At the March 28 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Superintendent Heath Olstad updated the board on the winter and spring sports seasons. Winter sports have wrapped up and spring sports have started. Congratulations were extended to wrestlers Orion Sass and Katie Whelan for qualifying for the state individual wrestling tournament, with Whelan taking fifth in state.
Parent teacher conferences were held on March 9, but due to weather, had to be changed from in-person to email or Zoom depending on parents’ preferences.
Gun safety training was offered to interested students on March 28.
Tim Ostrom will be taking on the role of summer rec coordinator again this year. The summer rec newsletter should be sent out within the next few weeks.
There are multiple positions open at the One Block at a Time daycare and the SAC program.
Hannah Terry was hired as the assistant softball coach and Jake Ihrke as the assistant baseball coach. A maternity leave was approved for paraprofessional Tatum Whalen.
The fees for Region V Computer Services were approved for 2023. The company takes care of the software and computer support for the district’s accounting and personnel management needs.
The board reviewed the preliminary information for the Extended School Year program. Ten sessions for the elementary and high school special education students are being planned during two weeks in August. Jennifer Lindstrom was hired as the special education teacher for the elementary school and Amanda Thomas as the special education teacher for the high school. Three paraprofessionals will also be hired to assist with the program and transportation. Connie Berg will continue to serve students in the birth to age three program. Speech, physical, and occupational therapy will be provided to the students as indicated in their Individualized Education Plans.
The elementary summer program was reviewed and approved. Sessions will be held in June and August. Between 110-120 working hours for the teachers were approved, along with approximately 210 hours for the paraprofessionals.
A $304 transfer to the milk and healthy snack assistance fund for the second semester was approved.
An open enrollment request was approved.
Superintendent Olstad noted that the seniors would be leaving for their class trip on March 30 and would be visiting Washington, D.C. and New York, among other locations. “It’s a great opportunity for these students,” he said.
Board member Shelly Topness said that she believes the reason why numbers for high school parent teacher conferences are usually so low is because the teachers are easily accessible by email for parents who have questions, meaning that a specific time slot twice a year isn’t always necessary.
Board member Aaron Bishop asked if the funding for free and reduced lunches is known for the next school year. Superintendent Olstad said that the numbers haven’t been received yet. Regardless of how the program works next year, parents will still be encouraged to apply for free and reduced lunches as it can be helpful to the district.
The next Fillmore Central School Board meeting will be held on April 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the elementary meeting room.