The school board held their October meeting Monday, Oct. 18, and discussed policy #5320 – drug and alcohol free workplace.
Superintendent Jon Rehder reviewed the changes he made per their discussions at a previous special meeting. He said the old policy was vague on what the consequences were and now it has more restrictions. Added to the policy was that chaperons and advisers would also be subject to the restrictions.
Board member Gus Hoene said he would also like to see those volunteers who are representing the school also be given some kind of code of ethics as to what is expected. After discussion it was decided that would be good to have but shouldn’t be a part of the policy. It would be better placed in the school handbook.
In relation to the policy, patron Justyn Hanson, during public input, read a prepared statement suggesting that the current school policy was already strict enough regarding the situation and the coach in question should have been fired. He maintained the administrators did not follow policy when informed of the matter.
In other business safety busing was approved. This is an annual thing where the district lists those students it picks up in town for safety reasons even though they are within the distance from a school building where they aren’t required by state law to be bused.
Angela Wemhoff was approved by the board as the new high school assistant girls basketball coach. Wemhoff is a Prairie graduate who played for head coach Lori Mader a few years ago.
Policy updates were discussed and approved.
In reports Jon Rehder reported the Elementary students have completed the 2^nd iStation tests with mixed results. Teachers and paraprofessionals are working with students that tested below grade level and they have seen improvement already.
The schools earned $599 in the annual lottery ticket scratch off.
In his facilities report he noted the fencing to protect the long jump/pole vault areas has been installed. There had been a problem with people driving over those areas.
Rehder said he spoke with Sr. Placida on Oct. 8 about the water situation at the high school. They are on board with the district trying to find water up there, even if it is on Monastery property. If the district can find water and drill a well, they would pump that into the monastery reservoir. New pipe will be installed from the Monastery’s well to the reservoir this summer.
He is still looking at the elevator option at the high school.
In his superintendent’s report he said there are moneys available to school districts to help with hard to fill substitute and staff recruitment. They received a first payment of $6,894 with a second payment to come in November. Since our district is currently good on classified staff, he is offering a $200 bonus stipend for those people.
He's still working on the verbiage with the ISBA on the extracurricular duty contracts.
He is also working on the school board boundary map update. They had to move a little section from zone 4 (Keuterville) to zone 2 to balance the numbers within 10% of each other.
Jr./Sr. High School principal Matt Elven reported the high school earned $199 in the scratch off tickets.
He had a review of the Rigby shooting incident with Terry Cochran and Jason Rambo to see what changes could be made to prevent something similar happening here.
PHS hosted a Knowledge Bowl competition on Oct. 11 with Prairie finishing in first place. There was tremendous support from parents in hosting this event.
FFA had a rangeland competition in Marsing on Oct. 11-12.
ASVAB and PSAT testing were done.
ACT is coming up Oct. 23.
Cross Country and cheerleading seniors will be honored along with the football seniors this Friday at the football game.
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.