Observations about
                     the Clinton County School Board Meeting 
                               of March 11, 1991
                              for consideration by
                            any interested citizens.

                                By Duane Bristow,
                           Parent, taxpayer, citizen.

                                March 21, 1991

        I attended the regular monthly meeting of the Clinton County 
        School Board held on March 11, 1991 in the cafeteria of the 
        Clinton County Elementary School.  These are a few of my 
        observations of some items of business that were discussed and 
        my comments on those.  These comments, it is hoped, will be of 
        help to people involved in the school system and to parents, 
        taxpayers and others to understand how school business is 
        conducted.

        Most of the meeting was taken up by a discussion of matters 
        pertaining to plans for construction of a new Elementary School.
        Board Chairman Bill Guffey is interested in increasing the 
        seating capacity of the gym in the new school to be able to seat 
        600 spectators.  The architect said that any addition beyond the 
        size already approved by the state would have to be paid for out 
        of the School System's general fund and would not be paid by the 
        state.  The architects said that there is not enough water 
        volume available from the city water lines to run the sprinkler 
        system required by State Fire regulations and correction of this 
        might take as much as $100,000 in additional expenditures.  
        Larry Craig and Donnie Cross questioned the site of the new 
        school construction due to water problems, land cost, proximity 
        to the rock quarry, proximity to the radio station and possible 
        problems with an existing oil lease on the land.  It was decided 
        to take bids on hay to be harvested off the school site land 
        and possibly on the 3200 lb. tobacco base on the land.  A parent 
        at the meeting suggested that the money thus obtained be 
        earmarked for playground equipment at the elementary schools 
        saying that it was time they spend some money on the kids for a 
        change.

        Nothing was heard at this meeting about the policy on sales by 
        students.  I assume this means that the discussion at the 
        January meeting in which the board decided that all student 
        sales be approved by the board was the last word on the subject.  
        No approvals have been issued by the board at any meeting since 
        but student sales seem to go on as usual.  So I guess that is 
        the end of that.

        Also it was announced that Larry Koger had been hired as bus 
        supervisor and Doug Irwin had been hired as head mechanic.

        Another parent appeared to complain about a situation at the 
        preschool program at the local day care center and the county 
        judge and the chairman of the county bicentennial committee 
        asked permission to look into fixing up the old Hopkins one room 
        school as a museum.  This permission was granted.  Whether there 
        will be any follow up on the parent's complaint or the other 
        parent's request for more playground equipment remains to be 
        seen.