| School
Board approves budget
The budget for he 2011-12 school year was adopted at the June meeting of the school board Monday, June 20. The board also approved selling as surplus any excess items generated from closing the elementary building. It was approved after some research to pay the dues to Idaho Association of Counties of $832.43. All of the other area school districts and highway districts are doing so as that group will be providing the lobbyists to try to get the Craig-Wyden funding continued that has since become the Secure Rural Schools and Roads act. Funding from that source is what has been paying for the building upgrades at the current high school and middle school so that they can close the Elementary. Some minor changes to section 5 of the policy manual were approved. Donna Latimer submitted her resignation from the Center For Discovery and it was accepted. If needed they will look at filling her position when the new school year approaches. In the facility updates Rene’ Forsmann reported the junior high level at the high school is getting closer to being ready. The lockers are in the hall and the Teen Living classroom is nearly ready. Ryan Hasselstrom has been getting computers formatted and ready for both buildings. Forsmann said they would be busing the K-1 students over to the current Middle School for lunch. She said that building will be rebranded as Prairie Elementary School with grades 2-6 there this year and K-6 next year once the K-1 addition is added. In addition the high school will become Prairie Junior/Senior High School. She reported it appears they will be good on funding for the K-1 addition even if the Craig-Wyden funds come in lower than what is expected at this time. Last year’s funding was lower than originally expected. In administrative reports Randy Brown has selected a couple of students to pilot the senior project for next year. He also proposed taking the dance team off the extracurricular list and changing the compensation for the cheerleader advisers from 6% to 10%. Natalie Latimer will continue as cheer advisor with Millie Wimer as a volunteer coach. Kyle Daly will also be helping coach football as a volunteer coach. He is working on getting all the sports account separated out so that fundraising done by a sport gets to keep those funds in their account. Board member Gus Hoene asked if Brown is working on some kind of cell phone policy for next year. Greg Deiss reported that the Kindergarten students visited both the fire station and post office during May. The steelhead were released May 26. Year-end awards assembly was held with special recognition for Ciara Chaffee for 3 years of perfect attendance, Reid Uptmor for 4 years and Paul Sonnen for 5 years. Sonnen has yet to miss a day of school. Forsmann reported that the 6th grade made a field trip to Winchester State Park, the 5th grade to Keuterville and the 7th grade made one to Slate Creek. She also commended the Middle and High School concert performers. As superintendent she reported the levy election went well with 61% approval. She also reported they are a little ahead of schedule on moving grades 2-4 to the Middle School and 7-8 to the high school. They are still continuing to work on hiring a volleyball coach with no applicants as of June 13. The board meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Monday, July 18. This will also be the Annual Meeting. |
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