Altamont Board Moving Ahead w/Chromebooks, Learning About Student Lunches

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Published on October 7 2014 7:21 am
Last Updated on October 7 2014 7:21 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Altamont school board members Monday heard that 500 Chromebooks, bags and software have arrived.

Superintendent Jeff Fritchtnitch said work to configure the machines will begin in the next month. Fritnitch said seven teachers and technology directors Charles Niehaus and Tim Torbeck  will be attending a Chromebooks technology training seminar, and then will hold Tech Tuesdays or Tech Thursdays to train other staff members on their use.

Fritchtnitch said he and Susan Janz met with the Effingham Unit 40 Food Service Director to learn how the Effingham High School ala carte process works, and to see how EHS is set up to serve students. He also will meet with local physician Dr. Robb Frost to discuss Altamont's current menu and calories based upon the Federal guidelines. Dr. Frost has agreed to assist the Altamont district in looking at options to assist students in meeting their hunger needs as well as being healthy for practices and games.

Fritchtnitch also reported that work is to start this week, weather permitting, on the demolition of the old and then construction of a new baseball backstop. They also have a brick sale fundraiser planned to generate revenue for purchase of lights for the baseball diamond. Other work will involve laying new wiring for the scoreboard and relocation of the fuel tanks to the back side of the school near the old greenhouse so the area can be monitored with cameras.

High school principal Jerry Tkachuk reported that Altamont's ACT scores are again at a composite 21.1 for the senior class, the same as last year's senior class, that established the highest score on the ACT over the previous five years of data.

Tkachuk also reported he is seeing good results in reducing the failure rate of students. He plans to meet this week with all students who are failing a class  in hopes of raising those grades before the quarter ends on October 17.

Also Monday, the Altamont board approved GRP Mechanical as the performance contracting company for grade school renovation and health and life safety work; accepted the resignation of Georgia Pearcy as substitute bus driver; approved a maternity leave request from Teresa Lee; adopted an amended risk management plan; and set a tax levy hearing for 6:45pm at the November 10 meeting.