| School
Board meets
The budget for the 2016-17 school year was approved at the June meeting of the school board Monday, June 20. Ryan Hasselstrom was present to discuss how well the ‘Run Around the World’ fundraiser for the track is going and also discussed why the bids to lay the asphalt layer for the track came in so much more than expected. Apparently the east end needs to be built up with a lot more gravel than was estimated to get the track to the level needed to make it work. During the discussion board chairman Gus Hoene asked if there would be a project manager for this that would carry through the whole project. He also asked what the annual upkeep would be. Hasselstrom said the engineer from Rediesel would probably be the manager and for upkeep you’re looking at about $20,000 every 5 years to refurbish the rubberized surface. Hoene suggested putting in a line item each year to build a fund to be used for that. Action on whether or not to proceed with the project could not be taken at the meeting because it was not on the published agenda. The board decided to hold a special meeting Friday, June 24 at 7:30 a.m. to discuss the matter. Also added to the agenda of that meeting were a couple of recommendations for hire by Carrie Nygaard. She recommends Kevin Chaffee as the new boys head basketball coach and Taylor Schaeffer as the new special education paraprofessional, replacing Jennifer Heitman, who resigned. The preschool agreement was approved for another year with no changes. Special education teacher Jennifer Spears turned in her resignation, which was approved by the board. Superintendent Rene’ Forsmann said they currently have two applicants and will start interviewing next week. Nygaard gave the board information on the athletics budget showing gate receipts and expenses. The success of the Prairie sports teams, all of which qualified for state this past year, put them in the red with the costs of motel rooms and extra travel. She asked that the board again approve $5,000 to add to help things balance. Forsmann said it was already in the budget. The board passed a motion to approve doing so. In the facilities update Forsmann said the cement is cured and framing is starting to go up at the bus barn/shop. It is scheduled to be finished August 31. The high school office update is coming along with new cabinets expected in by the end of the week. The room has been painted and electrical added. Flooring is next. New elementary handrails in the gym and stairway are to be installed this month. On the bad news side, the Brownsfield Grant was denied due to the large number of submissions. It was recommended to redo it and resubmit. This grant would clean up the asbestos and lead paint issues at the old elementary school building. The current T12/8 lamps in the district will be replaced with LED 16-23 watt tube lamps. 2,478 are need to replace all of them. Avista is reimbursing $10 per lamp with costs of $8.25. They would pay upfront and get reimbursed within 3 weeks. Inmates will help to get new bulbs installed. Old ones need to be given to Avista for disposal. The gym floors will be refinished at the end of July. Forsmann said she is open to ideas on how to upgrade the baseball field. In administrative reports Forsmann handed out copies of the Center For Discovery summer schedule. She reported the Summer Science Camp is going on this week at the high school. Safe Sitters will be at the Elementary School next week and Summer School with be July 25-August 5. In her superintendent’s report she said the Legislature’s JFAC board was at the high school June 14. They had some good discussion with the group. Discussion continues with the state on possibilities for a manufacturing school. She will meet with LCSC and Wendi Secrest of State Professional Technical on July 5. Nygaard reported 3 Prairie students and 1 Nezperce student are traveling to Nashville this week for HOSA Nationals. Girls basketball traveled to Nyssa for a summer tournament and did very well. Boys basketball as 28 interested athletes and are looking at some summer league games. The coaching change shut them out of some team camp opportunities. Volleyball had a team camp at LCSC last week and has other summer opportunities. Items to be discussed at the July board meeting will include the Idaho Distance Learning Academy policy and the valedictorian and salutatorian policy. The board meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Monday, July 18 at 7 p.m. with a special meeting Friday, June 24 at 7:30 a.m. |
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