New Wayland Union Schools Supt. Tim Reeves will represent the district next Monday night at the City Council meeting to decide whether or not the city will adopt an ordinance permitting the growing, processing, sale and distribution of recreational marijuana.

The Board of Education asked Reeves to tell the council about concerns with having such businesses too close to schools. The city right now is being presented with a proposed ordinance that insists on at least 200 feet between schools and such businesses.

Board Treasurer Pete Zondervan said, “I worry about the ability to control this from a safety standpoint… If we are quiet, it looks like we’re OK with it.”

Colleague Janelle Hott agreed, saying, “We’re concerned about the proximity.”

However, Trustee Norm Taylor, former superintendent and current council member, said he brought up the distance issue and was told that if the city insists on as much as 500 feet from a school, there wouldn’t be any businesses eligible except on Reno Drive.

Taylor said the 200-foot requirement already causes locations such as Bentley’s Party Store, Big Dipper ice cream shop, Papa Mineo’s Pizza and No. 1 Chinese Restaurant to be ineligible.

Vice President Cinnamon Mellema asked if the school board issued similar objections to the now defunct Jayda Gale liquor establishment and eatery at the corner of Pine and South Main streets.

Saying it’s a matter of fairness in treating alcohol and marijuana businesses the same, she said, “We have to be careful about what we regulate.”

Taylor said marijuana businesses now bring municipalities an average of $56,000 a year in revenue and they “are strictly regulated” by the state.

Board President Dan Casini said, “I don’t see the Wayland schools’ place in this matter.”

Nonetheless, council will receive Taylor and Reeves for discussion on the issue Monday, July 18.

In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the school board:

• Fielded a complaint from retiring Dorr Elementary physical education teacher Betty Onopa, who said she was happy that Michael Weber has been selected to be her replacement, but two teachers with little or no phys ed experience will share Weber’s old job.

“This could be a liability,” she told the board. We built a strong PE program. We’re not just glorified baby-sitters.”

Amy Nieuwenhuis, Otsego elementary physical education teacher, echoed Onopa’s criticism.

“I’m deeply disappointed with Wayland Schools for placing two classroom teachers in a physical education class.”

• Continued discussion about, but made no decision on hiring another public safety office to complement Mark Miller.

• Noted that the Citizens’ “Yes” Committee is sending postcards to all district voters to urge a positive vote on the Aug. 2 bond project proposal. The election is three weeks away.