June

State of the Schools

June 2019

1. Summer lunch program: This program is off and running again this summer. We are serving in Benkelman and Stratton. The number of lunches served is steady. This lunch is free for all school age children (0-18) and the school lunch guidelines are more relaxed in the summer.

2. Activity ticket prices: The board took action to keep activity prices the same. Single game charges are $5.00 for adults and $4.00 for students. Year long passes remain at $60 for adults, $30 for students and $110 for families.

3. Meal prices: Breakfast and Lunch prices were raise $0.05 for all meals. This is the first increase in three years.

4. Drug, alcohol and tobacco policy: The board passed on first reading a motion to remove graduation from the list of ‘activities’ a student may miss as a consequence of violating the district’s policy on possession or use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol.

5. Van purchase: Deveny Ford was authorized to purchase a new activities van on behalf of the district. Our existing vans are starting to be high mileage vehicles. This vehicle will replace one of our existing vans, have more room inside for luggage, props, etc. and seat 10 passengers.

6. Scissors lift: For several years it has been the recommendation of our Workers Compensation Insurance carrier that we purchase lift to use in place of extension ladders for the more lofty work we do in the district. This item was on the agenda for the two previous months. After a generous offer of matching funds of up to $5,000 from the Collinsville Foundation to board agreed to the purchase of a lift for the district. The avoidance of one mishap on a ladder will quickly pay dividends for the district.

7. Policy updates: The legal landscape of school policy has changed in recent years. Now every summer our legal counsel reviews the decisions made by the legislature, new rules set out by NDE, new guidelines from the federal government and court decisions involving schools and gives us a set of revisions to our policies. We add wording, delete wording, add entire policies, delete policies and combine policies.

8. Other: In other news, the School District #117 Foundation Board set scholarship amounts at $140 for Crane and $680 for Anderson. Students who qualify for both will receive $820. The foundation board also took action to setup the John and Margaret McDonald Scholarship. That scholarship opportunity should be available to students starting next year. Our thanks to Shawn and Dana for their generosity. The Hester Foundation Scholarships will remain at $5,000 next year.