A number of parents have proposed to fundraise over the coming months to raise enough money to pay for the reinstatement of a part-time physical education position at Sippican School, a position that was cut in the FY2017 budget and will result in less PE time for students.
Sue Shannon, a parent and member of the Sippican School Council, approached the Marion School Committee on June 1, hoping for a nod to move forward with a community-driven fundraising effort, which Shannon called the “Sippican Student Initiative,” to raise $30,000 before September 2016 to hire a part-time gym teacher for a “Healthy Marion Kids Campaign.”
Shannon said Sippican School parents know “the value of playing and movement and exercise,” so they went to Town Administrator Paul Dawson looking for the Town’s blessing and a little guidance as to how to go about the process.
“And he (Dawson) saw no impediment from the Town in terms of that,” said Shannon. “It seems like a do-able thing.”
Shannon said the goal is to form a subcommittee of parents and community-at-large members to initiate the fundraising campaign via a GoFundMe account, as well as a proposal and “talking to Tabor,” as Shannon put it. She also mentioned a sports “promotion day” to introduce students to sports and physical activities as a side project and to also get the community involved.
The question, however, is how does the group continue to fund the position annually and what will happen next year?
School Business Administrator Patrick Spencer advised Shannon that the group would have to set up a special fund with the Town, and all money must be raised before an employee is hired for the position.
“You have to have the money in place,” said Spencer, including a contingency for Unemployment benefits. “The total number that we’re looking at is more like $40,000.”
And, if the total money raised falls short of that amount, Spencer said, “If we don’t reach our goal, you have to return the money back to the donors.”
Shannon asked if there could be a Plan B of sorts, stipulating that if not enough money was raised, could the money go towards a recess program offered through an organization called “Playworks.”
“I think you’re better off going out, seeing what you can do, and then come forth and say, ‘We’ve got this amount of money, what can we do for the schools?’” said Superintendent Doug White.
School Committee member Christine Winters, concerned about the ramifications of the fundraising logistics as well as the hiring of an employee covered under collective bargaining, preferred White’s suggested path forward. She added that the School Committee could hold a special meeting in August to review the progress of the fundraiser.
“That way we’re not taking a vote tonight that ties your hands, either,” said Winters.
School Committee Chairman Christine Marcolini thanked Shannon and the other parents for their efforts.
“We so appreciate it. We really do,” said Marcolini. “You really stepped up as a member of the community … and I really applaud you.”
In other matters, Mike Feeney of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health gave a detailed presentation on the air quality testing performed in April at Sippican School.
“We’re within parameters where we would say, ‘Improve the ventilation,’” said Feeney. The measurements, he said, all were below the national standards.
Although no noxious gasses or environmental irritants were found in any significant amounts, one major concern was a crawl space below the floors of one of the wings of the school built in 1954. Feeney said condensation was present back in April so, in summer, he said, “I would not be surprised if this thing was just dripping with moisture…. It’s because air can’t get down there to help get the moisture out and to increase the temperature of the floor.”
Feeney recommended, among other minor things, turning off the air conditioning during summer vacation months and ventilating crawl spaces. Blocked air vents within classrooms should also be cleared and the ventilation system further assessed.
This was the last meeting of the Marion School Committee for this school year. School committee meetings will resume in the fall.
By Jean Perry