HOLLEY – The school district in 2013-14 will restore many programs that were cut in a budget crisis two years ago, while keeping taxes within a state-imposed property tax cap.

The Board of Education on Tuesday approved a $22,976,429 budget that will go before voters on May 21. The budget increases taxes by 2 percent from $7,393,901 to $7,541,779.

The board voted to bring back the marching band, elementary student council, ski club, golf and boys and girls basketball for grades 4 to 6.

“When kids feel connected to the school, they do better in school, they attend school more and they behave better,” said John Heise, president of the Board of Education.

He said some of the restored programs, such as ski club, promote life-long healthy activities.

The board also will add an athletic trainer, a high school social studies teacher and an elementary teacher.

The board decided to return staff and programs that were cut in previous budgets when state aid was drastically reduced for the district. Next school year state aid is targeted to increase by $742,336 from $10,879,581 to $11,621,917.

Residents will vote on the budget May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school foyer.

They will also vote on a bus proposition to spend $372,136, and a proposition to raise $102,652 for Community Free Library. Brenda Swanger is unopposed for a three-year term on the Board of Education.

Another proposition seeks to keep the BOE at seven seats rather than continue a downsizing to five members. Voters a year ago approved a phase-in reduction of the BOE from nine to five members.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Holley residents Della Morales and Frank Balys walk on the school district’s new all-weather track this evening. The district this week opened the track to the Holley community. Residents are welcome to use the facility seven days a week from 8 a.m. to dusk as long as it isn’t being used by the track team or physical education classes. The new track is part of Holley’s capital project that is focused mostly on renovations to the junior-senior high school. The track is open for walking or running with appropriate footwear.Street shoes, cleats, bikes, scooters, skateboards and pets are not permitted.

District says officers will cost $140,000 for full school year

HOLLEY – School leaders say the first two weeks with security officers in the elementary and junior-senior high schools has been a success, with officers making positive connections with students and staff.

“They’ve transitioned nicely into the building,” said Karri Schiavone, elementary school principal. “They’re in the hallways, the foyer, the bus loop. They’re everywhere.”

The school district hired COP Security Inc. to provide a security presence at both buildings during the school day and also in the evening for extracurricular activities. COP Security is paid $27 per hour for each officer on duty. Holley has an officer working in each school.

The service would cost $140,000 for a full school year with the evening hours included. If officers only work during the regular school day, the cost would be $90,000 for the district.

Dale Barton, a retired Ogden police officer who leads COP Security, told the Board of Education he is pleased with the early success of the program in Holley.

“The officers have been warmly received,” he told the board on March 18. “You guys really have a great school district. We’re pleased to be a part of it.”

The officers are unarmed. One parent told the board he thinks they should have guns. Board President John Heise said that issue will be evaluated in the coming months.

For now, Barton said officers are developing a network with students, which should result in tips, possibly preventing some problems and major incidents in the future.

The officers also will meet regularly with school administrators to review safety protocols.

Schiavone and Susan Cory, the junior-senior high school principal, told the board the security officers are appreciated by staff.

“I love having them here,” Schiavone said. “It’s another set of eyes and ears that isn’t tied down to a classroom.”

The security officers are all retired police officers. They will promote a “positive climate” in the schools, and will help address anti-bullying, prom safety, bicycle safety and other issues, said Robert D’Angelo, district superintendent.

Photos by Tom Rivers – A chimney fire at this house Fancher Road spread into the eaves and bedroom, causing significant smoke and water damage. Firefighters had the fire under control in about 20 minutes.

MURRAY – About 50 firefighters from several fire companies responded to a fire on Tuesday night at 3504 Fancher Rd.

The fire began in the chimney and spread into the eaves and a bedroom, fire officials said. Chris Pitt, owner of the house, said the fire started about 10 p.m. Firefighters from several departments quickly descended on the site in the town of Murray and had the fire under control in about 20 minutes.

Pitt said the house and belongings inside “are just material things. Everybody is OK.”

He praised the firefighters who answered the call from Albion, Carlton, Clarendon, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray, Kendall and Morton fire departments.

“I can’t believe all these volunteers that turned out so quickly to save my house,” he said.

The fire filled the neighborhood with smoke late Tuesday night on Fancher Road.

Press Release

HOLLEY – The school district introduced new security officers to students and staff on March 4. The district hired COP Security Inc., a local security company, to assist in maintaining a safe school environment and to help promote safety education in the schools. All of the security staff members are retired law enforcement officers from local agencies.

A security officer will be stationed at Holley Middle School/High School and Elementary School from 7 a.m. to dismissal, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Middle School/High School, and from 4 to 9 p.m. in the Elementary School.

“Many of them are former school resource officers or DARE officers and are looking forward to working with our students, staff, and community on topics such as anti-bullying, prom safety, bicycle safety, and other pertinent topics,” said Superintendent Robert D’Angelo.

At the Middle School/High School, Principal Susan Cory has been introducing the officers to students during their physical education classes. At the Elementary School, Principal Karri Schiavone has been introducing the officers in each classroom. The security officers wear khaki pants and a dark shirt with the name of the security company.

