| School
board meets
Quality Heating was the apparent low bidder for the high school heating system upgrade. Bids were opened at the March meeting of the School Board Monday, March 19. Quality’s bid was $237,700, over $8,000 less than Guardian Heating’s bid of $246,240. Those were the only two bids received. This bid is to do much of the main floor and the portion of the lower floor that didn’t already have its own system. The board also voted to go out for bids on the old Elementary School building. Up for bid will be the property and buildings except for the gym/classroom addition and its grounds and parking area. Bids would be opened at the April 16 meeting. Resignations were accepted for the Elementary Janitor and from Travis Mader for his athletic director and jr. high football coaching posts. Approved for hire were Emily (Lerandeau) Cash for English, Speech and Psychology and Julie M. Schumacher for Language Arts and Math. These are the positions held by retiring teachers Patty Hinkelman and Renee Eckert. Before Schumacher could be approved for her new position, the board had to approve an alternate route to a new endorsement for her in math. She has 3 years to complete the classes needed. Ryan Hasselstrom was on hand to give a presentation about technology security. He said the school network filters out access to Facebook and Snapchat and the like but there are workarounds that the students have found. Also they can control the school issued devices but not the student’s personal devices that have data plans. There is some education that can be done for both parents and students. Jon Rehder said they had someone do a presentation at his former school that he knows would come here. In the facilities update report Rene’ Forsmann said she is looking into the costs to connect the auxiliary gym building to its own water, sewer and electricity so it can be completely independent from the old Elementary. This needs to be done if they are going to sell the old Elementary. In administrative reports Forsmann said the music night went very well. To the point they probably should have had it in a larger location. The Chemistry Night at the high school also went over well. Prairie’s representative to the Regional Spelling Bee, Monica Goeckner, took 6th place. She also reported Kim Schumacher was chosen as a panelist for a study that will take her to Princeton University next week. As superintendent she reported they received the Secure Rural Schools money. It’s about $21,000 this year, about the same as last year but less than a tenth of what it previously was. Rehder reported that they will Higher Ed Day this Friday with several area college representatives on campus. The quarter ends Friday as well with parent/teacher conferences set for next Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday, March 28 will also be Showcase Night with student work displayed in the school. There will also be several college representatives in attendance as well. Also the 8th grade transition meeting will be held. SAT testing is set for April 10 with ISAT testing to start April 12. In spring sports there are 19 participating in softball, 17 in baseball and 28 in track. He also reported they have been recommended to be accredited for 5 more years. The next regular meeting will be Monday, April 16 at 5:30 p.m. |
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