School Board Briefs

COULEE DAM — Average attendance in Grand Coulee Dam School District for the month of May was 679.24, the school board learned last Monday night. The district budgeted for 680 students and this is the first month since September last year that the attendance has been below budget. The high month was in December, when the average was 689.97.

The Grand Coulee Dam School District has renewed its contract with the Keller District to provide maintenance of its bus fleet. The cost of the service is $850 a month plus cost of parts and tires.

NESPELEM — For the second time in two years, the Nespelem School District board of directors hired Northwest Leadership Associates to help in a search for a new superintendent.

The board formally accepted a contract with Lloyd Olson’s firm at Monday night’s meeting for $6,500.

“I have to say that your district is in a very good position now,” he said.

Olson noted that the atmosphere in the school compared to a year ago was greatly improved. “The positiveness is just wonderful,” he said.

The board also heard a presentation from Thoughtexchange, a company that provides an online process for public comment for school districts.

The board OK’d a request by Superintendent Rich Stewart to present a contract with the company at the next meeting for about $20,000 for three years.

The board also accepted a grant for $5,000 for technology that will be used to purchase iPads or Chromebooks. They also passed a capital budget extension to accept a $197,000 grant for new schoolground equipment.

The board accepted with regret the resignation of Sheri Edwards, who is retiring after teaching at the school for 31 years.

“We hate to see her go, and her students feel the same,” noted board Chair Jolene Marchand.