Wolf Point Trustees Listen To Challenges
Wolf Point School Board members heard about challenges that the school district is facing during their monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 10.
During her report, high school principal Kim Hanks said there has been an increase in physical infractions and drug related offenses in the building during the fall.
Hanks said educators are looking of making changes to address the problem such as updated teacher duty locations, cell phone policy and bringing in speakers on violence.
School board chair Roxanne Gourneau said students and parents need to understand there’s zero tolerance for drugs and weapons at the school.
The report from Southside Elementary School, overall attendance from Oct. 13 to Nov. 5 was 90.72 for pre-kindergarten, 87.91 for kindergarten, 88.88 percent for first grade and 93.23 percent for second grade.
Gourneau expressed concern of the low attendance numbers for those grade levels.
Principal Brandi Burshia said, “We’re really at a loss.”
The principal explained that when the home school coordinator makes rounds, the students are taken to school. But the coordinator can’t do the same route every day, because then it’s considered a bus route. During home visits, some parents don’t even answer the door. Gourneau said that when parents don’t provide their children education, it can be considered neglect.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perkins said the state of Montana doesn’t recognize lack of education as neglect. Gourneau said she will look at options.
Having a bus route through town is one thing that might be considered by trustees in the future.
Also during the meeting, Hanks announced that the high school has received a “substantial grant” from Town Pump for its food pantry.
Perkins received permission to change the wording for the dean of students job opening to assistant principal. Perkins feels that having an advertising post for an assistant principal could be more beneficial.
Discussion was held regarding changing health insurance providers. Premiums are anticipated to increase by 20 percent during the next year.
Hired were Taziah Hersel for Southside paraprofessional, Jed Loucks as junior high/high school paraprofessional, Barbara Taylor as substitute teacher, Chris Gorder as volunteer wrestling coach, Hamyanie Campbell as volunteer girls’ basketball coach and Kelby Bauer as volunteer boys’ basketball coach. Cassie Clampitt resigned as special education paraprofessional.
Trustees approved $26,864 for camera replacements at Northside Elementary School.
