| School
Board meets
School handbooks, bus routes (see below) and schedules for the upcoming school year were approved at the August meeting the school board Monday, August 15. Dan Goeckner was also approved for hire to drive the Salmon River bus route after Tina Lockhart had resigned the position. Superintendent Rene’ Forsmann reviewed what she plans for the district’s back to school meeting with the staff set for August 22. She will go over some of the new state laws affecting teachers such as Pay for Performance. Results of the parent surveys will also be reviewed The board also reviewed the school district survey results and the form set up for the state required Parent Input surveys. The main thing stressed in the survey results is the need for more communication. The board reviewed and approved 7 alternative authorizations for teachers who aren’t fully certified for classes they are teaching but are working toward those certifications. Junior/Senior High School principal Randy Brown brought up a concern with section 6610 of the policy manual regarding drug testing. A first offender is required to undergo a drug assessment. He said this isn’t really practical as very few of these types of counselors are available and a full assessment could not be completed anyway within the 14 day suspension time. He recommended referring the affected students to the school counselor. The suggested changes will be made and brought to the September board meeting. In the facilities update Forsmann said they are ready to go and would be able to start today (Monday) if need be. School gets started next Wednesday, August 24. She said they would be looking at getting going on the addition at the Elementary (formerly Middle) School in about October. She would like to use the template for the classrooms in the gym addition at the former elementary school for the 4 classroom and restrooms addition proposed that would handle the Kindergarten, 1st grade, preschool and Center for Discovery that will be in the Kindergarten Building at the old Elementary School site. Work might be able to get started in about February. The remaining funding from the Secure Rural Schools act (forest funds) should cover the costs of the addition. She reported the boiler has been cleaned out at the former Elementary building and it has been re-keyed so that access is limited. The plumber will be here later in the week to turn the water off to the main building leaving access only to the gymnasium portion. That gym is officially being called the Auxiliary Gym as the former Middle School Gym is now officially the Elementary School Gym. Forsmann also reported that the student numbers at this time show the enrollment is down 22 from the end of last year. Most of this is in the difference in numbers between the incoming Kindergarten and outgoing senior class. She also reported that they made over $3400 at the school yard sale. In his principal report Randy Brown informed the board he will be dealing with those going over their 9 days in absences on a case by case basis. He sees the potential for a lot of early absences due to the late harvest this year and those will be treated as excused absences if the parent requests having their child help with harvest. He said they have about 30 turned out for volleyball but with no funding for a C program there would be cuts made to get down to manageable varsity and JV squads. There were 42 out for football. The board meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. The next regular meeting is set for Monday, September 19 at 7 p.m. Cottonwood School District Bus Routes Rick Dalgleish, Mike Nau, Mike Duclos, Scott Schaeffer, John Frei, Pam Falzon, Ferdinand Town Children, Michael Temes, Ken Ross, John Paul Frei, David Frei. COTTONWOOD – Sharon Johnson, Bus # 02-7, 7:00 a.m. Pat McWilliams, Brendan Arnzen, Doug Lustig, Bob Lustig, Teel Bruner, Tim Dalgliesh, Mel Sonnen, Dan Phillips, Vic Lustig, Darrel Uhlorn, Darla Whitley. GREENCREEK – Jerry Schumacher, Bus # 09-9, 7:00 a.m. Wes Riener, Aaron Hinkelman, Tom Sonnen, Steve Sonnen, Matt Schumacher, Tony Schumacher, Roy Schumacher, Adam Forsmann, Kevin Schmidt, Phil Schmidt, Rusty Lorentz, Mike Vanderpas, Kris Shears, Jacob Forsmann, Mark Anderson, Scot Schlader, Greg Danly. COTTONWOOD – Becky Madden, Bus # 08-8, 7:00 a.m. Christy Renne’, Brad Higgins, Doug Johnson, Dan VonBargen, Ken Seubert, Tad Tidwell, Brett Uhlenkott, Dustin Uhlenkott, Mike Walsh, Ryan Uhlenkott, Mike Kaschmitter, Dennis Rowland. KEUTERVILLE – Rick Johnson, Bus # 01-1, 7:00 a.m. Joe Ross, Judy Geis, Bob Enneking, Clint Mader, Gerry Gehring, Robert Creutzberg, Glenn Poxleitner, Roger Uptmor, Robert Shipley, Ben Munger, Mark Geis, Ken Geis, Roy Uhlenkott, Colin Sprute, Heath Klapprich, Patti Kaschmitter, Jack Duman, Cottonwood Town Children. RIVER ROUTE – Dan Goeckner, Bus # 004, 7:00 a.m. Kellie Drake, Dave Enneking, Rick Johnson, Brian Gehring, Ron Lightfield, Scott Jungert, Kent Rad, Joe Nuxoll, Scott Ross, Butch Spencer, Cottonwood Town Children. |
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