More students participate in targeted services program

With waning numbers enrolled in the after school program, and an increasing popularity of the targeted services program, the Glacial Hills Elementary School Board moved on Nov. 24 to end its offering of the after school program.

Board Chair Lara Amundson said the after school program director reported only three children currently use the after school program. By comparison, Board Member and Fourth Grade Teacher Mary Giese said there are an average of 11 kids who participate in the targeted services program at GHES.

The program, which helps students with their school work, has proven to be so popular Giese suggested the board look into getting more classroom help for the students enrolled in the program. Giese said with the wide range of age levels involved in the targeted services program, there would be a benefit of having an extra person to give students one-on-one attention when necessary.

While parents had expressed an interest in having an after school program in the past, Board Member Ernie Watson said there just wasn’t enough of a response to justify continuing the program at this time. However, he said the decision to quit offering the program can change if more families express a desire to use the program.

In other news

• Approved bills totalling $16,148.91.
• Approved purchase orders totalling $1,377.48, for book covers for the library, 50 padded chairs, and two tables.
• Heard Directors Report from new School Director Deb Mathias who said the Christmas concert is set for Thursday Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Starbuck Community Center. There will also be a performance on Dec. 18 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home currently scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. In addition, she reported the gingerbread program is being scheduled for Dec. 19, but a time has not been set.
• Approved allowing free lunches for those working at the school as part of the Experience Works Program.
• Approved request by Mathias for two professional leave days to train in Providence, Rhode Island, to finish her training as part of the ER&D program. Mathias was participating in the program prior to coming to GHES, and the two days she will be gone will allow her to complete her training in managing anti-social behavior.
• Heard from Kurt Swensrud who reported the by-laws are almost updated and should be able to be presented to the board by the Dec. 15 meeting. He said the by-laws have been condensed from 15 pages to five. In addition, the board discussed when to hold the school’s annual meeting and election. The matter will be discussed further at an upcoming meeting.
• Discussed the feasibility of keeping a school bus. Currently none of the staff members have the appropriate training to drive the bus. The board decided to look into the cost of hiring a driver for the bus it currently has, compared to renting a bus and driver for field trips.
• Approved sending Mary Johnsrud to a teacher workshop on Jan. 12. The school will pay for the class which is $200, as well as the cost of the sub, from the staff development fund. Amundson said the staff should develop a committee to look at the teacher workshops to decide who and when staff should go to teacher workshops in the future.
• Approved up to $2,000 to bid for a lawn mower, snowblower, printers, tool box, and padded chairs bought by the bank at the former hospital auction.         • Approved extending the kitchen help for up to 1 1/2 hours a day.
• Approved calling for bids for snow removal.
• Approved hiring Michael Schuett for up to eight hours a week as part-time computer-tech. He is currently working at the school on an on-call basis.
• Scheduled next board meeting for Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. because of Christmas.