Birds, ticks messing up playground at MES
Birds and ticks are creating an unhealthy area for students at Marion Elementary School. Martin Tice, business manager and board clerk for Marion-Florence USD 408, told school board members Monday night, "We'll do something."
That something may involve trimming trees and spraying the ticks, or it may involve removal of a treeline with 80 to 100 trees on the east side of the MES grounds.
There were thousands of birds there Thursday night, a board member said. The birds and ticks have "made a mess of the playground and playground equipment at MES," a board member said.
The treeline, consisting of hedge trees, is on both sides of a property line, Tice said. The playground has been moved to the west side of the building for now, leaving the equipment on the east side.
Eliminating the treeline to eliminate the problem will not be easy or cheap, Tice said. He noted, too, that ticks have been more prevalent than usual this year.
If the trees are taken out, it will take away a lot of shade, too, he said. The tall trees are causing the problems, he said.
The district can spray to kill the ticks, then wash down the playground equipment, he said.
Gene Bowers, school board vice president, said it would be hard to remove some and not all of the trees, because their roots would definitely be intertwined, interconnected.
He estimated the cost of removing the trees at $10,000 to $20,000.
Superintendent Gerald Henderson said, "We'll have to spend some money on it."
The board approved hiring of Richard Pracht as a part-time bus driver and Mary Griffith as debate coach at the high school.
Griffith said that according to a study she had heard quoted at Emporia State University, the top 10 percent of college graduates in the U.S. have all had some involvement in debate.
Board member Keith Collett said his three years in debate at school were the best thing about his high school years, and something he uses a lot in his career as an attorney.
"That may inspire in some a desire to shut down the whole program, but
The board officially recognized Key Club as an MHS organization. Roger Schwab is its sponsor. It is under the sponsorship of the Marion Kiwanis Club.
The Key Club is a service organization with 32 members at MHS. They will help with Art in the Park Sept. 20, and help Kiwanians on Old Settlers' Day a week later.
The club conducted a coat drive for needy children last fall and winter.
Tice, Henderson, and others agreed that Key Club is "a great organization."
The board approved the ESSDACK interlocal agreement to run another five years, starting July 1, 2004. The organization provides staff development help and training.
The board conducted one closed meeting for 10-15 minutes to discuss a personnel matter.
