News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Alpena Public Schools Board members Eric Hansen, Monica Dziesinski, and AJ MacArthur discuss a rain garden installation on Monday night.

ALPENA — The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education discussed a rain garden installation at their workshop meeting on Monday night, and in their special meeting, they voted to table approval of the rain garden until their meeting on March 24.

The vote on the rain garden has been tabled twice already.

Four community members, including a former Alpena High School student, came forward during the public comment time to show their support for installing the rain garden in the dirt lot behind Alpena High School.

The first community member to come forward stated that when she first heard about the idea of installing a rain garden, she thought it was a beautiful idea. She implored board members to listen to the experts in this situation.

“It’s offering a way for you to make our town a little bit better, our lake a little cleaner, and our school a little prettier,” she said.

Patrick Heraghty, executive director of the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, spoke next.

“As the executive director of the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, we strongly support the installation of a rain garden at Alpena High School,” he said. “The community foundation has worked extensively on stormwater management over the past eight years and has seen firsthand how natural solutions like rain gardens effectively reduce runoff, prevent pollution, and enhance community spaces.”

Allison Borowski, an AHS alumna, also showed her support for the garden. As a former student and a graduate of the Career and Technical Education program, as well as a current member of Future Farmers of America, Borowski believes that the rain garden is a great idea.

“I think it’s a great idea to implement it at the school for both the school education-wise as well as the community involvement and a network between the community and the students,” she said.

Next, community member Carol McKay addressed the board in support of the rain garden.

“I had the opportunity to attend your strategic planning last month, found it very interesting, and wanted to point out that every aspect of the rain garden supports all five pillars of the strategic plan,” she said.

The five pillars of the strategic plan are academics and programs, whole child development, personnel, family and community partnership, and stewardship.

Later, Superintendent Dave Rabbideau agreed that the rain garden fits into at least three of the pillars in the strategic plan. He handed out to board members a document giving a rough idea of a maintenance plan for the rain garden.

Board member AJ MacArthur asked what the backup plan is if the rain garden is not approved. He had heard from the city that if they did not approve the rain garden, they would need to build a retention pond.

“I’m curious why we presented this as an alternate when it’s really not an alternate,” he said.

Rabbideau had not heard anything from the city about needing a retention pond.

“Why would they reach out to you and not the district?” Rabbideau said. “That’s where my concern is. Because had they reached out to us, whenever you had that conversation, we could have looked into it,” he said.

The board decided that they need to clarify with the city about whether a retention pond needs to be built before voting. The rain garden was on the agenda for their special board meeting Monday night after the workshop meeting, but they decided to table the vote until their next regular meeting on March 24.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

Director of Curriculum Matt Poli introduced the idea of adding Advanced English courses at Thunder Bay Junior High and a Practical Writing course at AHS.

AHS Principal Romeo Bourdage, Assistant Principal Mike Buchinger, Dean of Student Support Eric Mitchell, and Assistant Principal John Caplis spoke to the board about the In-School Suspension pilot program which will be starting after spring break at AHS. The goal of the program is to keep kids in school rather than sending them home for behavior issues.

Rabbideau gave a school safety update, highlighting features like safety vestibules and key card access, and plans for the future.

Rabbideau told the board that he would like to contract Kingscott to conduct a facilities use study. He handed them a document with an estimate. Rabbideau assured the community that the district is nowhere near the point of closing buildings. They are just asking questions for the future.

The board discussed policy 1210 which covers board-superintendent relationship. Board member Monica Dziesinski thought that the language was unclear and suggested a change.

Board member Eric Lawson suggested a change in the complaint process concerning policy 2521, selection of instructional materials, equipment, and media, and policy 9130, public complaints and grievances.

The board voted unanimously to award the Asbestos abatement bid to Mid Michigan Management for $366,478 for work at Alpena High School.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.