Freedom school board talks awards, graduation, budget

 


The Freedom Public Schools will the hold elementary awards at 9 a.m. on Friday with high school awards to follow at 1 p.m. The baccalaureate service will be the next evening at 6 p.m., with graduation to follow at 7 p.m. Seniors will leave the next day for their senior trip to the east coast.

The board made a slight change in the 2018-2019 school calendar to better match up with the calendar of Northwest Technology Center. This amounts to about a two day shift at Christmas break.

The Superintendent James Miller said the money carry over will be around $840,000. He noted that that temporary appropriation will be down $20,000-$30,000 from last year. He recommended figuring next year's budget at 80 percent of this year's budget, although they could do 90 percent, or even 100 percent. Miller said he preferred to be conservative.

The district filed their E-rate funding application that will basically pay for the school's internet. He noted speed had been bumped up to 500 mps. The school will be responsible for all voice phone bills.

Miller said nothing is certain about the referendum petition, which will put to a vote of the people the tax increases designed to pay for the teacher pay raises. Miller said State Superintendent Joy Hoffmeister has asked for an attorney general's opinion as to the legality of the petition. Other proponents of the teachers' pay raise are planning to approach the Supreme Court.

The engine on a Suburban vehicle has spark plug and valve problems. After looking at several alternatives, including changing out the engine, the district decided to go with valve repairs.

The board renewed the contract for employee DOT and student drug tests with Alcohol & Drug Testing, Inc.

The five-year copier lease is expiring and the board looked at offers from a half-dozen vendors. A color copier is needed for the front office and a black-and-white copier is needed for the library. Prices for the color machine ranged from $13,792.78 down to $4,300. The board took the lower-priced Toshiba Machine from OK Copier Solutions. The same firm had the lowest price on a black-and-white copier, the Toshiba 4508A. Both copiers have duplexing, stapling and hole punch capability.

Supt. Miller said the health and safe school committee has been meeting regularly and will continue to do so. They are making a list of items around the school that need to be addressed.

The basketball schedules have been confirmed for next year. The teams will play 16 games. Only the Medford Tournament is in question.

The Children's Internet Protection Policies (CIPA) were approved. The district must be compliant with such a policy in order to receive E-rate reimbursement. Supt. Miller said he is looking for better internet protection hardware that will not only protect the school's computers, but also any computer brought into the building.

Summer school will run from June 4 to June 29, offering two classes. Michelle Shelite will teach physical science with lab, and Bryant Weber will teach computer applications. Cindy Wilson will teach a summer reading program from 9 a.m. until noon. The board approved summer pay of $500 each.

The board entered into an executive session, which lasted about an hour. They accepted the resignation of Dawn Watson who has been teaching first and second grades. She will move closer to home and teach at Fargo next year. While the superintendent had been rehired earlier, he requested to meet with the board about his contract.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Our Family of Publications Includes:

Arc
Newsgram

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024