School Board Meeting Briefs

School Supt. R. Bruce McPherson indicated at last night's Board of Education meeting that $3,400 will be allocated for renovations to the Fritz Building on N. Maple Road so that it will be ready [for Pioneer II students by Oct. 24. In his progress report on the "f ree school," which is an experiment in alternative education, the superintendent said Pioneer II students were presently using the Jones Building. This week, orientation and scheduling are taking place, he said. o o A s 1 i d e presentation on Mitchell-Scarlett Woods was made to the board and the school district was urged by several parents, teachers and youngsters to "keep some stock in ownership and supervisión of the woods" so that it would not be destroyed. One biology teacher said the woods is a part of the education process and "why should we destroy something that cannot be reproduced in any book?" o o In order to assist the Ann Arbor schools in teaching local history, the Ann Arbor Historie District Commission presented the board with a proposal designating one of its members as a representative to coordínate a history education program with the schools. The purpose of the program would be to hold tours and discussions about the history of the city of Ann Arbor. In a joint statement to the board, Trustees Paul Carrington and Henry Johnson have appointed volunteer aides to study areas of special interest in the schools. The aides, Mrs. Tonya Isreal and Mrs. Harriet Powers, will gather facts concerning Pioneer II and the athletic ' and physical education programs. They will make visits and get feedback from persons involved in the programs. The information gathered by these aides will be used by the trustees to make more i constructive input in the meetings and board decisions, they said. "Too often, the only information we are able to get on Imatters in this system must come only from the I tration of an angry citizen," I explained Carrington. "With I the use of aides we can I ceive some calm, objective, I third-party observations that I will help us make our decisions." I o o ín recognition of Michigan International Week, Oct. 2431, the board expressed its belief in the interdependence of mankind. The board urged in a resolution that all Ann Arbor residents particípate in programs that will enhance I their understanding and apI preciation of other cultures, I and pledged that each "Ann I Arbor public school communiIty will continue to provide I leadership in the effort to proI mote true brotherhood among I all people." 1 o o I Mrs. Christella D. Moody ■ was approved by the board to I serve as a staff development I specialist reporting to Dr. TïoEërT Polts, who is human relations ombudsman. Mrs. Moody will receive an annual salary of $9,600. Teaching in Chicago elementary and junior high schools from 1958-1969, she served as a consultant in curriculum development in the Ann Arbor schools during last year. She received her BS degree from Chicago Teachers College in 1858 and was awarded an MA degree from the University of Chicago in 1969. _