School Board Focus on Safety, Closing Primary

The Thayer Central Board of Education informed about 35 visitors Monday night that the district’s plan is to move forward with safety issues at the school as well as campus unification. The question, however, is whether to make the improvements a bond issue or use the building fund to pay for the improvements.

“A month ago I said I’d never go through this again,” said Superintendent Drew Harris in reference to seeking a bond issue for facility improvements. The district’s previous attempts fell to narrow defeats in primary elections in 2013 and again this year. “But I think it’s the right thing for the kids. We need to make these improvements one way or another. Our school is not safe.”

Harris said the district will be taking some safety measures this summer to ready the school for fall classes including installation of keyless door entries and door buzzers in all the school buildings. He also said the installation of cameras, stop signs, barricades and speed bumps in the parking lot will help, but other issues still need to be addressed such as tornado shelters and a safer way for children to cross the parking lot between buildings during school hours.

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