Gentry School board sanctions 'DC' trip

— School board members, on Monday, unanimously approved sanctioning a Smithsonian Student Travel tour to Washington, D.C., during next year’s spring break.

Student parent Shawn Hunter and her son Alex, a sophomore at Gentry High School, presented the trip to the board and requested that the board sanction the trip so that the tour of the nation’s capitol could be promoted on school property, funds contributed and paid by parents for the trip could be kept in a student club account and so that the school might consider transporting the student participants to Tulsa, Okla., and pick them up there after the tour.

School board members reviewed the trip itinerary and discussed liability issues the school could face if the trip were school sanctioned.

School superintendent Randy Barrett told board members theschool would have no more liability than for any other school activity, explaining that the school district had tort immunity except in the case of negligence.

“I have no problem with the educational value of such a trip,” Barrett said. “It would be up to the board if it chooses to accept the normal liability for it. Except for negligence, we have tort immunity,” he said.

“We would need a teacher to go and supervise the trip if it is school sanctioned,” Barrett said.

Shawn Hunter said she was hoping a teacher from the high school’s social studies department would accompany the students, in addition to other adult chaperones.

“For every six students who sign up to go, a free slot is given to an adult,” Hunter said, adding that she would be paying for her son to go but also hoped to go along as an adult to help supervise the students.

Sixteen students have already expressed interest in taking the tour next year, Hunter said.

Educational credit for students and continuing education credit for teachers is also a possibility, Hunter said, directing board members to materials from Smithsonian Student Travel regarding the credit.

The cost per student is $1,568, which includes travel, meals, lodging and a security guard. Hunter said, with school sanctioning, she hoped to be able to obtain grants and corporate sponsorship to help pay for the trip and make it more affordable for students.

She also hoped the trip could become an annual opportunity for Gentry students.

School board members approved sanctioning the tour for one year, with theintention of reviewing it and considering whether to continue sanctioning the tour in future years.

Other Business

In other business, the school board unanimously approved the low bid of Pioneer Mowing for mowing and trimming school grounds in the 2011-2012 school year. Four sealed bids were received for the job and opened at the board meeting: Ark-O-Mo - $23,400; Lemke Lawns - $22,950; Pioneer Lawns - $21,600; and Pioneer Mowing - $19,950.

All but Ark-O-Mo have had the contract before, Barrett said, and all four are reputable contractors. He recommended that the board accept the low bid and award the low bidder the contract.

Student parent Tammy Rigney addressed the board with concerns over the basketball program and a fundraising activity for the seventh-grade basketball team. Rigney sought assurances that the money raised would be used for the seventh-grade team and not for a coaches' retreat to Las Vegas or for other equipment for higher level basketball programs.

Barrett assured her the money would be used for the seventh-grade basketball program and that none of it would be used for the coaching retreat.

Rigney also voiced her disagreement with the practices of basketball coaching staff to focus their attention on better players and not give equal attention and instruction to those with less skills. The purpose of school programs is to teach, she said.

Barrett and school board members explained that coaches are not only to teach but are also required to make teams competitive with other area schools - especially at the higher grade levels - and that sometimes makes it necessary for coaches to focus attention on the more skilled and competitive players.

News, Pages 1 on 03/30/2011