New PHS Beginning To Look "Real"
The Gym “Looks Like A Real Gym,” BOE Member Margo Laubhan Commented
by Dennis Gonzales & The Pratt Tribune
June 11, 2008
Many of the classrooms and administrative offices at the new Pratt High School appear to be nearly complete, ready for desks to be moved in and school to start. Those areas are at the “punch list” stage, when detailed inspections are made and problems corrected, USD 382 Superintendent Glen Davis said Monday at the regular meeting of the Board of Education.
Prior to the meeting, Davis led members on a tour of the new building, starting at a spacious, high-ceilinged band room. A large art room, with a north wall of windows opens onto a small art patio, providing natural light inside and the opportunity to work outside as well.
The gym “looks like a real gym,” BOE member Margo Laubhan commented, with basketball goals in place and a net in the center to divide the space into two courts. Portable air conditioners are being used to reduce the humidity so the wood floor, featuring a center court Greenback frog, can be laid.
A not quite “real” commons area and an outdoor courtyard nevertheless show promise of being welcoming, functional places. Other areas are very much incomplete, and the wrestling and weight rooms are still waiting to happen, following the demolition last month of the central cafeteria.
Davis said he was told by construction officials that “the owner can move in furniture (in a particular area) by Aug. 6. That’s where we walked through water,” he commented. The 2008-09 school year begins Aug. 15.
When parents enroll their children for the new year, they can do it online. It’s a simple four-step process with several options, explained Bob Lee, district technology director. Parents can log onto the district website, www.usd382.com, for a fill-in-the-blank form, utilize their PowerSchool password to get a form with existing student information provided, or print out a form to fill in by hand. In all cases, a printed form must be taken to the child’s school to complete enrollment and pay fees. A full online paperless process is not yet available, Lee said, but the district is moving in that direction.
Parents without Internet access can go to the public library or other location where they can use a computer or to their child’s school where they can either complete forms on the computer or be assisted by school staff.
Approval was given for a Pratt High School handbook, delayed in May by concerns of some BOE members over a dress code considered to be too restrictive. Dress code policies remain essentially unchanged in the approved version and give building administrators final authority in determining if a student is dressed appropriately.
Possible examples of inappropriate dress include short shorts, tube, halter, tank or short crop tops, open back shirts, bare shoulder shirts, T-shirts with inappropriate wording, pajamas, bedroom slippers, head ware and jewelry or accessories that could be used as weapons.
Salary increases averaging 3.75 percent were approved for classified staff and administrators.
Resignations were accepted from Randy Vandenhoek, PHS science teacher and volleyball coach; John Schalde, LMS science and football coach; Mike Forshee, PHS boys basketball coach; and Kara Wiley, Haskins aide.
New hires include: Dean Rausch, PHS volleyball; Rose Beilman, PHS English; Melanie Couch, LMS cheer sponsor; Erin Hergenreder, Southwest first grade; Megan Ricke, LMS para; Kate Piland, LMS art and cheer sponsor; Tyler Strong, PHS social science teacher and assistant football and basketball coach; and Gina Bates, Beyond the Bell director.
Steve Landry was reassigned as LMS football assistant, Heath Sharp will coach LMS boys basketball, Arica Malone will teach at risk students at Southwest, and Donna Huff moves to the Southwest second grade position.
New PHS Beginning To Look "Real"
Post your feedback on this topic here
| Date | Subject | Posted by: |
|---|---|---|
| No feedback has been posted yet. Please post yours! | ||
