The Princeton R-5 Board of Education approved the 2020-2021 school year calendar Monday evening. The start date for Princeton will be August 25th, and the last day is scheduled for May 19th, 2021. Snow days are built into the calendar, with a total of 1,109.1 hours. That exceeds the state minimum of 1,044 hours by 65.1 hours.
The board will pursue a quote for an improved sound system in the gym. Kurt and April Meighen received a $2,500 Monsanto Grant. The grant will be awarded to the Princeton School District for equipment at the Stacy Center and to offset some of the cost for a new sound system.
The Princeton Ball Association, City of Princeton, and Princeton R-5 School District are working together to apply for a Department of Natural Resources grant. The application is a matching grant that will fund a $250,000 match. The school district pledged to fund $40,000. The funding will be spread over the next two fiscal years. The Princeton Ball Association reported it has secured pledges and donations as it moves closer to finalizing the grant application. A fundraising campaign will start in the spring to secure more funding for the project. The in-kind donation will also count toward the matching requirements of the grant.
The board received an update on the construction of the maintenance and locker room building. Rough-in electrical and plumbing has been completed. Interior walls and ceiling will be completed in the next few weeks. Volunteers will install internet cables and paint the interior.
Announcements from a closed session included the approval of retirement for Kindergarten through 12th Grade Librarian and High School English Teacher Beth Boxley at the end of this school year. The board hired Special Education Director Meredith Ussery as the Assistant Baseball Coach for this spring season. Contract extensions of two years were approved for Junior High and High School Principal Brent Mitchell and Elementary School Principal Dana Seymour. Superintendent Jerry Girdner reports the contracts will cover the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. Their salaries will be determined at a later date to coincide with teacher salaries and budget.
