(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake School Board Monday heard another update on plans for the South Hill Avenue Project, and voted unanimously to approve the school’s share of the project, which includes a rennovation of the west parking lot at the high school. Total cost of the school’s share will be 284,344-dollars. The city will pay half that, with the school being responsible for 142,172-dollars. The board adopted a motion to that extent, authorizing up to an additional 10-thousand dollars in changeorders if needed. They also approved three easement requests needed for the project.
The board also heard a proposal to begin a pre-school program on a limited basis. 10 regular pre-school students would be integrated with special needs students three hours a day Monday through Friday. The only additional cost to the district would be about 1,100-dollars a year for an additional aide that would oversee the program on Mondays only. Otherwise it would be ran by existing staff with the district’s Early Childhood Special Education staff. The board took no action on the proposal. They’ll consider it at their next regular meeting in March.
The Spirit Lake school board also Monday evening reviewed but took no action on budget cuts for the upcoming school year. The elementary, middle and high school and the district’s administrative offices were ordered to reduce spending by 40-thousand dollars each. The cuts reflect reductions in supplies, field trips, and equipment. Superintendent Tim Grieves says no programs or staffing will be effected. But he warned that will change if even more cuts come from the state. The board is expected to finalize the reductions at their next regular meeting.
