Board briefed on school security and cost-saving efforts

Battle Ground Public Schools spends more than $900,000 a year on security, most of which is from levy funds, the School Board was told Jan. 14. Here are highlights of the double session -- a “special” meeting and the regular monthly meeting. (Click “read more.”)

Security: Roque Mentele, the district’s security supervisor, showed live-action video from an exterior camera at Amboy Middle School and the Lewisville campus. He said school videos have helped police identify vandals.

Mentele said that while security was once all about vandalism the emphasis for many years has been on preventing threats from intruders.

The district places annual security costs at $923,504. Assistant Superintendent David Gray said state funding pays “very little” for security and local levy funds cover most of the cost.

The total includes money for: cameras and monitoring equipment and maintenance; alarm equipment and monitoring; automated phone calling system to alert parents to emergencies and school closures; commissioned school resource officers;  non-commissioned school security personnel and administrative costs.

Economies and efficiencies: Mike McAlexander of Expense Reduction Analysts (www.expensereduction.com) reported that his firm has discovered potential savings for the school district of only 1.09 percent out of $5.2 million in annual expenditures for materials, supplies and operating costs.

He said the district’s cost-cutting and efficiency efforts are “phenomenal” and “based on our experience and benchmark data, (they) are unprecedented."

Strategic Plan: Thomas O’Connor (www.windmountaingroup.com), who volunteered his time to facilitate several public meetings in the fall to update the district’s strategic plan, briefed the board on the process.
 
Election of officers: The Board re-elected John Idsinga as president for 2013 and Monty Anderson as vice president.

Donation for homeless: Valerie Huey and Louise Tucker of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs presented a check for $500 as a contribution to the school district’s program to help homeless students, who this week number 148. “Homeless” students are those in transitional housing due to economic hardship or family situation.

Levy report: Vicki Sparks, who heads the Citizens for Better Schools, a volunteer, non-district organization, reported on the status of the campaign in support of the Feb. 12 replacement local levy. The four-year measure is for educational programs, maintenance and operations of Battle Ground Public Schools.