The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The plans for the new Pioneer wagon area are completed and will be completed by next school year. It will include a table to sit at outdoors.

Principal Wolery’s contract was clarified, a 1st-grade teacher, Renee Leader, from Big Sandy, will be offered a contract, as well as a 5th-grade teacher Trinity Leeds, who is from Havre. Para interviews have been completed, and two will be offered positions Twyla Grant and Rachel Baumgarn. The Secondary Special Education and K-12 Physical Education positions were discussed, and future decisions will occur. They hope to hire locally, allowing each to further their education while the school district employs them.

Transportation remains a concern. At the public meeting, Dan Schrock explained to everyone how important it is to find people willing to drive the bus. He thanked everyone present for wanting to be a part of a solution “because that’s what it’s going to take to solve this--community members who have a stake in our community and by working together to try to figure out a way that we can skin this cat. It isn’t just a Big Sandy problem. It’s widespread. And even in Big Sandy, we’ve known for years that this was coming.” Pat and Dan let us all know they wanted to retire. Dan said the public board meeting was productive. “We all hope for somebody else to step up because we’re all so busy in our lives.”

If parents have to drive their kids to school because there is no bus, they might consider a contract to drive the bus. They would receive better pay if they did.

After the recent science trip, they changed their procurement card to the local bank and had trouble using it.

Dan gave me a tour of the school and where they hope to use grant funds. Both the music rooms, one at the FE Miley and one at the high school, are getting new carpets this year. He let me know that the square tile on the floor at the high school has asbestos. So he is working on a plan to remove the tiles year by year.

He introduced me to the new crew working on the high school gym floor and let me know how professional and timely they worked. They redid the surface of the gym floor after some water damage. It was ready by the time the basketball camp was in town.

There was discussion about signing bonuses, as every school in the state is trying to find ways to help recruit. However, it’s only June, and it looks like the necessary staff has already been found. Congratulations on the school’s recruitment efforts.