School dancers, singers perform for Crane board at meeting Tues.
Paulin chosen to lead panel, Claridge will serve as clerk
Happiness was on display at the Crane Board meeting Tuesday evening.
Students from Ronald Reagan Fundamental School displayed their dancing skills while students from Mesquite Elementary serenaded board members with ukuleles music and songs during the student showcase portion of the meeting.
Reagan Principal Tom Fletcher noted even though the school didn’t receive a 21st Century grant for an after-school program this year, teachers and staff volunteered to host one anyway.
“They volunteer the hours and they started this program,” he said. “We have three dance groups, a cooking class, a woodshop class, a school newspaper, a choir, and two Odyssey of the Mind groups.”
After the students performed, the board got down to its monthly business
Board members thanked Dan Farar for his leadership as president over the past year. School boards elect new leadership yearly, and for 2018, Brenna Paulin will be Crane’s president. Sarah Claridge was nominated to serve as clerk.
The board also moved to keep the same meeting schedule and time, which is the second Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. at the district’s services center boardroom on Avenue C. Other work and study sessions would be scheduled as needed.
Superintendent Laurie Doering congratulated the district’s four First Lego League teams that will be competing at the state contest at Arizona State University this weekend. The teams are from Crane Middle, Valley Horizon and Pueblo, which had two teams.
Doering also announced the district had received two grants — an Early Literacy Grant that would benefit Gary Knox, Salida Del Sol, Gowan Science Academy, HL Suverkrup and Ronald Reagan. The grant is worth more than $200,000.
A second grant from the Dairy Council of Arizona and the National Football League will help fill empty stomachs in the mornings allowing the School Nutrition Department to launch the “Breakfast in the Classroom” program.
Board member Jim Colby told of his visit to the Arizona School Boards Association conference in the waning months of 2017, noting he had spoken to some vendors who may be able to help the school district out in the future.
Doering noted the board received the ASBA’s total boardmanship award. This was the fourth time the board has received it twice in a row she said.
Chief of Finance and Operations Dale Ponder also gave an update on Gov. Doug Ducey’s State of the State speech and an overview of education funding plans that the Legislature will take up during its session.
The board wrapped up its business by passing items on the consent agenda and releasing a teacher from their contract.
The meeting ended earlier than normal to allow audience and other board members time to get across town to attend a community forum for the finalists for the lead position in the Yuma Union High School District.
Doering reminded the board and audience that schools and the district offices will be closed Jan. 15 for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.