INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Indian River County School Board is moving forward with its $80,000 agreement with the Environmental Learning Center to provide instructional time at the outdoor facility despite one School Board member’s initial opposition to the price tag.
“I’m probably one of the greenest people here,” School Board member Shawn Frost said, addressing his fellow Board members Tuesday evening, noting he’s a science teacher and drives a Prius.
Though he supports the ELC, he questioned the approximately $31-per-student cost citing other funding needs within the School District. One such need, he pointed out is raises for principals, whose salaries have been frozen for seven years, he said.
Frost’s fellow Board members said that while they appreciated his concerns, they were not willing to forgo the ELC class trips for the 2,560 third and fourth grade students.
“I support this motion,” School Board member Claudia Jimenez said of approving the agreement, adding that the District is “very blessed to have this partnership.”
School Board member Dale Simchick concurred, adding that the District is unique in that it has such an opportunity for its young students.
“It’s just right out our back door,” Simchick said.
The price tag covers the following:
- Transportation;
- Teaching of two curricula – Splash for 3rd graders and Lagoon Days for 4th graders; and
- Use of the facility for 5 weekdays to be used for teacher in-service training and/or summer youth camp.
Frost was the lone dissenting vote on the original motion but later asked the Board’s prevailing members to reconsider the action so he could cast a supportive vote. He said he wanted to show solidarity before the ELC’s new executive director, Molly Steinwald, who was still in the audience.
The Board reopened the vote and the decision to approve the agreement with the ELC passed unanimously.
