Board updated on strategic planning, COVID

SEELEY LAKE - Seeley Lake Elementary Superintendent Josh Gibbs provided updates on Board Strategic Planning results and other aspects of the school during the Board of Education’s regular meeting Oct. 19.

Gibbs said they are still not ready to approve the School’s Strategic plan. However he wanted to give the board members an idea of what concerns, causes and solutions the document addresses. He said currently the timelines and budgets are missing but he intends to plug those in by the next board meeting and have it ready for approval by November. 

He also addressed the school improvement master plan which is part of the Strategic plan. It’s main three goals are:

• Review and adopt a rigorous, consistent and aligned Pre-K through eighth grade curriculum for each subject area.

• Improve Student Achievement for all students in the Seeley Lake School District.

• Ensure a positive culture/climate across all stakeholder groups in Seeley Lake Elementary School District.

Each goal contains measurable objectives as well as an action plan and monitoring plan.

Gibbs gave updates on COVID-19 at SLE during his report. Currently there are no cases at the school but he acknowledges that that can change at any time.

Gibbs also said that the school has received all of its expected Chromebooks so far and that 90 of them have been distributed to fourth through eighth grade students. They are expecting to eventually distribute Chromebooks to all of the lower grade levels.

During public comment, Kris Gullikson suggested distributing welcome baskets to new students at the school and having outside artists teach art classes. Gullikson said she was inspired to make newcomers feel welcome and increase community connectivity through art after attending the Reimagining Rural sessions.

Items the school board unanimously approved included:

• Boys basketball coach hires Brett Haines as head and Bradley Miller as assistant for this season 

• Student attendance agreements

• Updated substitute list

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m.