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The North Branch School Board is still short one member with the election to fill Aaron Gibbons’ seat not being held until later this summer.  But the remaining five Board members are plugging away at formulating final wording of a  bonding request for facilities.  

Tuesday, May 24 is the tentative date for the district to open its polling places, and hold the bond referendum.

The School Board will gather in a retreat format Thursday, February 25 at 5:30 p.m. to focus on facilities issues.  The catch phrase for the bond referendum is Renovate, Innovate and Collaborate so if you hear a board member referring to RIC, this is what they’re talking about.  

The Board will also see results of the most recent Thoughtexchange effort at the retreat.   Thoughtexchange is an online tool that immediately groups frequent comments with shared words, and then prompts additional comment on the most frequent themes found in survey responses submitted electronically by participants.

Veterans’ Memorial?
District representatives are also meeting with North Branch area veterans organizations to gauge interest in the potential for a veterans’ memorial as part of the new activity center,  proposed at the high school stadium-ballfield complex.  (See above drawing)

There was a meeting scheduled yesterday (February 17) for veterans and district administrators working on the design plan for the activity center.
Very early floor plans shown to the North Branch School Board last week  depict the center housing a ticket sales booth, rest rooms, teamroom and storage space in a new building, next to the stadium.

From February 2 to 11 North Branch’s website provided Thoughtexchange, collecting the anonymous opinions and frequently occuring themes, extrapolating the important issues.  

Participants needed an e mail address to enter the Thoughtexchange software system and provide opinions on facilities. They could opt for facilities they are “associated” with (such as a particular school) or Community members could opt to take the survey under an unaffiliated “Community” category.

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