| School
Board meets
The school board held their regular February meeting Monday, Feb. 16 with superintendent Rene’ Forsmann reporting she thinks they can ask for the same levy amount as last year. The actual levy request will be set at the March meeting but Forsmann said that they should be able to hold to a $350,000 override levy if they again transfer $37,000 from the maintenance fund as they did last year. That amounts to about 1/3 of what was received with the sale of the former Kindergarten Building, leaving one more third that could be used next year. Coincidentally the board approved the transfer of $37,000 to the general fund at this meeting as was budgeted after the override passed last year. Matt Elven was approved for hire as the math teacher for grades 7-10 replacing Krystal Ellis, who had resigned. Elven has already been serving as one of the Prairie assistant football coaches the last couple of years and has been teaching at Grangeville. Forsmann presented the changes to the state’s Special Education Manual to the board so that they would know what has been changed. Mostly it was clarifications and a couple of procedural changes. In the facilities update Forsmann said she is still looking at options for the location of the proposed bus barn. The corner behind the football fieldhouse would be great for access to utilities but would create some siteline problems. Regardless things will wait until they hear what happens with the Secure Rural Schools funding. In regard to the SRS, Forsmann reported that Idaho Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo have signed on to a proposed bill that would fund the SRS at 2011 levels, which is a significant increase over the past couple of years. In her principal report Forsmann said the District Spelling Bee was held Thursday, Feb. 12 with third grader Taylor Riener winning out over a bunch of older students. She will go on to compete at the Regional Bee in Lewiston. She has been working on scheduling and teacher assignments for next year. Becky Higgins will be the fourth grade teacher and Vikki Riener and Kim Schumacher will be the third grade teachers for next year. Forsmann said the teachers worked that out amongst themselves. The current 3rd grade is a smaller class necessitating the change for next year when they will be 4th graders. In her superintendent’s report she noted she is anxiously waiting for decisions from the state on the broadband issue, salaries and operational funding. She also reported that a safety inspection was held. The buildings passed but district-wide more emphasis needs to be put on lockdown procedures. Fire drills need to be done monthly and additionally a lockdown drill at least once a year. Forsmann reported that the schools in the county have been working with the Sheriff’s Department to develop procedures. Carrie Nygaard reported that the drama students performed several short skits for the Elementary Students Feb. 6. Both groups enjoyed the event. Senior projects are progressing nicely. 7 have been completed and another 5 were to be on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The 1977 and 1978 Prairie girls basketball teams will receive the “Legends of the Game” award at halftime of the 5-A state championship game Saturday at the Idaho Center in Nampa. Coach Art Dorval and 10 of the players have committed to attend the ceremony. Missoula Children’s Theatre will be here in March with performances set for March 20-21. An “all schools” dance is set for March 27 at the high school cafeteria. This went very well last year. Prom is set for Saturday, April 25. The board adjourned to an executive session at 6:15 p.m. The next board meeting will be Monday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. |
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