MARYSVILLE – Have you ever tried to sneak past a school bus while the red “Stop” paddle is out? Well, you might rethink that.
The school board voted Monday to sign up with a company that will put cameras on buses to catch such lawbreakers. It will be similar to cameras used to catch those who go through red lights. “It will take pictures of the cars not stopping,” finance director Mike Sullivan said.
Sullivan said the district doesn’t expect to make much money, especially after the first year. The fines will be in excess of $200.
The cameras will not go on all the buses, just ones that seem to have issues with that problem, such as main arterials like 67th, 88th and Sunnyside.
Sullivan also talked about the new Food Commons at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. He said sales had doubled at the student store, and 400 lunches were served one day, which hadn’t been accomplished in some time. Superintendent Becky Berg said with the new eating area the school is “back to doing spirit-building events.” She also mentioned the district still is working on a date for demolition of the old cafeteria.
Ray Houser, an assistant superintendent, talked about the upcoming requirement of needing 24 credits to graduate from high school. The district will have information nights for parents on that topic Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. in the board room; Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Cedarcrest Middle School; and Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Marysville Middle School.
Marysville’s district has a waiver until 2021. Houser said the district is looking at ways students can receive some high school credits in junior high for passing certain classes. Board president Pete Lundberg said there needs to be a way to have more classes. “If I was a parent of a struggling student this would depress me,” he said. Berg agreed. “There needs to be more room for error,” she added.
Pinewood Elementary School Principal Kathy Thornton gave an update on her school. Her report showed some of the highest scores in the district for math and reading, as it does host the Highly Capable Program, which she admitted needs to be more diverse.
In other news:
•Brenda Ehrhardt, the music teacher at Sunnyside Elementary School, was one of 50 people, and the only one from this state, to win a Directors Who Make a Difference Award. She was the only grade school teacher in the nation to win the honor. “I’m thrilled mostly because the students nominated me,” she said.
•Steven Cross, social studies teacher at Cedarcrest Middle School, presented Daniel J. Evans Awards to former students Aresli Marmolejo and Amanda Warren. •LaToya Morris, formerly of Chicago, was introduced as the new director of child nutrition services.
