The Bangor School Board spent the bulk of its Nov. 19 meeting in preliminary discussion about two issues: formation of a policy concerning release of information in student records and the need for acoustical tile in the new elementary school gymnasium.

The school is currently formulating a data directory policy. The intent is to set guidelines for the release of information “generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy.” Information like a student’s name, photograph, email address and major field of study, degrees and academic honors would fall into this category.

Such information, for example, might be used in a yearbook. Or, in the case of athletic teams, height and weight, might be released.

According to state law, directory data may be disclosed by authorized school employees without written consent after parents or legal guardians have been notified and given 14 days to inform the school what kind of information may not be released without their written consent.

Board members expressed concerns that some might feel the policy would be too liberal. “I’ve heard some say that a directory with all that information will be available in the library,’” said board member Marcy Berger. She was assured that was not the case and that, as is the case now, discretion is practiced.

Still, given the sensitivity of the topic, board members seemed to agree with Superintendent Roger Foegen that the board might want to wait until next fall to implement the policy so it could be more clearly explained. Ultimately, no further action was taken on the matter.

Foegen then brought the board up to date on the situation in the new elementary school gymnasium. Numerous reports have been received that the acoustics inside it are not good and that it is so noisy it is hard to hold a conversation. Board members who recently attended events there agreed that the situation is in need of a remedy.

Foegen said he took bids from three companies for the placing of 62 acoustical tiles on the gym’s walls. Midwest Sound came in with the low bid of $6,300, but Foegen said that in further conversations with Midwest, they offered two other options that involved placing of more tiles on the walls as well as sound baffles hanging from the ceiling. Prices for the other two options were between $9,000 and $10,000. Foegen said he was told that the last two options would do a much better job of reducing reverbations in the gym.

After a lengthy discussion, the board decided to table the issue until bids from other companies could be collected and assessed. A special meeting will be called if approval of a plan is needed so that the work could be done over Christmas vacation.

Other business

Superintendent Foegen reported that, after testing, Brock Thermal Systems told him it would cost $33,872 for asbestos abatement at the old high school and another $3,000 for removal of the furnace. “Essentially, it will cost us between $35,000 and $40,000 for asbestos removal if we decide to tear down the old school,” Foegen said.

Erica Knerzer of Hawkins Ash Baptie reported that the financial audit conducted last summer went well. “Your combined assets increased by $649,000 and that’s always a good thing,” Knerzer said. “Overall, it was a good year for you guys and no material weaknesses were found.”

School psychologist Kathy Carson told the board members that the number of special needs students in K-12 was 60 this year, down slightly from last year.

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