Boyceville school board approves purchase of new 21-person bus

By Cara L. Dempski

BOYCEVILLE — The Boyceville school board approved spending $61,750 to purchase a 2017 Micro Bird bus with a lift and seating for 21 passengers using Fund 10 money at its December 5 meeting.

Superintendent Kevin Sipple stated the bus would mostly be used by special education students, but was being purchased using money in the district’s general fund because then the vehicle could be used for students not involved in the special education program.

The district is currently using a 2007 bus that required substantial repair before passing inspection prior to the start of this school year. The repair, coupled with mileage in excess of 100,000 miles prompted Sipple to obtain price quotations and approach the board with his proposal.

The bus has three spaces that can be converted from typical bus seats to spaces for wheel chairs, which will help should the district need extra bus space for wheelchairs in the future. If the spaces are not needed for wheelchairs, they can remain as regular bus seating.

Sipple said if the bus was approved during the meeting, he would be able to order it right away Tuesday morning and the district would take delivery of it in late February 2017.

Superintendent Sipple also presented the initial results of the 2015 – 2016 district report card from the Department of Public instruction. The district overall achieved a rating of “exceeds expectations” after earning a score of 73 out of 100. Tiffany Creek Elementary scored a 70.7 for a “meets expectations” rating, the middle school ranked 68.3 to also meet expectations, and the high school exceeded expectations with a score of 75.5.

Sipple informed the board he would have more detailed information to present at the January board meeting.

Middle and high school principal Steve Glocke informed the board that seventh- through 12th-grade students would undergo youth risk behavior study testing on December 6. He said the survey is a tool that helps the district look at student risk behaviors, mental health status, and attitudes toward those behaviors.

The survey will also allow district administrators to see how Boyceville compares to other schools in Dunn County and across the state.

Tiffany Creek Elementary principal Nick Kaiser said there will be a Christmas concert for the early-learning classes through second grade on December 19 at 7 p.m. Grades three through five will have a concert in the spring.

A rural dental health clinic was held at TCE and Kaiser voiced his support of Mrs. Stoveren for assisting with the event.

Sipple told the board there will be Christmas concerts for the middle school and high school held in the gymatorium on December 12 and December 19.

He also informed the board that, due to the district’s participation in CESA 10’s Natural Gas Purchasing Program, Boyceville has saved $452.85. The consortium program gives participating districts more leverage and better pricing for natural gas.

In other business, the board:

• Read and discussed proposed changes to district policies. These will be voted on at a future meeting.

• Approved purchases and expenditures for November.

• Heard a report on the “small steps” program designed to assist students with achieving a growth mindset.