Changes at Libby Public Schools

At Monday’s school board meeting, board members voted unanimously to hire personnel, raise the cost of school meals and change the academic calendar for the 2014-15 school year.

The board members also approved to hire Sara Grotjohn as an early childhood teacher, Ashley Ferro as an elementary teacher and Danielle Eklund as a high school freshman volleyball coach. 

The board voted to decline a Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act program and approved an agreement to align the district with CSPD/PLC, a professional training organization for school districts.

New business for the school board included discussion about the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the CSPD/PLC agreement and a increase for meal charges in the schools. Breakfasts will cost 3 cents more, and lunches will cost 6 cents more.

Henry’s Restaurant provides the school district’s school food, and the business requested this increase in meal costs due to rising costs for the restaurant. 

“They’re the only show in town,” board member John Carlson said. The board approved the meal price increase.

In old business, the board unanimously approved the addition of one pupil-instruction-related day to the school schedule on August 27 and to move the last day of school from June 11 to June 12 and make it an academic day rather than a workday for teachers.

Libby Elementary School Principal Ron Goodman said that local teachers thought the addition of the pupil-instruction-related  day and the shifted last day of school was the least-restrictive way to balance the calendar. 

Elementary school teacher Terrie Noser said she thought the decision to change the schedule with the June 12 final day and pupil-instruction-related day on August 27 was ideal.

The board also discussed the school district’s budget, policies and procedures. 

Craig Barringer, the new superintendent, opted out of attending a training event in Troy on Wednesday to instead go on a hike with a group of students from the high school. Board President Ellen Johnston will go in his place.

The next school board meeting will be Aug. 4 at 4:30 p.m. at the K.W. Maki Theatre at the Central School, and a board work session will follow at 5 p.m. The final budget hearing will be at 6:45 p.m. on August 11.