h-bC board votes to give students extra day of summer vacation

Summer vacation will begin a day earlier for students attending Hills-Beaver Creek schools.
The H-BC School Board decided on Thursday, April 16, to move the last student contact day to Monday, May 18. The last high school staff day is Tuesday, May 19, and the last teaching staff day at the elementary school is a half day Wednesday, May 20.
The originally approved school calendar put the final day of classes on Tuesday, May 19.
Superintendent Todd Holthaus informed the School Board April 16 that the district had not used one of its planned weather days.
 
In other business:
•The board approved the recommendation to have the sixth grade students move to the junior-senior high school as a pilot program for the 2015-16 school year.
•The board approved the purchase of a school van not to exceed purchase price of $9,500 to include tax, title and license fees.
•Angie Blosmo has been reassigned from Title 1 part-time lead teacher to fulltime elementary classroom assignment per her request.
•The board approved the addition of one FTE (fulltime equivalent) kindergarten teaching position for the 2015-16 school year
•The board approved the addition of a half-time special needs teacher for specific learning disabilities
•Samantha Moser placed seventh in the statewide D.A.R.E. poster contest.
•Emma Baker, Jed Burgers, Kendra Doerr, Noah Holthaus, Trevor Paulsen, Olivia Richards and Thea Richards received superior ratings and Grace Holthaus an excellent rating at the Band Solo and Ensemble Contest in Fulda.
•Dylon Taubert received a superior rating and Jenny Konz, Jac Virkus, Payton Kelderman and Autumn Olson received excellent ratings in the Vocal Music Solo and Ensemble Contest in Fulda.
•The board learned that fundraising total for elementary playground resurfacing at present time is $64,039.88.
•Kindergarten roundup was well attended with 26 students and families attending.
•Little Pates registration had 12 families attend with 10 families signing up for the 3-year-old pre-school.
•Missy Leuthold resigned as Minnesota Reading Corps tutor effective at the completion of the school year.
•Mardi Leuthold resigned as secondary REAP Paraprofessional at the end of the 2014-15 school year.
•Bus drivers have been test driving three new buses, Blue Bird, International and Thomas, working through the process of possibly purchasing one of these buses.
•April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and Thursday, April 30, a distracted driving seminar will be presented at the high school. The activity will occur during the school day and is sponsored by donations from the Matt Boeve family and Exchange State Ban