News

School Board meets and discuss a number of topics

By Heather Milbrath

05/21/2013

The Bottineau School Board met on Wednesday, May 15. Many issues were discussed at this meeting, including: bus routes, hiring of new instructors and various other topics.

The meeting started out with a presentation by Lori Schmidt, the instructor at the Alternative Learning Center. Schmidt told the board the importance of obtaining a GED. Some of Schmidt’s key points were that the state currently pays for two of the five tests required for the GED. Also obtaining a GED opens many new job opportunities, as well as advancement in current jobs. Schmidt told the board that there will be many changes that will make obtaining a GED in 2014 more difficult.

Schmidt teaches night classes at the Alternative Learning Center for those wishing to take the GED tests. Anyone, regardless of age, is applicable to get his or her GED.

Another important item discussed at this school board meeting was the hiring of two new educators at Bottineau Public School, in the k-4 vocal music position, and the high school science position.

Adam Beyer was approved by the school board as the k-4 vocal music instructor. Beyer was a Bottineau High School graduate in 2005. He then obtained a Master of Music Education at Minot State University. The k-4 vocal music position is a .875 contract, which means Beyer is not full time, but there is the possibility of growth in that program in the future. The board also approved the hiring of Erin Auth to fill the high school science position. Auth graduated from St. John High School, and attended college at Turtle Mountain Community College. At TMCC, Auth obtained a Bachelor in Science and secondary in Science Education. Auth had been working at BPS as a long-term sub.

Bottineau Public Schools has also filled three other positions, including; Library Media Specialist, Alysa Palmer; High School English, Jackie Bullinger and Special Education, Alissa Mogan.

The district has finished interviews for the sixth-grade teaching position and offered a contract; they have not disclosed who was hired at this time. Interviews for the seven through nine Learning Disabilities position are being scheduled and the High School FACS position has been reopened for interviews.

The hot topic of the meeting was an issue over bus routes. This is not a new issue for the Bottineau School District. When other schools in the area have closed, like Willow City and Souris, the district has absorbed those students. This has caused the routes to go further from Bottineau, and causes issues trying to determine how far the buses will go. There were several families at this school board meeting wanting to express their concerns about the bus routes. These families live near Willow City, and they are currently not on a bus route. Most of them did not live in the Bottineau School District, but instead in the Towner School District. Because of this, their kids were “open enrolled” in BPS. For students that are open enrolled, the school is not obligated to provide busing for them. The parents requested that their kids be added to the bus route. The school board voted down this proposal, mostly due to the large amount of expenses that would be added to change the routes. The students will have to be driven to Willow City and get on a bus there.

Superintendent Jason Kersten was pleased to tell the school board that Governor Dalrymple had forgiven the storm day from March 18. When a storm day is “forgiven” by the governor, the school does not have to make up the missed day of school.

The school board will be holding elections on June 11 at the Holwell Auditorium. The elections will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Three three-year terms are being voted on. Those running are incumbent board members.