The price is right

The cost of lunches for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn students will continue to be covered by the district through the end of the current school year.

H-M-S began covering the cost of student lunches in December on a two-month trial basis. That was done, in large part, due to the balance in the district's Nutrition Fund. With that balance still in excess of $600,000 as of Dec. 31, board members decided on Monday to continue covering student lunch costs.

"We certainly have the capacity to continue it through the end of the year," Superintendent Patrick Carlin said.

Even so, the Nutrition Fund continues to receive funds from donors in the district.

"We continue to receive donations toward our nutrition program. They're pretty adamant that is where they want it to go," Carlin explained.

He said the district is looking at how to handle those donations going forward.

Response to the board's initial decision to cover student lunches was strongly in favor.

"I've received more positive feedback on this one item than anything else in the past six years," Carlin said. "It's been well-received."

• Levy for bond redemption

The district will levy additional property tax in order to redeem a portion of bonds that helped finance facility improvements. The maximum levy amount of $285,000 to be levied in Fiscal Year 2025 is in addition to the regular debt service levy and prior surplus levies totaling $300,000.

Carlin said the actual amount of the surplus levy could be less than $285,000. Series 2018 Bonds are subject to partial optional redemption on June 1, 2026.

• Open campus, at-risk funding

Open campus privileges for seniors begin Jan. 23. According to Principal Blake Wendt, the only modification in the rules is that detentions leading to loss of privileges must be for behavioral reasons. Wendt does not feel detentions for other reasons should result in loss of open campus privileges.

H-M-S will apply to the School Budget Review Committee for additional spending authority for its at-risk programs. The requested amount of $81,283 is the net total after deducting a carryover of $162,121. A local match of $27,904 is required.

Resignations were accepted from Carley Kleinhesselink, Family and Consumer Science teacher; Dawson Schiphoff, assistant high school baseball coach; and Tricia Vial, cheer coach/sponsor.

• LETRS training, exploratory courses

Seven staff members at H-M-S Elementary are enrolled in LETRS training offered through the Department of Education. According to Principal Ashley Benz, Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling provides educators with deeper knowledge of how to become literacy experts in the science of reading.

Elementary staff also spent part of the professional development day on Jan. 2 looking at what changes could be made in the area of mathematics to help students perform at higher levels.

New exploratory classes are being offered to fifth graders. Middle School Principal Heidi Douma explained that one course helps students work through the process of improving the quality of their writing, and the other offers opportunities for students to engage in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).

Seniors are beginning to do job shadowing in career fields of their choice. Wendt said the students can use the opportunity to assess whether their career choice is something they really like or if they should consider exploring other options and opportunities.