Small Town News

District expects as much as an 8% budget cut

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Council School Board

School administrators and trustees are still in the dark as to how the education reform packages that have been passed recently will affect the district next year.

"We're still scratching our heads to figure out how next year will look," said Board President Kevin Gray.

Council Superintendent Murray Dalgleish said that indications are that the school will be losing an additional five to eight percent of state funding for next year.

"If I was a betting man, I'd say we're looking at paycuts and benefit reductions," he said. Other school notes

Dalgleish reported that an interactive classroom that will connect to all major universities and other high schools throughout the state would be online and ready to go by next school year. This will give students the opportunity to take classes not offered by the district, particularly college level courses for students who are bound for higher education. Dalgleish also said that the facility will be available for the community to use, as well.

Matt Clayton

Construction has completed the installation of new insulation in the school's biomass building and Dalgleish said that the facility has been working very well of late.

Elementary Principal Bonnie Thompson reported that to the past month, her school lost one student but gained six others.

It has been learned that the school's psychologist, Cynthia Jepsen, will be going to work full-time in McCall next year, so Council will not have the use of her services next year. Since Jepsen was also doing work on behalf of New Meadows and Cascade (in addition to McCall) it is hoped that a person can be found to split the duties between several schools again.

Athletic Director Dave Howe reported that the junior high basketball teams have been having a great season and thanked the board for allowing sixth grade students to play alongside 7th and 8th graders, which allowed the school to field two teams for both boys and girls.

Howe also reported that track season is underway with the first meet having taken place on Tuesday. 15 people are out for track this year.

He also added that the football schedule for next year is nearing completion and noted that the district will likely need to raise funds to replace as many as 14 helmets by 2012.



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