| Levy
amount is set
The local school district will be seeking a $395,000 override levy in the school election which is set for Tuesday, May 17. The amount was set by a resolution approved at the March school board meeting held Monday, March 21. This levy would amount to $2.94 per $1000 evaluation. The administration and board members will be providing information on the need for the override over the next several weeks. In other business the board approved a proposal to require economics for 2 semesters. Economics is also likely to be available as a dual credit course. A one-year contract extension was approved for high school principal Randy Brown. Frank Bruno was approved for hire as the varsity baseball coach and Kyle Westhoff was approved as assistant coach. Becky Higgins was approved as high school track assistant coach while also retaining her head coaching post for junior high track. Vikki Riener was approved as junior high track assistant coach. There was discussion on redoing the trustee zone boundaries. State law requires this be done every 10 years following the census. It costs $850 to have the review done and state law is specific that it has to be done. The board passed a motion directing the superintendent to have the review done. In facility updates Rene’ Forsmann reported the lower level at the high school is still on track to finish in early May. Sheetrocking of the walls should be starting this week. Greg Deiss reported that the former district office area is nearly empty at the Elementary building as is the basement as they continue to move toward closing that building. Word is also being put out that the building is available for sale. In administrative reports, Brown reported on the TSA and BPA state winners. He also reported the high school will have a Showcase Night April 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. Student accomplishments will be exhibited, the music program will be performing and there will be a meeting in the cafeteria at 7 to discuss dual credit offerings and answer questions about the program. Senior Projects were discussed with staff and a formal presentation on this will be made at the April board meeting. The state is looking at requiring completion and presentation of a senior project for graduation. 65 students are participating in spring sports. Deiss reported that thanks to donations and a fund-raising effort, the 4th grade made their steelhead trip to the fish hatchery on March 8. The tank is set up in the hallway and waiting for eggs. The afterschool choir went to the Jazz Festival on Feb. 25 after weather aborted the attempt the day before. Peewee basketball is done for the year but baseball and softball are now using the gym for practices. March 14 to 18 saw play practice at the gym with all students bussed to the high school for the performance on Friday. The Center for Discovery and Michelle Huttash put on the play this year instead of Missoula Children’s Theatre. Feedback on the play was that the music was missed, performance could have been longer, more lines for each performer and sound system and lighting problems. Forsmann reported that 79 students tried out which made for enough that the two performances, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., saw two different groups of students performing. She also reported that the school’s spelling bee champion made it to the 6th round at the Regional Bee before missing a word. She also reported that the Middle School was given an award from IDLA for 100% completion of coursework taken online. The local students are doing very well. She also stated that students involved want to be involved and she’s not sure this is for everyone as the state superintendent of public instruction is advocating. In her superintendent’s report she reported that she was asked to present to the Prairie ROCKS! Group on March 14. She attended the Superintendent’s meeting March 16 and said there will be an Education Law Institute in April and will be attending that. Any board members wishing to go along are welcome. She was also presented a plaque recognizing that Cottonwood/Prairie High School has been meeting Accreditation standards for 75 straight years. She presented that plaque to Brown for display at the high school. The board meeting adjourned at 7:57 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Monday, April 18 at 7 p.m. in the Middle School Library. |
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