Ice storm spells end for early release days
Power outage causes heating system malfuctions
Staff writer
No thanks to this past week's ice storm, students attending Marion-Florence USD 408 can say goodbye to their monthly early dismissal Wednesdays for the remainder of the school year.
The storm not only caused downed tree limbs at the elementary and middle/high school complexes, but the power outage led to heating system malfunctions at the Marion Elementary and Marion Middle School.
During Monday night's board of education meeting, superintendent Lee Leiker gave a report regarding the ice storm and its effect on USD 408.
Due to the power outage, a circulating pump on the boiler which heats the west end of Marion Elementary went out. Hot water is pumped through pipes. Air is then blown through the pipes, heating the classrooms.
"Without the hot water circulating in it, three classroom heater units froze up," Leiker said.
The three units were in the north kindergarten room, the art room, and Ginger Becker's fourth grade classroom.
The pump was replaced Thursday evening.
A pipe also froze in the same boiler room which provides hot water to rest rooms. As of Monday night, those rest rooms did not have hot running water, Leiker said.
At Marion Middle School, one heater froze in the art room when the damper system froze open, Leiker said.
The power outage also caused the district to lose all the milk it had on hand. Also, without electricity temperatures began to rise in the big freezer located outside the elementary school.
"A service call Friday put it back in good working order," Leiker told the board.
The ice storm knocked down tree limbs at Marion Elementary and several trees sustained damage near the Hill School on the middle school/high school campus.
Leiker complimented the district's custodial crew for all their hard work during the storm and its aftermath. He especially thanked elementary custodian Bob Good, district maintenance supervisor Dick Maggard, and business manager/board clerk Martin Tice.
"Bob kept the heat going in the elementary school. He even spent the night to make sure the heat was working and we could be up and running Friday morning," Leiker said.
"Martin wore two hats," Leiker said, noting Tice's position as mayor of Marion. "He helped us know when we'd be able to be up and running."
Tice said the district would apply for funds to help with damage costs.
Board president Rex Savage questioned how the two days off would affect the district calendar.
Leiker noted time wasn't built into the calendar to cover snow days.
"And we have a whole lot of winter left," Leiker said. "Potentially, the rest of this week may be a problem."
Leiker said using spring break time would not be a popular option, but noted early release staff development days were available. Remaining early release days are Jan. 19, Feb. 16, April 20, and May 25.
"Those are four half-days we could utilize," Leiker said. "My recommendation is we have students stay the full day."
Board member Keith Collett questioned whether using that time would violate the district's negotiated agreement with teachers. Leiker said it would not because those are designated as "student contact days."
The board voted unanimously to use the four early release dates.
The board again noted winter had just begun and there was a possibility of more snow days in the future.
