E-mail information to the Task Force:
nhstaskforce@portageps.org

Progress Report, March 12, 2010: Click here

Task Force Report, March 22, 2010: Click here

Task Force Report, June 8, 2010: Click here

Task Force Update, March 3, 2011: Click here

Organizational Meeting Summary, March 3, 2010:

A task force has been appointed by Superintendent Marsha Wells to examine air quality at Portage Northern High School. The group held an organizational meeting today and prepared a work schedule for the next several weeks.

Task Force membership:  The task force is being co-chaired by Assistant Superintendent Tom Noverr and Northern High School Principal Jim French. Other members of the task force are: Grace Hill, Northern student; Don Jones, Northern parent; Connie Livingston, Northern parent; Joel Shaffer, Northern teacher; Stacie Phillips, Northern teacher; Bonnie VanEenenaam, Northern teacher; Mike Huber, assistant principal at Northern; and Tom Zahrt, PPS Human Resources director.

Anticipated Task Force outcomes:  The task force will serve in a review and advisory capacity, and recommendations regarding the safety of students, school personnel, and the community will be welcome.

Task Force meetings: Attendance at the task force meetings will be by invitation.  Attendees may include students and their parents, teachers and others who have had or have concerns about air quality on the Northern campus; construction personnel; air quality experts; and regulatory and governmental officials. The task force will make every effort to respect the privacy of individuals who seek privacy, but those individuals will be advised that this is a public issue, that such privacy is not assured and that, therefore, the invitation is voluntary and the invitation can be denied.

Task Force process: The co-chairs will attempt to work by means of consensus, but if requested by members, may use voting and/or dissent methods for the sake of fairness and clarification. Resources available for the task force’s work will fall within the normal approval patterns for spending, with the understanding that the task force should request the necessary resources to provide meaningful recommendations.

Task Force reports: The task force today agreed to meet several times over the next few weeks and issue preliminary findings to the Superintendent prior to the March 22 Board of Education meeting. The group then plans to resume work after Spring Break. Information about the ongoing work of the task force can be approved by the task force itself. If so, it would be reported by the co-chairs through the office of Community Relations. Unless otherwise protected by law, the documents and findings of the task force will be open to the public at the conclusion of the task force’s work.

Invitation to submit information: Although the task force will select who will be asked for information and/or to participate in meetings, others are welcome to submit their opinions, facts, questions, concerns and comments to the task force by mail or by e-mail message at: nhstaskforce@portageps.org. They may also request an opportunity to appear before the task force. Submissions are encouraged prior to March 15 in order to give the task force time to review them, but submissions will continue to be welcomed after that date as well.