School Board meets
The school board accepted several resignations and approved a couple of hirings at their May meeting Monday, May 20.
Pat Alfrey resigned as Zone #5 Trustee effective June 3. The District will advertise the post and interview those interested on June 3. They will then hold a special meeting on June 4 to make the appointment and swear in the new trustee. You must live within the Zone #5 boundaries to fill the position.
Other resignations accepted were Ryan Hasselstrom as junior high boys basketball coach, Matt Elven as junior high football coach and Jarret Nuxoll as Agriculture Instructor.
Approved for hire were Matt Elven and Teel Bruner as assistant high school football coaches. Those positions came open when Tanner Ross and Hayden Uhlenkott both felt they had too many other things going on in their lives to devote the time needed to coaching.
Also approved for hire was Sydney Shears as the summer maintenance help. She started work on Monday.
Bids were opened for the Elementary Breezeway enclosure project. There were 3 bids received ranging from $95,000 to $123,000. The bid was awarded to low bidder Concept Construction out of Winchester who bid $95,000. The district was awarded a $105,000 grant for the project which just about covers it when architect fees are included.
The board approved the use of the football equipment for the high school team’s football camp in June. They will be going to Montana Tech for football camp June 7-8-9.
3 policies regarding school transportation were approved with minor changes. The minor changes were on the recommendation of a state transportation official who was here working with David Shears recently.
In the Jr./Sr. High School Report, Elven said ISAT testing was completed on May 3. They are still awaiting most of the results but from what he has seen so far, Prairie students are testing above state averages.
The Mother-Daughter Tea was held May 5.
The mock accident that was scheduled for May 6 was cancelled due to weather. Cody and Shauntell Funke will try and set another one up next school year.
Six juniors attended the Logs to Lumber tour at Idaho Forest Group on May 9.
The baseball team was named state academic champions for the 1A classification.
Mrs. Quintal, Mr. Hasselstrom and Elven took sophomores and juniors to the Dream It, Do It conference at LCSC on May 14.
The band had a trip to Silverwood for an end of the year field trip on May 16 but due to a ticketing snafu they wound up going to Triple Play instead. Apparently only special needs children were allowed entry to Silverwood on that date.
The Spring Band Concert was to be held Tuesday, May 21.
The 6^th graders were to tour the Jr./Sr. High on May 21 as well.
Prairie League will be hosting a big sister-little sister get together for incoming 8^th grade girls who will be paired with an upperclassman for the upcoming school year.
Spring sports awards banquets are set. Baseball will be at the cafeteria on Wednesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. Softball awards will be at the cafeteria on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. Track and Field awards are set for Tuesday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m. It will be at the track if weather permits or at the high school gym or cafeteria otherwise.
The PHS awards assembly is Friday, May 24 at 9:15 a.m. Most of the local scholarships will be presented to seniors at this assembly along with classroom awards and Booster Club grade awards.
Graduation is May 31.
Jon Rehder reported his summative evaluations have been completed.
Their last R3 assembly was May 3. They will have the awards assembly on Thursday, May 30, the last day of school.
The IRI was administered on May 16 to all K-3 students. The results showed the students did very well. Teachers set goals with their classes and those that met them will be pieing Rehder in the face at the end of the Field Day on Wednesday, May 29.
5^th and 6^th grade teachers are getting a Fall Camp set up for Sept. 25-27 at Three Meadows Group Camp.
ISAT testing was completed on May 7. Results show students tested very well against the state averages.
The Elementary Spring Concert is this Friday, May 24 starting at 1 p.m.
Kindergarten graduation will be Tuesday, May 28 at 1 p.m. in the Elementary Gym.
In his facilities report Rehder noted the painting of the remainder of the Elementary School will be the week of June 3. Nita Lorentz is planning on coming in the latter part of June to complete trim/beams and other detailed areas.
All three gym floors will be refinished June 29-July 2. Estimated cost is $14,035 for materials and labor.
They purchased 2 floor polishers, one for the high school and the other for the Elementary. They plan to wax the hallways and polish the classrooms this summer. Next year they will polish the halls and wax the classrooms. This would cut down on the amount of wax used as well as the time and cost of prepping all the floors by stripping lod wax. He figures the polishers will pay for themselves in 1 year.
In his superintendent report he said he and Denise Uhlenkott attended the legislative roadshow on April 19. They learned a lot about state funds and the state insurance plan.
Breakfast will not be free next year at the  Elementary School. Jennifer Riener will be figuring out the amount to charge and they will need to set that amount by July 1. This will not impact the free or reduced student population.
They will be doing interviews on May 22 for 3 paraprofessional openings. They will also be looking to replace the ag teacher. Rehder has already done some work on looking for candidates.
The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m. There will be a special meeting on Tuesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. to appoint a new board trustee for zone 5. The next regular meeting will be Wednesday, June 12 at 7 p.m. This is because Rehder will not be available on the usual date of June 17.