| Enrollment
about the same as last year
It was announced at the September meeting of the school board Monday, Sept. 15, that school enrollment at this time is only 2 less than it was last Sept. 30. Currently there are 390 students enrolled in grades K-12 compared to 392 last year. Enrollment was up in the Elementary School but down in the junior/senior high due to a 7th grade class that is smaller than last year’s senior class. There are 41 open enrollment students who live in other school districts. 12 of those are children of Prairie teachers. The board voted to go back to a 5:30 p.m. meeting time starting with the October meeting on Monday, October 20. In the facilities update superintendent Rene’ Forsmann said they got some water damage in the junior high computer room. It has been fixed and an insurance claim filed for ceiling tile, 3 computers and ducting. The water came in from a rain storm in late August with the wind and rain combining to get water into a spot it had not been before. They have sealed up that spot so that it shouldn’t happen again. In administrative reports Forsmann reported the Elementary open house and book fair went very well with 240 people served. 164 of 208 families attended. They have been doing lots of testing lately with all students, K-6 getting some kind of testing with most taking more than 1. As superintendent Forsmann reported the strategic plan has been sent to the State Board of Education and is posted on the school website. On Oct. 2-4 Prairie will be hosting training with about 140 expected to attend from schools in Asotin, Culdesac, Kamiah, Nezperce, Cottonwood, Orofino, Kendrick and Deary. Carrie Nygaard reported the start of the school year has gone very smooth. New teachers Shane Chapman in art, Tori DeCaria in special education and Gloria Funke as a special education aide have been great. Nygaard congratulated Jayde Wilson who was crowned the Lewiston Roundup Queen. She joins Border Days Queen Nicole Poxleitner and Idaho County Fair 2nd Princess Madison Ulmer as event royalty from Prairie High School. Homecoming is next week. The week starts off with a Dig Pink volleyball match against Grangeville. This is a fundraiser for breast cancer and is part of Natasha Gimmeson’s senior project. The school will be wearing all pink that day. Wednesday will be the Powder Puff football game and maybe a bonfire if they can get approval from the Cottonwood Fire Department, which has a burning ban in town at this time. The parade is set to start at 5:30 p.m. Friday with the football game against C.V. to start at 7 p.m. The first Academic Bowl meet is set for Sept. 29 at Nezperce. There is also a lot of testing going on at the jr./sr. high with the PSAT set for Oct. 15 for all sophomores and select juniors. The ACT will be offered Oct. 25. Teachers will have a back-to-school curriculum evening likely in early October. Grade 7-12 enrollment is currently at 181 with 4 new students pending. Last year it was 185. The board adjourned to an executive session at 7:25 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Monday, Oct. 20 at 5:30 p.m. |
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