Board hires new school nurse
The Williamston Community Schools Board of Education voted to hire Amanda Gailitis as the new school nurse for the district during the Nov. 1 meeting, effective Nov. 15.
Gailitis has experience as a pediatric nurse at a hospital and at a school district.
The board voted unanimously to approve district’s superintendent Dr. Adam Spina motion to hire Gailitis as the district’s first school nurse.
“We had a very competitive applicant pool, and Amanda just stood out for so many different reasons,” Spina said. “She’s going to be an excellent fit all across the board.”
Her new office will be inside Explorer Elementary School, but she will circulate through the district.
“I think this is really a proud moment for our district,” said board president Nancy Deal. “It is really exciting, and I’m really glad that our research is recognized. This is really important.”
Gailitis said “I’m really excited to come and support all your staff and your students. Thank you for this opportunity.”
Plans for reunification drills
The board has plans to implement a reunification drill across the district in December.
Spina said it has been two years since the district ran their last reunification drill, but this year, the drill will be more of an open discussion of procedure that incorporates the district’s bomb threat protocol rather than a full run-through of the drill.
The district will get support from the Michigan State Police to retrain their administrators in the protocols and to make any adjustments to the plan as needed.
The rest of the emergency drills will be completed as usual.
“One piece you really have to think through is: What is the traumatic event you are putting those kids through when you run those drills?” Spina said. “Kids have to know what to do, staff needs to know what to do, but they are scary things.”
Board debates new bus purchase
The board of education discussed the possibility of purchasing a new bus for the district.
Bus 26 was in need of significant repairs for it to run safely, but the bus was already halfway through its life expectancy.
“I don’t know that it makes financial sense to put in the type of money that would be needed to make it roadworthy again instead of just purchasing a new bus,” Spina said. “If you add up to two different expenses you’re coming in close to half the cost of purchasing a new bus that would give us at least 10 years of service.”
Board member Julie Conley brought up the possibility of leasing the bus instead of buying.
“I just didn’t know if we had done anything regarding leasing versus purchasing,” Conley said. “Is there any benefit at this point being the higher cost of trying to lease and then buying it in three years?”
Further discussions about new buses will be moved to the next meeting.
The next Williamston Community Schools Board of Education meeting will take place on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.