Building upgrades, high school schedule changes discussed at Dalton school board meeting

DALTON – Treasurer Patrick McGinty updated the Dalton Local school board about improvement projects the district plans to do over the next few years, starting with the new windows and an air conditioning system that will be installed at the high school this summer.

Aside from building updates, high school students and staff will also see schedule changes as classes are moved to fit in an extra period, which Superintendent James Saxer said will be used as an intervention and enrichment time for students.

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Summer upgrades and future projects

Contracts for the high school HVAC system and window upgrades were approved by the Board of Education during its November meeting and updated in January to include an increased cost for asbestos removal.

With the school year coming to a close, Saxer said, those renovations will begin soon with the hope of having both projects completed before the next school year begins.

More upgrades will be coming up to Dalton High School, Saxer explained after the meeting, with projects like resurfacing the track and roof, fixing some brickwork and buying new furniture all making the list for fiscal year 2023.

The board approved a roughly $194,000 contract with Martin Public Seating for new seats and chairs at the high school, and Saxer said those may not come until winter break next school year.

Plans for fiscal year 2024 may change over time, Saxer said, but the hope is to stay on track with buying a new bus every two years and resurfacing the parking lot, too.

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Intervention, enrichment time added to high school schedule

Known as ‘No New Teaching Time’ at the elementary school and Bulldog Time at the middle school, Saxer explained, the district plans to extend this idea to the high school.

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This flex time will be used as an intervention or enrichment period for students to get extra help.

“We are carving out time during our school day to provide intervention supports or enrichment opportunities for students without them having to miss class time,” Saxer wrote in an email. “It is imperative our students do no miss any class time to get the supports or enrichment they need.”

Saxer said parents can reach out to him with questions. Further information will be shared in the next newsletter in early August.

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Other action from the Dalton BOE meeting

• A $4,000 contract with NFHS Network was approved. This contract will offer a livestream service for all home games, and Saxer said he is looking for business sponsors for the upcoming school year.

• Construction on the softball field is nearing an end and the team hopes to play a game on the field by mid-June.

• Both cheerleading programs at the high and middle schools will get new advisors for the upcoming school year. Donald Stoll will work with the high schoolers and Natalie Arnold and Sheri Tomlinson will be at the middle school.

Reach Rachel Karas at [email protected]   

On Twitter: @RachelKaras3 

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Dalton High School to get upgrades over summer, new schedule in fall