Gateway school board tables 2 items, revisits cellphone policy

Gateway school board is holding off on a decision regarding a new food service vehicle and electronic scoreboard.

The district is down one food service vehicle and discussed the purchase a cargo van for food delivery within the district.

Directors Robin Mungo and Jack Bova questioned the need for a temperature-controlled vehicle during the June meeting. At the time, Superintendent Guy Rossi and Business Manager Mike Zourelias said that funds for the food service vehicle and accompanying insurance would come from the nearly $2 million food service budget.

The board voted 8-1 last week, with director John Ritter opposed, to table the purchase of $7,500 software for a digital scoreboard at the sports complex gymnasium.

Athletic Director Don Holl said this specific ScoreVision scoreboard would be given to the district free of charge; the actual cost is approximately $153,000.

The scoreboard would be used for advertising and ScoreVision would take a percentage of the earnings. Advertising would be shown during games and would be parent-directed but school-age appropriate.

“We have 100% final say on all advertising,” Holl said.

ScoreVision’s board can display trivia questions and school logos. Holl said it also could be used by the robotics club, for family movie nights, watch parties and video DJ dances. The current scoreboard could be moved to the auxiliary gym to replace the old one, he added

“I think the advertisement is going to pay for itself,” Zourelias said. “This is an elevation to our district with very little cost to us.”

Rossi agreed that the company seemed very easy to work with.

The school board was hesitant to proceed with the proposed 10-year contract, as well as the lack of other bids. Bova said he would like to see bids from at least two or three other companies before deciding. The rest of the board agreed, excluding Ritter, and Holl stated that he would seek other bids.

Cellphone use

Board Vice President Valerie Warning brought up the ongoing issue of student cellphone use, specifically in classrooms.

“We need to put something in place,” Warning said, adding that there is a lack of discipline for students who don’t follow the rules.

The expectation is that students put their phones in a pouch when entering a classroom; they are permitted to take their phones when they leave class.

Mungo suggested using teachers who have good classroom management as an example for other educators.

Rossi said he believes that cellphones aren’t major issue isn’t in the classrooms, but more so during down times, such as when students are in the hallways or cafeterias. He plans to address the expectations with students and parents prior to the school year.

The board stated they understood parents’ concerns about getting in touch with their children, especially in the case of an emergency. However, if several students call their parents during a crisis and parents drive to the school, directors said that could cause a safety issue by hindering police and firefighters.

Director Cheryl Boise also expressed interest in eliminating the use of headphones in the hallways because she said they can be a distraction and keep students from hearing important announcements.

Solicitor Chelsea Dice said that there would need to be exceptions, because some students with special needs use headphones, although those exceptions could be included in the student’s Individualized Education Plan.

No action on student cellphone use was taken.