HOWELL— Days after the Howell Police Athletic League (PAL) began operating out of the Southard School, Howell municipal and K-8 school district officials praised the move as an example of shared services benefiting the community.
During a special joint meeting between the Township Council and the Board of Education on Sept. 21, municipal officials also commended what they called the rapid success of program offerings at the school.
The Southard School was closed two years ago as enrollment in Howell’s K-8 schools declined. It is anticipated that the school will eventually host programs for the community.
Board President Timothy O’Brien said he believes the Southard School’s new use will be an asset to the people of Howell.
“I expect that it’s going to be a catalyst for growth,” O’Brien said. “We are really surprised and pleased to see how fast this is progressing.”
Mayor Robert Walsh said he was also impressed with the progress and is excited to see the benefits for Howell residents.
“I think this is a tremendous step in the right direction,” Walsh said. “A lot can be done with that school, a lot of good for the community.”
Walsh pledged to do everything he can to help ensure that the endeavor succeeds.
Hal Foley, of the Howell PAL, gave an update regarding the organization’s new presence at the Southard School.
“We really see something special about to happen,” Foley said. “We have already seen a great deal of interest from the public. We all have a common goal to see Southard School active, revitalized and vital, and we think this is a very positive first step.”
He thanked all parties involved for their contributions and outlined current programming at the school, which includes athletic activities for young people.
Officials said other programming that could be held at the Southard School includes activities for the community’s special needs population.
Later in the joint meeting, Walsh informed the school board that the township would no longer be able to provide personnel to video record board meetings because of budget cuts in the township’s Information Technology Department.
The mayor offered the school board the use of town hall, where automatic video recording equipment is in place.
Board members asked the district’s business administrator, Ron Sanasac, to explore the mayor’s offer and other options that may be available in regard to making video recordings of meetings.
Sanasac said the school district has the equipment necessary to video record meetings, but not the personnel to operate the equipment.
Board member Mary Cerretani said she was in favor of continuing the practice of recording meetings, but expressed concern over the potential cost and about using “educational dollars” to do so.
The township will continue to provide the service until Oct. 31.
“It gives us time to see what our options are,” O’Brien said .
Following the jointmeeting with the council, the board held a special meeting and Superintendent of Schools Enid Golden provided updates regarding the implementation of the state’s anti-bullying and anti-harassment law.
In accordance with the new state law, Golden will publicly report incidents of bullying and harassment to the board.
The superintendent noted that in the first few weeks of school, 11 incidents were investigated and three produced evidence of harassment.
Golden told the board that the implementation of the state law is taxing guidance counselors who have been tapped to serve as anti-bullying specialists in each school.
“It is absorbing so much of their time that it is taking away from other services,” she said.
Following the meeting, Golden said the situation could improve as the implementation process continues. She said the anti-bullying law is well-intentioned.
“As we work through it, it could get somewhat easier,” the superintendent said. “We think it’s good to have the bullying policy, it’s certainly a huge a concern, but the processes put in place with this law are just extraordinarily cumbersome.”