Trustees Purchase Reading Program

With the goal of improving the school district’s reading levels, the Wolf Point School Board approved the purchase of a two-year reading intervention program during its meeting on Monday, Oct. 12. Cost is $59,293.

Wolf Point Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perkins explained to trustees that the reading intervention program will target students in grades 6-8.

“The last time that we had good reading scores was when we had a program similar to this,” curriculum director Dan Horsmon said.

Trustee Michael Holen said, “It’s a huge investment, but it’s kind of what we need.”

The motion to purchase the program passed unanimously.

Also during the meeting, Perkins announced that a non-profit group is offering to donate a house on Cascade Street to the school district.

“You will have to put some money into the basement, there’s no doubt about it,” Perkins said.

Trustees were pleased to accept the donation. Perkins will talk to legal officials to determine if the acquisition needs to be approved by voters.

The board approved the purchase of an All American 46-passenger bus to replace bus 8. Trustees agreed to keep the older activity bus until it needs to costly of repairs.

Rental agreements for 301 Fourth Ave. S. and 500 Dawson Street were approved. The amount of rent that staff members will pay hasn’t been determined yet. School officials wish to research expenses before setting the rent.

High school principal Kim Hanks reported that the attendance percentage has been a positive so far this school year. A total of 141 of the 210 high school students have attendance percentages of 90 percent or higher.

Hanks said the school’s no cell phone/ear bud rules are a continual process. “We are truly dealing with an addiction and some days we see the behavior that accompanies it,” Hanks told trustees.

Individuals hired were Trina Grandchamp and Ann Green as Northside paraprofessionals, Christopher Sherman as student worker, Judy Holum for adult education quilting, Vivian Schultz for adult education pottery and Andrew Vun for adult education volleyball. Southside after school teachers hired were Camille Artuz, Alexa De La Cerna, Prescilla Mendez and Charissa Zaballero. Substitute teachers hired were Jessica Bauer, Dean Mahlum, Della Pipestem and Zachariah Rodgers.

Extra-curricular hires included Rodgers for junior high boys’ basketball, Jason Hamilton Jr. for junior high boys’ basketball and high school assistant boys’ basketball coach, Cody Larson for junior high girls’ basketball, Preston Swenson for junior high girls’ basketball, Hamyanie Campbell for high school assistant girls’ basketball coach, Rodney Paulson for high school assistant boys’ basketball coach and head golf coach, Chase Adams for volunteer speech and drama coach, Jeremiah Whitright for assistant high school golf coach, Horsmon for head high school tennis coach and Nicole Paulson for assistant high school tennis coach. Trustees approved all individuals unanimously, except trustees Holly Denny and Michael Turcotte abstained from voting on the motion to hire Jason Hamilton Jr. for the two coaching positions.