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Elven named new Prairie Jr./Sr. High Principal Matt Elven was chosen out of 4 applicants to be the new Prairie Jr./Sr. High School principal. His hiring was approved by the school board at their April meeting, Monday, April 19. The district will now advertise for a math/economics teacher to fill Elven’s current teaching position. Jake Forsmann announced his retirement as Maintenance Supervisor and it was accepted by the board. Sierra McWilliams was approved for hit as summer help. The board approved the transfer of bus depreciation funds totaling $24,250 from the general fund to the transportation fund. The board also approved a transferred of $5,000 to the track maintenance fund. This is an annual budgeted item to set aside funds for when the track needs resurfacing or restriping done. Also approved was an agreement with the Idaho School Board Association to conduct a census of the district zones. This is something that needs to be done every 10 years. The idea being that each board trustee represents about the same number of patrons. Rene’ Forsmann couldn’t think of any big population shifts in the district in the past 10 years that would lead to any zones being redrawn. Another section of the policy manual was approved for update. In her principal report Forsmann said they will have 2 classrooms each for grades 1 through 6 next year using some “Loss in Learning Funds” part of the new ESSR III dollars to pay for the extra teacher. With some moving around of current staff the new teacher will be asked to teach second grade. Summer School is set for June 14 – July 23 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Curriculum will be offered through Idaho Distance Learning Academy with Becky Higgins as coordinator with assistance from 3 paraprofessionals. Parent-teacher conferences were well attended with 205 of the 226 students having at least 1 parent attend. The old lockers were removed and replaced. The old ones were offered for sale to the public at $3 each and all of them have been sold. She also gave a shoutout to Remington Sprute who spent 3 days painting the locker rooms as his senior project. In her superintendent’s report Forsmann noted they have 4 applicants for the Jr. High School English teacher position and are currently interviewing. They have had 8 applicants to replace Jake Forsmann and will interview 5 of those on April 21. They have had 3 applicants for the Jr./Sr. High Cook position and are interviewing 2 of those. They had 4 applicants for the high school principal, interviewing 2 of them with Elven recommended for hire. She reported the proposed levy of $275,000 will amount to an estimated $150.64 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value. The health insurance carrier quoted a 2.8% increase. This is the lowest increase in several years. The district will be offering a summer food program from June 1 through July 30. 3 students will be working with Cara Duman. Food will be available for pickup from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. With the newly reauthorized Secure Rural Schools funding, the Cottonwood district is expected to receive $320,577.99. In her facilities update she reported they are adding 4 more door security locks, 2 each at each building. Lindsley’s completed the new flooring in the upper hallway at the Elementary School with the lower hallway and cafeteria to be completed over summer break. Classrooms will be done over breaks a few at a time over a two-year period. Gym floors will be refinished this summer. Work will start July 5. New lockers have been installed at the Elementary School. They are looking at doing a 25’x45’ concrete pad for the K-1 building for the outside play area. Currently it gets very muddy. A new bus will be delivered in mid to late May. High School drinking fountain upgrades are finished with 1 of 3 at the Elementary School finished. The other two will be done in June. New heat strips at the Auxiliary Gym plus an air intake controller that will open when lights are on and close when they are off has been installed. Jon Rehder reported the high school blood drive was a success with 42 successful donors giving them 75 for the year. They needed 60 to get the $2000 STEM grant. The money has already been awarded but Joe Fairbanks of Vitalant will be at the year end assembly to make a presentation. Class schedules have been handed out. Parent/teacher conferences saw 35 parents attending. Numbers were down since they didn’t have the Showcase/Haystack Feed night to go with it this year. ISAT testing started April 14. The SAT was given to all juniors on April 13. Final senior project day is April 21. Gerry Gehring hauled in 15 loads of gravel and Brendan Sprute brought in a road grader and leveled everything off in the lower parking lot. They bought new storage racks for the walk in refrigerator at the high school. Logan Wimer and Connor Schwartz are cleaning up the referee locker room on the stage. Parking lines will be painted in the upper parking lot in April or May. Reed Chapman completed his senior project painting over the mural in the cafeteria with a Pirate logo and “Pirate Pride.” See photo. The board meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Monday, May 17 at 7 p.m. |
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