New project money dissipates
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POLSON — Concerns about an aging boiler and the first day of kindergarten were shared with trustees at the April 13 Polson School Board meeting.
On the topic of the Quality School Grant, District Superintendent Linda Reksten reported that the Polson district was eighth in line out of 60 projects slated to receive money under House Bill 15. Montana legislators determined there was debt from previous projects and zeroed out all the money to fund new projects.
That left the Polson School District high and dry on the Cherry Valley Elementary School boiler project.
“It’s a 1955 boiler out of some ship,” she said, noting it was used when the school bought it.
“The legislators don’t seem to get that we can’t just write a check for a million dollars,” Reksten added.
Since the school board meeting, a water heater rotted out at Cherry Valley, leaving the building without hot water. The $12,000 repair will need to be something that can be used with the new boiler as well as the old.
In other business, Reksten said the highlight of March for her was participating in the Polson Middle School Academic Bowl.
In addition, Cherry Valley Principal Brent Benkelman reported on Cherry Valley’s kindergarten roundup on March 24 and 25. So far the roundup has enrolled and tested 75 little cowpokes, which is lower than last year’s 95 children.
“Each year we typically enroll 50-60 more kids after enrollment and the first couple of weeks of school,” Benkelman reported from written information submitted to the board.
In order to keep the kindergarten classes balanced with numbers of students and provide orientation for students who didn’t attend roundup, Benkelman said he’s discussed a plan with the Cherry Valley staff and Superintendent Reksten about staggering the start of kindergarten.
“The staggered start will allow teachers to only have half their class the first couple of days to work with more (children) individually (and in) small groups to get to know them better. It also allows them to have smaller groups tour the school, teach different rules, lunchroom procedures, playground and classroom safety, bathroom expectations, etc.,” Benkelman said.
The next meeting is scheduled for May 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the district conference room.
