The West Prairie District 103 school board met May 27, and conducted two closed sessions. No action was taken after the first executive session; action after the second session largely resulted in personnel resignations, hirings, assignments, and realignment. In other business, the board acted on curriculum and transportation proposals and heard reports on sports co-oping with Southeastern District 335 and facilities improvements.
A significant portion of the regular meeting consisted of a presentation by high school principal Caitlyn Watson and North Elementary principal Sara Ryner advocating for a new elementary math curriculum. The present system, Engage New York, has been in operation for 13 years; however, it has not produced acceptable results in test scores. Several educators were involved in visiting other schools with successful math programs and spoke highly of the Eureka2 program published by Great Minds. Based on their recommendation, the board approved implementation of Eureka2 for five years along with a junior high pilot program. The length of the commitment will provide substantial cost savings rather than yearly subscription. Cost will be $87,101.79, with a one-year pilot subscription for juniors at $4,431.11.
An equal amount of time was spent hearing from Interim Superintendent Paula Markey and board members Mitch Reed and Jake Kreps about meeting with Southeastern District personnel on co-op issues. Plans call for co-oping track and cross country for next school year to go along with the current eight-man football program as well as girls basketball and softball. Mention was made of co-oping golf, but more details need to be worked out. Boys basketball and girls volleyball were discussed but no action is planned to co-op these programs for the near future.
The board voted to purchase two vans, including a 2020 Toyota Sienna equipped for accessible use. Markey noted that this van is needed to accommodate any district special needs student. Anticipated purchase price is $57,661. The other van will be used to transport special education students to their alternative placement locations. The board approved allocating up to $48,000 for a previously owned, low mileage vehicle. Pricing will depend on what is available and at what mileage.
Markey reminded the board that four surplus buses will be disposed of. One has already been sold at auction as a test of the market; the other three will likely follow suit. Receipts from these sales will be returned to the transportation fund. The two approved-purchase vans will be added to the fleet, but eventually other older high-mileage vans would be phased out.
