School board approves hires

The Thompson Falls School Board met Monday, recapping the school year and extending contracts.

Superintendent Bud Scully said the foundation is set for the new multipurpose building and that the structure should start being erected this week. He also said that the school had a water leak under the junior high gym, but the issue has been resolved and he is working with the city to get the water bill adjusted.

Elementary Principal Len Dorscher said the campus has additional security cameras up and running, and noted that the school has 40 students signed up for each of the two summer school sessions. High School Principal Jodi Morgan said the school is collaborating with Montana State University on a program to help promote rural schools that will involve teaching students from the college visiting both Plains and Thompson Falls for a week next school year, then possibly getting student teachers in the schools.

The board completed evaluations for Scully and school clerk Stacy Milner, after which they approved new salaries of $122,000 for Scully and $77,000 for Milner, as well as increases for the two principals. The board also authorized Scully to develop a salary schedule for the administrators and clerk.

The school board approved several hirings on Monday. For fall sports, Sandra Kazmierczak will return as head volleyball coach for the high school, with Madison Wheeler coaching JV and Jessica Lewis the C squad. Karli Thomas will be the junior high head volleyball coach, assisted by Danice Toyias. Sarah Naegeli returns as high school cross country coach and Holly Franck will coach the junior high team. High school football coach Jared Koskela will be back next year, as will his assistants Ray Brown and Ray Buchanan. For the junior high team, hadd Laws will be the head coach and Doug Padden the assistant.

Taylour Freed has been hired as the K-8 counselor and art teacher. Previous K-8 counselor Rob Christensen will be the counselor at the high school in the next school year

The school board does not typically meet in July, and the next regular school board meeting is set for August 7 at 6 p.m.