On The Agenda: School Board Discusses Snow Days, Resignations, Elects Officers

March 16, 2013

Some students of the Academy Elementary 3rd grade Class of the Month performing songs from their Veteran’s Day program for the Guymon School Board Monday evening. Herald Staff Photo/Trudy Hart

Guymon School Board met Monday night to discuss a variety of topics and had a special presentation provided by the third grade Class of the Month from Academy Elementary School.
The third graders sang a variety of songs from their Veteran’s Day program led by teacher, Teresa Mueller, complete with waving small flags and a full performance.
Mitzi Dain was elected as President of the board, Kevin Breuer as Vice President, and Mike Ray as clerk.
A popular discussion at the meeting involved the process of snow days and snow removal.
Superintendent Doug Melton explained the process behind his decisions to cancel schools, let school out early, or have a delay when snow happens to sweep the area as it did in recent situations.
He explained his first priority is the safety of the students and his employees and said he remains in contact with many different area schools, makes phone calls, and researches what the weather is looking like before he makes his decision on what to do and whether he should call school off for the day.
Melton also talked about the process of snow removal for the schools and explained the school does not own any vehicles to remove snow. For snow clearing that took place, two employees used personal vehicles, and everything else is cleared with employees of the school using snow blowers and shovels.
First steps to clearing schools is to make sure there is a clear path from the entrance of each school to the road to get everyone safely in and out. They start with schools with younger children and work their way up, and once they get that entrance cleared at every school, they go back and start clearing other sidewalks.
Melton said parking lots are the last thing they get to, and the City was able to help get some of the snow removed, but knows the City has priority street areas and highway areas that have to be cleared before they can assist the schools.
The board discussed checking on different places that might be able to have a contracting agreement to help get the schools cleared.
A more in depth plan for snow days will be worked on and put in place for smoother running in the future whenever it may occur.
After meeting in Executive Session, the board announced to approve resignations of Carol Cornelius, a Jr. High Science teacher who is retiring, and Roman Rodriguez, Jr. Special Ed. Aide. Melton also recommended that the board accept the resignation of Academy C Kindergarten teacher, Carrie Horn, effective at the end of the year.