At Monday’s Nevis School Board meeting, after holding interviews with a few capable candidates wishing to be board members, the hiring committee recommended the board approve the appointment of Larry Smith to fill the vacant Nevis School Board Director position for the remainder of the 2016 calendar year.
In the past Smith has been involved with local government and is a former school board member with a lot of experience and expertise to offer the board.
The Board approved the appointment and Smith was sworn in as the new Director of Independent School District 308.
Principal John Strom attended his last board meeting on Monday. He expressed his reluctance to single out any one individual for fear of forgetting to thank another.
"Instead of singling out I thought I’d maybe just spend a few seconds talking about two particular groups," Strom said. "And of course, the first group is the reason that we’re all here. We’re here because of the students and that’s the only reason we’re here and I know sometimes it’s easy to forget. And the second group, of course, is the teachers. Nevis School has an amazing group of teachers overall."
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Chairperson Ed Baker presented Principal Strom with an education bell on behalf of the Nevis School District, thanking him for the stunning job he’s done for the district for the last six years.
"I think it’s always been in your heart and I could tell right away when we interviewed you that you were truly here for the students and always kept that in the forefront of your mind," Baker said. "It’s obvious that you deeply care about our youth and the direction we’re going as a society."
Approved the resolution awarding the sale, determining the form and details, authorizing the execution, delivery and registration and providing for the payment of general obligation Capital Facilities Bonds, series 2016A.
The bond, which was presented to the board by Senior Municipal Advisor, Jodie Zesbaugh from Ehler’s Investment Partners, will be used to fund incurred expenses associated with the project on the girl’s locker room.
The project is also being funded with the Long Term Facility Maintenance Revenue which is a new program the Legislature approved last year; each financing tool can fund different parts of the program.
Approved the 2016-2017 individual contracts.
Approved an overnight field trip request to New York and Washington D.C. to take place Nov. 13-21.
The number of students to attend is still unknown and the trip cost will be funded by the students.
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Approved a Citizens National Bank credit card for new principal, Brian Michaelson.
Approved a contract with VAALER Insurance for the 2016-2017 school year.
Approved Gena Dempsey be hired as the new 1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher at Nevis Middle School, the position was formerly held by Lisa Newhouse.
Approved the 2017 Fiscal Year budget. The board expects to see revenues of $7,463,505; last year’s expenditures totaled $7,594,828 which included expenditures toward the re-model project.
Major expenses for the year include staff development, the Title IX Project, the purchase of a new bus, and fuel and utilities. Some of expenditures that will be resolved this year include the QZAB loan repayment of $95,000 and a final bus lease payment of $50,000.
Approved the 2016 Nevis Public School Literacy Report which has to be submitted to the state annually.
The goal of the District Literacy Plan is to have every child reading at or above grade level no later than the end of 3rd grade.
Principal Strom expressed "the number of kids falling behind has declined dramatically," attributing it to the program.
