Panic button technology will pinpoint emergency within seconds
The Watervliet Public Schools Board of Education monthly meeting was promptly called to order at 6 p.m. With the opening and roll call out of the way, the board approved last month’s minutes and Monday night’s regular meeting agenda as presented.
In attendance were President Bill Spaulding, Secretary John Oliphant, Treasurer Brian Gruszczyk, and the following trustees: Wendy Hart, Kimberly Adams, and Amanda Morlock – Fisher. Absent was Vice President Eric Laws.
Business addressed
Superintendent Ric Seager, about the coverage by the Herald Palladium, addressed the board about a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services that will fund a duress alert system for all campuses, athletic fields, and grounds.
The school is looking into systems like the SECURalert™’s technology. This duress alert system allows employees and lone workers to press a panic button that will summon help with pinpoint accuracy of about six feet.
The system consists of four main components; the main controller, the radio/repeater, the receivers, and the transmitters. The transmitter is the panic button itself, small enough to be worn or carried by staff, custodial personnel, and even coaches.
Two signals are simultaneously sent after the button is pressed. One is ultrasonic and the other is through radio frequencies (RF). This SECURalert™ Hybrid solution emits both signals simultaneously, with the ultrasonic being the primary signal while the RF acts as a redundant technology to ensure that no signal ever gets lost and a location is always delivered. This in turn delivers the exact location the panic button was triggered, all within seconds, therefore reducing response time and ensuring the individual in distress gets help right away and could immediately send the school into lockdown if needed.
Watervliet was awarded the maximum amount available for the grant. However, the award will not cover the cost associated with this type of system. The district will also be using $167,000 of its funds, as well as seeking out a bond project in May to further security that would work in tandem with this type of system.
Ryan Price, Buildings and Grounds Supervisor / Transportation Director was on hand to give an update on the air-conditioning project for both North and South Schools. Prince reported that the first day of spring break will be the start of a major push to get as much infrastructure installed for the air conditioning system while waiting on the coils that are needed as the industry supply has been depleted. The coil delivery is expected sometime this summer with the air conditioning project completed by the time students return for fall of 2023.
Superintendent Seager gave an update on the bond committee that would meet again on Feb. 15. The goal of this committee is to spread awareness about the bond proposal that is slated to be on the May 2 ballot.
Choir and Theatre teacher, Tami Brush was on hand to announce that the Watervliet High School musical will finally return with the production of Annie Jr. The lead character, Annie, will be played by Lauren Lovell, and her antagonistic counterpart, Mrs. Hannigan, the orphanage mistress who tries to foil Annie’s future with Daddy Warbucks, will be played by Ella Harris. Both young ladies were present at the school board meeting and spoke of their excitement to be back on stage. The musical is scheduled for March 10 and 11. Tickets will be going on sale shortly.
Also, on hand was Brandon Waggoner, the Curriculum Director for Watervliet Public Schools. Waggoner started his presentation with the announcement of the updated Literacy Vision Statement that reads: All Panthers will develop the ability to read and write fluently to construct meaning, engage in discourse, and function effectively in society. Additionally, the belief statement was also shared as written:
Watervliet Belief Statement
All students can achieve a level of literacy necessary to be a contributing member of society.
Literacy involves six communication processes including reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and visually representing.
Literacy is best achieved through research and evidence-based direct, explicit and systematic instruction in Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, Comprehension, and Writing.
All students can be motivated to read and write, as motivation is a critical component of literacy development and instruction.
Teacher knowledge and efficacy must be supported through ongoing professional development and is the key to successful literacy instruction in all content areas at all levels.
This was right before Waggoner released new NWEA Growth results for reading and math scores. Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) is a research-based, not-for-profit organization that supports students and educators worldwide by creating assessment and learning solutions that precisely measure growth and proficiency, and provide trustworthy insights to help tailor instruction.
MAP Growth is one of the tools that is used and it is the most trusted and innovative assessment for measuring achievement and growth in K–12 math, reading, language usage, and science. It provides teachers with accurate, actionable evidence to help inform instructional strategies regardless of how far students are above or below grade level. It also connects to the largest set of instructional content providers, giving educators flexibility in curriculum choices.
Overall most schools in the area land on average between 50 to 52% of the students reaching target goals; Wagonner reported that almost every school grade from K-8 had an increase in reading and math. The only exception was in South School where a decline was seen in math scores only.
Addressing student learning loss and targeting attributable reasons for the decline is an urgent priority for the Watervliet Public Schools System. Adding to the urgency is the long-term challenge of equalizing educational opportunities for every student in the district. As the Curriculum Director, Waggoner plans to do this through the improved priorities of English Language Arts standards. These standards explain what students should know and be able to do by the end of each grade level, from kindergarten through 12th grade. They are not the same as a curriculum, which tells educators how to teach the standards.
Additional business
The board approved extended medical leaves for two staff and approved two overnight trips for the wrestling team and one overnight trip for the softball team, to attend different sporting events.
Lastly, it was announced that Watervliet High School received the College Board’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award which recognizes schools that are closing the gender gap and engaging more female students in computer science coursework in AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) and AP Computer Science A (AP CSA).
Specifically, College Board is honoring schools that have reached 50% or higher female representation in either of the two AP computer science courses in 2018, or whose percentage of the female examinees met or exceeded that of the school’s female population in 2018. Out of more than 18,000 secondary schools worldwide that offer AP courses, only 685 have as WHS is one of the few.
Before the meeting was adjourned, the board went in to closed session for the superintendent review process.
School board meetings are held the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Watervliet High School Media Center with the next one scheduled for March 13.
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