EM school board approves $650,000 in short-range planning list items and staffing recommendations

By LeAnn R. Ralph

ELK MOUND  —  The Elk Mound Board of Education has approved a list of short-range planning items totaling nearly $650,000 and also approved hiring more teachers next year based upon recommendations from the long-range planning committee.

The school board approved the items at the November 17 meeting following a planning committee meeting on November 12 to review the items.

The items will be completed if, or when, funding becomes available during the school year.

The staffing suggestions for 2016-2017 include adding a full-time math teacher and a full-time science teacher at the high school along with two additional middle school teachers.

The math teacher and the science teacher would replace the full-time high school math teacher if he decides to retire, according to information included with the list of items.

The rationale for a full-time math teacher and a full-time science teacher is that it is difficult to find and retain two half-time teachers for math and science or one full-time teacher who can teach both math and science.

Adding another math teacher would allow the high school to offer another section of year-long algebra and year-long Algebra II.

Adding another science teacher would allow the high school to offer another section of year-long general science and year-long biology.

An additional science teacher would allow the high school also to offer more science electives to fill both need and demand.

The additional teacher also could, in view of the increasing enrollment at the middle school, teach an exploratory class in science or math.

The additional middle school teachers would accommodate an increase in student enrollment.

One of the additional middle school teachers would transfer from Mound View Elementary.

Dr. Ron Walsh, superintendent, noted that the amounts for items on the list are estimated on the high side.

Mound View

Some of the items on the list for Mound View Elementary include:

• $35,000 for 100 Chromebooks and carts.

• $69,000 for iPads for lower elementary grades.

• $3,986 for handicapped door bus entrance.

• $29,775 for replacing doors in the older section of the building.

• $10,000 for intervention materials.

• $9,200 for additional classroom chairs and desks.

• $15,000 for work on Terrazzo floor.

• $40,000 for playground equipment.

Middle school

Some of the items on the list for Elk Mound Middle School include:

• $37,000 for 110 Chromebooks.

• $14,000 to replace the desktop lab.

• $3,100 for French horn/baritone horn.

• $2,500 for seven iPods in the music room.

• $5,000 for reading and math intervention.

• $2,000 for Target Time materials.

• $6,000 for books for reading.

• $4,000 for drinking/filling stations.

High school

Some of the items on the the list for Elk Mound High School include:

• $16,000 for Odysseyware licenses.

• $116,206 for technology education lab replacement.

• $33,225 for general science, chemistry, biology books.

• $8,700 for gym hoops.

• $3,068 for musical instruments.

• $22,150 for Chromebooks in the classrooms.

• $18,500 for a laser etcher burner.

• $11,200 for practice room upgrades.

• $16,252 for a choir shell.

• $19,860 for magnetic locks.

• $4,200 for heart rate monitors for physical education.

District

Here are some of the items on the list for the school district:

• $6,400 for the Casper suite for iPad management.

• $20,000 for a lawn mower.

• $5,500 for a scissors lift.

• $9,200 for a screen for the auditorium.

• $8,645 to seal cracks and repaint the track.

Other business

In other business, the Elk Mound Board of Education:

• Accepted the resignation of Deeann Thompson and Tammy Briggs as middle school volleyball coaches.

Following a closed session:

• Approved hiring Jesse Zurbuchen as the assistant power lifting coach.

• Approved hiring Stacy Powell and Katie Young as the middle school volleyball coaches.