BY CAROL MOSLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
BROOKER — The Brooker Community School Board has been putting much energy into wrapping up the finishing details for a Charter Schools Program grant. Things are looking good for being granted $503,000 in funding.
Award letters will be issued in October. Board Treasurer Randy Starling said it will be amazing how fast the money will go.
The details remaining for the grant application had to do with getting the school’s policy manual finalized and submitting the list of items that the funds will be spent on. Teachers and board members were asked to offer their lists of priorities to select from.
The CSP grant requires all items purchased to be movable in case they ever need to be forfeited to the district. So, laptops and white boards were an obvious priority. Tables and chairs were an easy pick. A portable PA system for use at events would cost $2,300, and the IT and system for an internal PA for school wide announcements came in at about $3,800.
Purchase of a bus was the big ticket item up for discussion. An option would be to purchase a used bus for now and then get a new bus next year. They could start with a used bus for under $50,000 and consider a fully equipped new bus for around $150,000. The current bus rental from the county is $33,000 per year and the bus must be inspected monthly. Having two buses would allow for faster routing of students as well as provide back up in the event of mechanical failures.
A few items on the dream list were things like playground equipment and some kind of greenhouse to support the agricultural focus of the school. Since items purchased with the grant funding must be movable, it limits the options for these items. But they are not off the table; just on hold for creative solutions such as a zip line that can be put away and small portable greenhouses.
The fall festival, scheduled for Oct. 21, is a major focus of the school board and the Parent Teacher Organization. Plans are being made for the food vendors, activities booths and raffle items. Prizes donated thus far include a 42-inch smart TV, a $200 Walmart shopping spree, a Stihl chainsaw, $150 worth of auto detailing by Ray-Ray, and two kid’s Nighthawk electric ride-on toys. Other items are being added all the time.
The goal is to sell 2,500 “giveaway” tickets for the raffle costing one dollar each. The raffle will be held during the cake walk, but winners need not be present to claim their prize.
One agenda item was to determine a set schedule for school board meetings. The fourth Tuesday of every month was identified as a best option for the most members. The next meeting will be held on Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
