Next Up: Work At Irle

At the Oct. 9 meeting of the Glasgow School Board, Shane Swandal, one of the school district’s owner’s reps in the building project, said contracts will be available soon for the design and construction teams working on the New Irle School.

Trustee David Irving said the board got all the protections in the contract that they wanted.

The Glasgow Fire Department will visit Irle School on Monday and stage a fire drill in the cafeteria, said Principal Rachel Erickson.

Events are planned at East Side School for bullying prevention and Drug Awareness Month with a kickoff assembly on Oct. 21, according to Principal Mike Zoanni.

Activities director Willie Thibault said that to date, all of the Scottie teams are very successful.

“Girls’ cross country are the odds-on favorite at state” he said. “They’ve got a powerhouse going. And the boys have improved immensely.”

The volleyball and football teams also have been playing well, putting themselves in position for an opportunity to to win their conferences

Drivers are needed for the extracurricular buses. Girls’ basketball is short two coaches.

Glasgow High School’s new principal, Shawnda Zahara-Harris, said more than 20 students were inducted into the National Honor Society, the largest group ever.

University of Montana President Royce Engstrom visited recently and met with staff, who were not afraid to ask questions, Zahara-Harris said.

“Our freshmen are valued as some of the top ones coming in,” she said.

In a heads up for the board, she said the computers in the library are “dying by the day.” They are old and subject to power surges.

“The only complaint I’ve heard this year at GHS – so many kids are involved in so many clubs, it’s hard to get a good turnout. That’s quite problem to have,” said Zahara-Harris.

In personnel actions, Andrew Lam resigned as a classroom aide at Irle and the high school. Three people were hired: Cindy Rogenes as a part time kitchen assistant, Mary Morehouse as an aide and Richard Backus as a substitute.

A number of people were hired for extra duty assignments: Sereta Heser, cheer coach (winter season); Jorey Garsjo, assistant cheer coach; Steve Johnson, JV girls’ basketball coach; Mike Zoanni, eighth-grade girls’ basketball coach; Dan Zeiger, assistant wrestling coach; Byron Hallock, head 5-8 wrestling coach; and Logan Brower, volunteer wrestling coach.

Glasgow School Superintendent Bob Connors volunteered to represent the School Board on the Scottie Booster Club.

CHMS has done the school district audit for at least 20 years.

Every three years a new proposal must be made to the board. The board approved CHMS’ proposal for the next three years, to include a 4 percent increase from the previous year.

East Side’s Zoanni said this was the best Homecoming Week he could remember. Friday was the highlight, when the gym was decorated with red and white and GHS student athletes came and spoke.

“I have not seen another school do homecoming so community-based in my life,” said Zahara-Harris. “Everyone is involved and maintains academic focus.”

Connors said student enrollment is eight more than last month and 28 more than last year. Close to 40 percent of the seniors are in fall athletics (23 of 59 students).

“It’s pretty cool,” Connors said. “It goes right along with Homecoming – that’s the biggest parade I’ve seen. Scottie pride – it’s like a college town here.”

He said the kids are doing really well athletically and it “casts a glow around town.”

“We’re very proud of our kids. They’re good stewards of Scottie pride.”

The Glasgow School Board will receive the Golden Gavel award on Thursday, Oct. 17, at MCEL, the Montana Conference of Education Leadership in Billings. All five members of the board have done professional development.

The next school board meeting is at Irle School on Wednesday, Nov. 13.