Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THE IRONWOOD Area Schools Board of Education discusses the updated student handbook at its meeting Monday evening. Pictured are, from left, chairman Steve Thomas, superintendent Tim Kolesar and trustee Brenda Agee.
IRONWOOD - The Ironwood Area Schools Board of Education heard the city and IAS were awarded the Safe Routes to School Grant of $386,614 at its meeting Monday evening.
The grant is intended to cover renovation costs regarding school routes, i.e. sidewalks and administrative costs.
It will be used to replace the Curry Street and Lake Street sidewalks and also to build three spur trails plus a school path to connect LLW with the Gateway Trail and nearby neighborhoods.
The board also made three new teacher appointments.
It appointed Barb Ahnen as special education teacher for kindergarten through second grade, Judy Balchik as kindergarten teacher and Rachel Boyd as second grade teacher.
The board accepted the resignation of Luther L. Wright staff member Angela Dollaway.
It lifted Tim Routheaux's pink slip status and placed him into a Title I teaching position for grades 7-12.
The board was presented with an updated student handbook for middle school and high school.
"The major changes really have to do with tardiness," said superintendent Tim Kolesar, "This year, if a student is tardy three or more times, it will result in Saturday school."
The board approved a decision to use its At-Risk funds to hire a new third grade teacher for the 52 incoming third grade students.
"We have dedicated a large sum of money to transition children into an upper elementary setting," Kolesar said.
The board approved a switch in athletic insurance coverage from Student Assurance Services Inc. to First Agency. Coverage will being on August 1.
It also approved its district improvement plan for to upcoming school year.
The plan included four goals: For all students to demonstrate increased grade level proficiency in math, proficiency in reading and writing, proficiency in science and proficiency in social studies.
The board approved purchase of new bus up to $18,000.
"This is a time when we'll have to utilize our fund balance if we're going to keep the transportation system we have," Kolesar said.
It approved Pan-O-Gold Baking Co. to provide bread and Dean Foods to provide milk to area schools for the 2014-15 school year.
The board also approved the girls' tennis and ski team contracts for the upcoming school year.
