21st Century Grant

At Wednesday’s meeting of the PHS Board, the board heard from Julie Swedman, PHS grant coordinator, who gave an overview of the clubs and programs at PHS and the estimated 160 students taking advantage of them.

Swedman said she’s pleased the participants in the programs and clubs represent all the grades. Twenty-nine percent of the students are freshmen; 27 percent are sophomores; 21 percent are juniors; and 23 percent are seniors. Also, 84 percent of the participants are in the regular education courses with 16 percent being in special education courses, Fifty-five percent of the participants are male, and 45 percent are female, Swedman said.

In addition to the clubs and regular programs, Swedman is also partnering with the local Community Partners Against Substance Abuse (CPASA) coalition to bring a spring event to the school which will focus on student leadership, bullying and substance abuse; it’s hopeful the National Guard will also participate. The 21st Century Grant program will extend into the summer months with two English courses and a continuation of the clubs, she said.

In conclusion, Swedman thanked the 12 individuals who are leading the various clubs and programs. They’ve all done a fabulous job, she said.

In other business at Wednesday’s meeting, Superintendent Kirk Haring announced the district will need to issue $1,525,000 in Health and Life Safety bonds, not the $2 million as originally estimated, to cover several projects which will be accomplished this summer. The planned projects include getting new bleachers for the football field/track, roof replacement work on the Prouty and south gymnasiums, tuck pointing for the entire building, repair work to the greenhouse, and repair to the fire escape at the auditorium. The projects have all been approved by the state and the Regional Office of Education, Haring said.

As reported earlier in the Bureau County Republican, Haring said the new bonds are not expected to greatly affect the district’s tax levy, since the district’s earlier general obligation bonds were being retired.