| School
Board meets
School superintendent Rene’ Forsmann reported at the September school board meeting Monday, Sept. 19, that school enrollment is nearly exactly the same as it was last year. It was 406 last year and 407 this year with 203 at the Elementary and 204 at the Jr./Sr. High. 53 of those students are open enrollment students meaning they actually live within other surrounding school districts. The district lost a couple of employees. Lois Lamont retired from her position as library aide. Forsmann said she had an opportunity she did not know about before the school year started. Also Denise Mager resigned from her custodial position. Christine Temes was approved for hire to replace Mager. Forsmann said they had 8 or 9 apply and interviewed 5 with Temes deemed the best person to hire. Maureen Munger was approved for hire as a paraprofessional. They had 10 apply and interviewed 5 for this position. She is essentially replacing Lamont as they moved another person to Lamont’s spot and then hired Munger to replace that person. Travis Mader was approved for hire as a Jr. High Football coach. Finally Kathleen Brown was approved for hire as an administrative assistant to Sheri Daly Holthaus for the Region II Professional Technical Academy. This position is funded through the Academy which is basically seen as a second high school in District 242 by the state and funded as such. The board discussed the upcoming Idaho School Board Association convention, which will be Nov. 9-11 in Boise. Several board members plan to attend. The meeting time will change in October with the board to meet at 5:30 p.m. until Spring. In the facilities report Forsmann noted the asphalt is on the track. They need to look at how to deal with the gravel at the edges. She also said the bid for the rubberized surface and striping, which would finish the project, is about $80,000. The bus barn/shop is also completed and the board took a tour of the new facility after the meeting. Forsmann said she will be meeting with Kyle Westhoff, Neil Bruegeman, David Shears, Jake Forsmann and Aaron Hinkelman on Sept. 23 to look at the baseball field and look at options for improvement. In her principal’s report Forsmann said they had good attendance at the open house with 73% of the students having at least one parent in attendance. The start of the year testing has been completed. They will have a Federal Program audit on October 19. For her superintendent’s report, see the welcome to the new school year letter elsewhere in this week’s Chronicle. Carrie Nygaard was not in attendance due to Prairie hosting the Knowledge Bowl meet but shared a report. The dual credit meeting was very well attended with many juniors and seniors signing up for dual credits that evening. Forsmann said Prairie is one of the leaders in the state when it comes to dual credit programs. A financial aid night will be held Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. at the school library. The PSAT will also be held Oct. 19. A Boise State University representative was here Sept. 14. The motivational speaker, Arel Moodie, brought in by the GEAR UP program was a great success. The LCSC Warrior Athletic Banquet will be held Oct. 12. Prairie’s nominees are Pat Holthaus, meritorious award, Volleyball for team of the year, Cheyenne Hudson for coach of the year, Jake Bruner for male athlete of the year and Hailey Danly for female athlete of the year. Testing is going on with the first round of the MAP test done and the first ACT exam will be Oct. 22. Homecoming will be October 7 against Troy. The board meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, October 17 at 5:30 p.m. |
 |