Bookmobile gets support; more lights for soccer fields
Auguste Emond, right, goes up for a header against a Whitefish defender in this file photo. The school will add more lights to the soccer fields soon.
The School District 6 board meeting on May 8 dealt with athletics requests and other projects.
Betsy Kohnstamm, the reading specialist from Ruder Elementary, asked for the board’s support to continue the bookmobile program. The bookmobile operates on a budget of about $2,000 per summer season, Kohnstamm said, and staff members from Ruder deliver books and food to kids during the months when they’re not in school.
Kohnstamm requested help obtaining a new vehicle this summer, as she is retiring and can no longer participate. She also inquired whether the board could work towards getting stipends for the coordinators. The board voted unanimously to continue the program, and to pay the coordinators a capped stipend from the funds already associated with the bookmobile.
Columbia Falls High School activities director Troy Bowman and soccer coach O’Brien Byrd came to the meeting with two requests. First, they asked that the board obtain a height variance from the city in order to install two more light poles on the soccer field to ensure the safety of the players and spectators. The board agreed to request a variance for new lights. Second, Bowman and Byrd suggested that the bleachers being replaced in the gym could be moved out to the soccer field. Instead of a $50,000 minimum for each set of new aluminum bleachers for more seating on the field, the cost to relocate and repurpose the wooden bleachers would be $35,000 plus an $8,000 to $14,000 concrete pad to anchor them. Trustee Barb Riley made a motion to approve the bleacher request, noting that the district has already invested in the bleachers so repurposing them would be a wise choice. Riley’s motion passed unanimously.
In other board news:
- The board voted to pay the Montana High School Association membership fees, excluding the swim team dues if no swim coach has been hired by the payment deadline of July 15.
- The board agreed to continue to furnish the Deer Park Elementary national school lunch program.
- The board accepted the resignation of Kate Daniels as Key Club advisor at the high school.
- The board approved the hiring of Autumn Mansfield, reading specialist at Ruder; Jenny Mende, hot lunch helper; Shelby Johnson, half-time art teacher at the high school; and Jolandie Brooks, head high school volleyball coach.
- The board accepted the declaration of election results. The board bid a fond farewell to trustee Lyle Mitchell, who ceded his seat to newly elected trustee Keri Hill. The elected trustees were sworn in, and the board reelected Jill Rocksund as chair and Dean Chisholm as vice chair. The board reappointed Dustin Zuffelato as district clerk.