School Board to apply for program funding

The Jamestown Public School Board agreed to apply for funding for a program that would work with parents and students preparing to enter kindergarten at Monday’s meeting.

Gearing Up For Kindergarten is offered through the NDSU Extension Service, said Superintendent Bob Toso.

“It’s a relatively new program,” he said. “It’s been around in an experimental mode in a few districts in the state.”

Because staff is currently on vacation, there are no specifics for what would be offered. Toso said he will work with kindergarten teachers and administration if the grant is awarded to the district.

At most 16 sessions would run in the evening, throughout the school year, Toso said before the meeting.

The grant would be a matching grant and the district would have to pay some costs, but Toso said it would be minimal.

The decision to apply was unanimously approved. School Board member Roy Musland was absent.

Monday’s meeting was light on other topics because it was the board’s annual business meeting, as the business year starts in July.

The School Board unanimously voted to keep mill levies at the current 161.4 amount.

“We’re not increasing any of our mills,” said board President Greg Allen. “They are set and we’re not increasing at all.”

Heidi Larson, School Board member, noticed that 7 mills will be removed after this year, because the payment for an asbestos removal project will be completed.

School Board member compensation was unanimously approved to stay at current levels for the next year.

Members will be compensated $200 per month for regular and special meetings. The board president will receive $250 per month. Members will also be compensated $40 for each additional meeting authorized by the School Board.

In other business:

* The board unanimously approved the $23,242,194 fund budget for the upcoming year.

* Diane Hanson took her oath of office and officially joined the board, replacing Scott Walch, who took a job in Williston.

* The board re-elected Allen as president over Musland. The vote was 5-3 with board members Gary Peterson, Gail Martin, Rosemary McDougall, Larson and Hanson voting for Allen, and members Tanya Ostlie and Shelly Jystad for Musland. Ostlie was also elected to vice president of the board; no one else was nominated.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by e-mail at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

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