Myhre elected as NR-S school board president

The NR-S School Board held its annual organizational meeting for the 2019-20 academic year on July 22 at 7 a.m.

 The election of officers for 2019-20 year placed long-time board member Alyson Myhre in the office of the president. Previous board president, John Grann, accepted a nomination for vice-president.

 Each board member has been named to current stakeholder committees and serve as a liaison for the board in these following areas.

 •Negotiations: Myhre, Mary Kay Price, Mike Jacobson

 •Evaluation: Myhre, John Grann, Dave Holzwarth

 •Career & Technical Education: Mike Schaefer, Grann

 •Building: Myhre, Patti Larson, Jacobson

 •Rocket Boosters: Price

 •Sick bank: Jacobson

 •Elementary curriculum: Grann

 • High School curriculum: Holzwarth

 In addition the entire board will serve on the committees for strategic planning and school improvement.

 The board accepted the preliminary budget as presented by Business Manager Janet Heskin. The budget has yet to be completely balanced, but Heskin will continue to work with administration to prepare a balanced final budget.

The final budget and certificate of levy must be submitted to the Eddy County Auditor by Oct. 10.

 Several routine and annual appointments were made. This included appointing Superintendent Jill Louters as the representative for federal funding and title grants for the 2019-20 year. Louters was also appointed to serve on the board of directors for East Central Center for Exceptional Children for 2019-20 year, along with elementary principal Natalie Becker.

 Janet Heskin was again appointed business manager for the 2019-20 year.

 The board moved to hire New Rockford High School alum Tyler Cook as the Student Engagement Specialist. In this three year position, Cook will collaborate with educators, students, and employers to explore way to make programming more engaging to students. This is a position held by partner Linsday Unified district and the funds for the position will be paid through a Bush Grant for developing personalized learning programs.

 In the past month, several community members have reached out to members of the building committee with the suggestion that the school would benefit from a second gymnasium. The building committee sought the board’s support in initiating a feasibility study to determine what resources would be required to construct a second gymnasium. The board approved the building committee’s request, and a feasibility study will commence.

 The board also took the following actions:

 • Reviewed and approved the Transportation Report and District Pupil Membership Report for 2018-2019.

 • Set food service prices for the 2019-20 year. Historically a modest $12,000 to cover food costs has come from the general fund. Louters recommended a 5 cent increase across the board to maintain. Prices will be $2 per child/$2.50 per adult for breakfast, and $2.70 child /$3.70 adult for lunch.

 • Approved first reading of Policy KAB Parental Involvement for Title I. The second reading was waived. This polivy ensures the school district will implement proagrams, activities, and procedures for involvement of parents in schools. This policy will be in effect for the period of one school year. The District will distributed this policy to all parents of participaiting Title I children on or before Sept. 15, 2019.

 • Designated Bank Forward and Community Credit Union as depositories for school district funds for 2019-20.

 • Designated the New Rockford Transcript as the district’s official newspaper for the 2019-20 year.

 • Renewed North Dakota School Board Association (NDSBA) membership for 2019-20. The organization offers legal consult, references, and policy services to the school board.

 The next meeting is Monday, Aug. 19 at 7 a.m.