WELLMAN

Mid-Prairie’s school board meeting on Monday, Oct. 23 began in a spirited fashion with the costumed cast of “Into the Woods” performing a musical number for the board, led by Christi Meader and Collette McClellen. Board members were encouraged to attend the drama production, which takes place at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5 at the high school.

Tad Morrow from Carl A. Nelson updated the board on construction at Middle and East Elementary. At the middle school, the new classroom additions are watertight and windows are in; classroom additions at the elementary are expected to be fully enclosed by the end of the week. Construction work is “in a pretty good place overall,” Morrow said.

The expectation is that work at the middle school will be complete in late January/early February, and at the elementary school a month or two later. The new classrooms will be ready for use at the start of the 2024-2025 school year next fall.

Board action

The board approved Carol Montz as a candidate for the Grant Wood AEA Agency Board of Directors election to represent District 6.

The board approved a resolution that allows for an additional level of growth of $130,086 for open enrollment out, as well as additional allowable growth of $6,597.57 for ELL beyond five years.

Looking ahead

After the Nov. 7 election, a new board will be seated, either at the meeting on Nov. 27 or Dec. 11 depending on when results are certified. Vice president Gabrielle Frederick suggested the board conduct a mid-year performance evaluation of superintendent Brian Stone with the current board; the evaluation would most likely take place in closed session. Departing board president Jeremy Pickard listed a few items he hopes the next board will continue to discuss, including appropriate uses of AI, concurrent enrollment, and discussion with state representatives at the end of the year.