for our district. We need to decide whether it is appropriate for our district at this point.’’

Board members decided to discuss the issue at their upcoming workshop in March at Wayne State College. The board could possibly act on the bus issue at their March meeting.

Board members indicated they will consider specific concerns and the concerns of current bus drivers in their decision. 

“My biggest concern is how it affects our drivers,’’ said Jay Hall, board president. “We have four full-time drivers plus our substitute drivers. They will be employed by Mid States, but I want to make sure I’m comfortable with what we are doing if we are going to end that relationship  with those employees.’’

Board members were also told the level III program at LCC has seven students including four from the district. Students can work at their own level of instruction. A couple of students are learning how to dress themselves and learning functional life skills. A new functional life skills program will be introduced.

Preschool applications will be available in late February to early March.

Elementary School Principal Paige Parsons said staff and students are looking forward to ‘Kindness Week,’  

“We all can’t get enough of that in gloomy February,’’ she  said.

Principal Ken Swanson gave an activities report, noting that speech season is in full swing and wrestlers earned runner-up honors at the Lewis and Clark meet. He also said students attended honor band at Hartington and the LCC community won the attendance award at the concert for the most people turning out for the event.

Students also participated in the Wayne State College honor choir. 

Swanson noted that winter MAP testing is completed. The Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test is a computer-adaptive skills assessment that provides parents, teachers and administrators with metrics to measure a student’s academic growth and progress.

A district needs assessment was completed. Administrators also looked at Carl Perkins V funding. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) was signed into law by President Trump in 2018.