Carroll School Board had its annual meeting with students on March 21 at Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School.

Student Council representatives attended the meeting on behalf of the Student Body.

The students had several things on their minds, including problems with the new firewall system, need for more access to the weight room, complaints about the sound system in the gym, and making a second recommendation for a defibrillator at school.

Desiray Simmons brought up the topic of the new firewall system that was installed in December.

Board president Sam Zook said the system was purchased to give more protection to the network, cut down on incoming objectionable emails, and to block students from accessing inappropriate websites.

The problem, according to Simmons and other students, is that some legitimate websites, which students need to access for homework or in-class assignments, are also blocked.

"I've been getting on Ag sites for four years, and now I can't," said Ashley Miller.

Adam Bonner mentioned problems with getting on a stock market simulation site for economics class.

Students said there are also inconsistencies - one day you can get on a site, and the next day you can't.

"We thought the old system was working fine," Simmons said.

The administration and the school board did not think it was working fine. Superintendent John Sayers said $20,000 was spent on the new system. Sayers and Principal Charles Huckstep said the system has been doing a good job of reducing unwanted emails and blocking inappropriate sites, but it has also blocked some appropriate sites. Sayers said the software blocks categories, not specific sites. Zook gave an example that sites that offer shopping are supposed to be blocked. So legitimate sites that have things for sale, could be blocked.

Huckstep said students who want a site unblocked should fill out a form, signed by a teacher, indicating whether the request is for a day, two days, a week, etc. He said to put it on his chair, where he would find it. The requests are given to the technology person, Roger Mahrling.

One student said the hassle of reaching Internet sites at school was forcing him to do more research at home. Other students commented that they didn't have the Internet at home or that their home Internet access was too slow. Others said it sometimes takes two days to get a site unblocked.

Sayers said he'll see if the software can be "tweaked." "I'm not sure with this software that it can be fixed," he said.

Kelsey Kennedy and other students talked about the need for all sports to have accessibility to the weight room. There are two certified supervisors for the weight room, Steve Keown and Jeff Hodson. Some students said their coach is not an authorized supervisor and the weight room is not open when they want to use it.

Before the end of the meeting, Keown said he would be available at the weight room on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, beginning at 6:45. The weight room is also open after school from 3:30 to 5 p.m..

Responding to complaints about the sound system in the gym, Athletic Director Scott Ayres acknowledged the problem. He said the gym needs four new speakers and a wider range microphone.

Brian Griffin said students brought up last year about having a defibrillator at school. Board member Barb Payne said a committee looked into that possibility and reported to the board. She said the board hasn't made a decision yet.

Kylene Miller said she thought a defibrillator would be a positive addition to the school.

"Most of the teachers are at an age when they can have heart attacks," she said.

Payne said a person would have to be trained to use the defibrillator, and only that person could use it. She added that there is only a certain amount of time following a heart attack that a defibrillator can be used. Zook said the Carroll campus may be too spread out for the defibrillator to be effective.

Krystal Brazel asked about transferring letters from other schools.

Zook said the school's current policy does not allow that because schools have different rules for lettering. He said the Athletic Council formulates the policy on such issues, and makes recommendations to the board. The board considers policies in May.

Another question was asked about cheerleader fundraising. Sayers said for the last year and a half, cheerleaders have fallen under the same rules as sport teams. Individual teams cannot have fundraisers that benefit just themselves. Zook said there is a fundraising committee formed that will report to the board.

School attorney and Flora Kiwanis member Miriam Robeson gave an update on the milk machine proposal. Flora Kiwanis and the American Dairy Association offered to buy a milk vending machine that could be used after school or at special events. It would replace a coke machine, that would be moved to another location in the school. She said originally the proposal was for the machine to also be stocked with juices and tea, but the American Dairy Association's sponsorship was conditional on the machine only stocking dairy products. A student organization could maintain the machine and keep the proceeds.

Robeson asked the students at the meeting if they would use the machine if it contained only milk. Very few students responded that they would.

Sayers informed the students about outdoor projects that will begin May 30. He said at the track and football field complex, plans call for new bleachers, lighting, concession stand, and restroom facilities. Tennis courts will be resurfaced, and the fencing around the courts will be refurbished. The same project also calls for reroofing two sections of the high school. (Sayers told the CometFriday that although construction will be going on this summer, there will be lights for the Relay for Life.)

The other outdoor project calls for a softball diamond and soccer field south of the elementary school, next to the baseball diamond. Sayers said the exact positioning of the fields is still under consideration. He asked the students if the length or the direction of the soccer field is more important, considering space constraints. Students responded that the longer field is preferred.

Sayers also asked the students to think about solutions for the traffic pattern problems at the schools.

"There is a bottle neck at both buildings, and we don't necessarily have a solution," Sayers said.

A student asked about the corporation's money situation.

Sayers said the corporation will have a one-year debt for the outdoor project in the football/ tennis courts area.

He said decisions by the state have affected the financial status of school corporations.

"There's not a school corporation around that is as financially sound as they were two years ago, and in two years we won't be as healthy as we are now," Sayers said. "But we're as financially healthy as any corporation around." Keith Chandler, executive director of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the students and left his business card. He said he would like to see a partnership between businesses and the schools. He said the Chamber could be a resource for students looking for internships, job shadowing, and sponsorships.

Another meeting may be set up between some of the board members and selected students to follow up on items discussed at the meeting.