Alva Review-Courier -

The elementary school principal, high school/middle school principal and assistant principal were re-employed for the 2018-2019 school year by the Cherokee Board of Education at the Jan. 8 meeting.

Board members present for the meeting were Amber Wilhite, T.J. Allison and Kory Littlefield. Tony Hellar was absent.

The board approved the consent agenda including minutes of the Dec. 4, 2017, regular board meeting, general fund encumbrances, general fund warrants, building fund encumbrances, building fund warrants, treasurer's report, activity fund report, and the resignations of Connie Roberts (cafeteria staff) and John Arnbrecht (music teacher).

The correction to project number 01 to 001 turf and track replacement was approved in fund 21 as a long-term planning reserve and contingency fund amount to be determined.

Superintendent Anderson lead a discussion on continuing the five-day school week to keep eligibility for a Striving Readers Grant from the State Department of Education. The grant may be $175,000 per year and run for three years, which is $525,000 for three years of participation. The bid proposal for elementary playground equipment was awarded to AAA Playgrounds of Edmund in the amount of $45,304.

The board approved moving $373,691.43 from the 2014 roof fund bond to complex bond fund 2016 and the transfer of $215.10 from account 845 Senior Account 2017 to account 847 Senior Account 2018.

The board went into executive session for discussion of salary and contracts of the principals and assistant principal.

After returning to open session the board voted to employ Ruth Richmond as elementary principal, Jeremy Hickman as high school/middle school principal and Bryce Schanbacher as assistant high school/middle school principal for the 2018-2019 school year. Byron Conner was approved to finish the remaining 2017-2018 school year on temporary certification.

The principal reported the FFA trophy auction is scheduled Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds. School absenteeism is down.

The new Alpha Plus testing will be implemented.

The superintendent reported companies are looking at the addition of an electronic key system using either a code system or key-card for the building and fencing around the playground.

New business included mention that the parents have two more meetings to accomplish student Chrome Book