The school district also has security cameras throughout its buildings, which security officers can access in the office space provided for them.

“In addition to our staff, the security officers will be the eyes and ears around our schools and will provide us feedback throughout the day,” D’Angelo said.

The superintendent added that there wasn’t one particular event that prompted the added security. “It is our obligation as a school district to keep our students and staff safe, and our community safe when the schools are being used for evening activities,” he said.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Fran Gaylord, Holley’s transportation director at left, gives a tour of the new transportation facility on March 18. The new building features a lift, a bus wash, a vacuum exhaust system, and other improvements.

HOLLEY – Paul Niggli inspects school bus garages for the state Department of Transportation. Holley, for years, had one of the worst setups, Niggli said.Holley’s transportation department worked for decades in a cramped building. The buses were all out in the open. Making repairs was difficult in the small bus garage.

But Holley has entered the 21st Century with its new transportation facility, part of a $27 million capitol project that is transforming most of the junior-senior high school and making numerous other upgrades on the district campus.

“They did a beautiful job,” Niggli said after touring the new transportation facility with school and community members on March 18.

Fran Gaylord, the transportation director, waited for years for the improvements. He works with 30 bus employees – a group of drivers, mechanics, aids and clerical staff.

“This is so much better,” Gaylord said on the tour. “We have the room, the space, the brightness and the bus wash.”

The new transportation facility features a bus wash that will keep the windows clean and help with preventive maintenance on the undercarriage.

Gaylord pressed a button and a wash, with giant brushes and a soapy spray, went to work mechanically. Workers used to physically use long brushes and squiggees to clean the buses. It was difficult to get under the buses.

“With the rollover bus wash, the windows will be cleaner for the drivers,” Gaylord said on the tour. “The undercarriage will be cleaner. There will be better maintenance.”

Gaylord and his staff moved into the new complex on Feb. 28. The facility also includes a fenced-in parking area for the fleet of buses. A new fuel farm has a 10,000-gallon storage tank for diesel fuel and a 5,000-gallon tank for unleaded. The previous setup had 5,000- and 500-gallon tanks, respectively.

Contractors will soon tear down the metal portion of the old bus garage, which covers about two-thirds of that complex. They will keep a cinder block building. Buildings and grounds will use that for storage.

The new transportation facility sits on a portion of the 43 acres the district acquired for $163,000 about three years ago. That land includes room for five new ball fields that could be developed in the future.

Fred Seeman, a Holley school bus driver, fills up a vehicle at the new fuel farm next to the transportation facility.

HOLLEY – The school district may start charging outside organizations $50 an hour when they use school facilities. That would help cover the district’s costs for custodial and security services, Holley officials said.

However, non-profit organizations shouldn’t expect a bill from the school, said John Heise, Board of Education president.

“I don’t want to start charging organizations that are doing good for kids,” he said.
Holley currently doesn’t charge when outside organizations use school buildings. Don Penna, the buildings and grounds superintendent, researched other schools’ policies and found many bill outside groups, with some even charging per room.

Penna suggested a $50 flat fee for each hour a group is using the school. That would be limited to building use, and not the outdoor fields.

“I would like to get to a break-even point,” Penna told the BOE on March 18. “We want to get some of our costs back for the extra work.”

Heise and the board members asked for list of all the groups that use Holley facilities. Board members said a policy could distinguish between non-profits and other organizations.

Robert D’Angelo, the district superintendent, said many rural schools don’t charge non-profit organizations.

“They waive the fees to encourage people to use the schools,” he said.

Penna said he would compile the list and make a recommendation to the board on which groups should be assessed a fee.

Heise said groups like the Girl Scouts shouldn’t worry they’ll soon be billed for using the school.

“It’s not decided that we’re doing this,” he said. “The community has already paid for the school with their taxes.”

Press Release

During Winter Break the Holley Community Free Library held its 4th annual Art class. Five one-hour classes were attended by 15 children from kindergarten to middle school. Taught by retired Elementary Art Teacher, Laurence Dabney, the children made giant plaster flowers as well as wooden trivets. The flowers were painted with both fluorescent and scented paint.

HOLLEY – Robert D’Angelo said it is a worrisome trend, the young elementary students facing superintendent’s discipline hearings.

Those hearings are called when students face long-term suspensions, usually for more than five days out of school. Those hearings tended to involve students in higher elementary grades or middle school.

But this year D’Angelo said he is seeing students in lower elementary grades, even kindergarten.

“People and families are under stress and we’re seeing it manifest itself down to 5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds,” he told the Board of Education on March 18.

The district may need to provide more services to help students struggling with social and emotional problems, he said.

Board of Education President John Heise said financial pressures are straining families. He noted the district has started a backpack program where food is sent home over weekends with some students.

D’Angelo meets with many of the struggling students’ parents, and he said those families need assistance.

“In order to be successful, we have to work with parents, but many of the parents are needy themselves,” D’Angelo said.