By Lexi MooreThe Hills-Beaver Creek School District was notified in early October that it would be eligible to receive nearly $20,000 from the Microsoft Corporation.The grant money would come as a result of a $50 million settlement between Microsoft and the state of Minnesota.Superintendent David Deragisch submitted the paperwork along with a request for nearly $27,000 in software and hardware for the high school and elementary school."It’s a gift," Deragisch said, "… Christmas in November from Microsoft."Included in the list of requested items were two computers to run new library software, two servers, two switches, two laser printers and Microsoft Office for Macintosh computers.The amount of money H-BC will receive will depend on the number of school districts in the state who applied for money when they received paperwork in October.The district will receive vouchers in January. Administrators will not know until then how much of the estimated $21,410.45 they will receive.OSHA safety mandates will cost school:Deragisch attended a mandatory OSHA meeting regarding safety equipment on machines in the industrial arts and agriculture shops.OSHA mandates that all machines are properly guarded and in compliance or the school will be fined.Because a representative from H-BC attended the meeting the school will receive $10,000 to put toward guarding old machines or purchasing new ones.Deragisch will arrange for a company to come for a free review of all equipment.Snow removal bids opened:School Board Chairman Alan Harnack opened three sealed snow removal bids at Tuesday’s board meeting. The bids were for snow removal during the 2005-2006 school year.Bids were placed by Arlen Leenderts, Erwin’s Towing and Mike Spath.Four separate jobs were awarded, two to Spath and the other two to Erwin’s Towing and Leenderts.Mike Spath will remove snow from the northeast lot at a rate of $45 per hour and the bus garage for a flat fee of $10.Erwin’s Towing bid for the south lot at $80 per hour was also accepted. Snow removal from the northwest lot was awarded to Arlen Leenderts at a rate of $40 per hour.Snow must be removed from the bus area by 6:30 a.m and from the parking areas by 7:30 a.m. on school days.Winter activities have started:Winter activities will be underway by the end of next week.H-BC will have one mock trial team of 14 students with six alternate students participating in practice and meets.There are 10 girls interested in basketball cheerleading. Cheerleading advisor Starla Scholten will purchase additional uniforms so that all 10 girls can be involved.The number of students participating in winter sports is high with the exception of eighth-grade boys and girls basketball.