Altamont School Board Takes Action on Items for Next School Year

Altamont school board members have taken action on several items related to the coming school year.

The Board approved school district fees, as well as pay rates for sports officials and salaries for exempt certified and non-certified personnel. 

The Board also approved an amended calendar for the current school year to reflect Emergency Days used. Also approved was the award of work on the roof and a steel roof ladder on Altamont Grade School to Kehrer Brothers West Roofing for $95,650. 

Board members were updated by District Librarian Sue Poe on the state of the district's grade school and high school libraries. Poe noted that a lot of books were donated to the grade school and high school. She said she tries to visit Altamont Grade School classrooms every week trying to introduce History and other areas where students don't normally have access.

Poe also said she believes the District is underserving students at the high school level, as students are wanting to check out more books, but can't, since no one is available to serve them.

The Altamont board heard from guest Elizabeth McWhorter on the consistency of students and Board members wearing masks at school events, recognized Kaden Eirhart and Olivia Eckhardt as Homecoming King and Queen, and acknowledged Tony Hann and Laura Beck as the Homecoming Teacher King and Queen.

Maintenance Director Alan Whitt reported that he hopes to finish updates in the Superintendent's office by early next week, and that renovations on the rest of the District office and Board Room will begin as soon as Spring semester ends.

The Board heard that the Senior Class trip leaves for Florida on March 18, with students returning on March 22, and that efforts are being made to add a weightlifting component for athletes to each of the first semester PE classes.

Board members hired Alex Walden as the Ag instructor and FFA sponsor for the coming school year, and approved a high school baseball field sprinkler system and water meter from the City of Altamont.