Powder River Examiner -

The Broadus School Board met Monday for their monthly Board Meeting, with a light schedule planned. The Board approved the hiring of Caroline Johnson as the Speech & Drama Coach, Cass Zimmer as a Junior High Basketball Volunteer Coach, and Bill Alderman as a substitute teacher in the Junior High and High School.

The Board listened to the recommendations on needed infrastructure improvements from the Buildings and Grounds Committee, and approved a motion to look into a few specific areas. Superintendent Hansen will look into replacing the school’s phone system, as Range will no longer be servicing the current system. An option discussed with the new system is to have a “One call” option for storm days, where the system makes an automatic call and/or text to all parents to alert them if the buses will not run or school will be closed due to inclement weather.

Hansen also will find quotes for an updated building key system; the Board is looking at an electronic key system, reminiscent of modern hotel rooms.

The school was directed to order parts to fix some playground equipment which does not meet safety standards. Additionally, LED lights will be purchased to replace some other lights in the school, which is expected to save money in the long run.

The committee found that several sidewalks around the schools are in need of work, due to upheaval from roots and general age. Hansen was directed to get with Chad Gatlin to see when this work could be completed in the 2019 year.

Later in the evening, the subject was broached regarding changing the Boys and Girls locker rooms. Concerns have come up regarding the High School locker rooms, and providing equal facilities for both genders. Under Title IX, the 1972 Federal Civil Rights Law, as well as a Federal Court ruling in 1982 against the MHSA, a school must provide the same or comparable facilities for females and males, and equal opportunities for both genders. In the current layout, the girls locker room is slightly smaller, while the training room is in the boys locker room.

The school’s solution is to switch locker rooms, beginning November 15th. Next year, beginning at the same period, the locker rooms will switch back. Essentially what this means is that in a student’s 6 years at the school (JH and HS), he or she will spend three years in each locker room.

Discussion was made on a long-term solution to ensure compliance, such rebuilding the locker rooms to make them equal in square footage; the matter will be looked into at subsequent meetings.

The next meeting will take place Monday, December 10th, at 7 pm.