The Pleasantville School Board met in regular session Monday evening. Members of Pleasantville Boy Scout Troop 363, leaders, and parents observed the meeting as part of earning two merit badges; Communication and Citizenship in the Community.

The board viewed a collaborative student video from Mr. Thomas’s STEM middle school classes. The video presented a study where students explored the rate of heat loss through middle school windows on a day where the temperature was approximately freezing. Students concluded that heat loss cost the district approximately $178 per year. The students recommended layered or insulated curtains be purchased to save the district money.

The board approved the purchase of a new Chevrolet 2500 plow truck for approximately $30,000. The old truck will be sold.

They approved a request in the amount approximately $60,000 for additional spending authority from the State’s School Budget Review Committee.

The board learned a number of parents are forming a Pleasantville Drug Task Force; Pleasantville District Superintendent Tony Aylsworth tells KNIA/KRLS News this grassroots organization will seek to teach parents about drug abuse prevention.

“It’ll be a group that looks to accomplish some things in terms of parent education around the choices kids are making, and some of the unfortunate aspects of the drug culture and substance abuse culture that parents might not be aware of,” Aylsworth says.

The board was presented a budget forecasting tool that explored varying levels of school funding and enrollment and how those variables and others might influence the school budget over the next five years.

They also explored the option of sharing a part time Human Resources position, among other issues.