Board discusses burying power lines

SWAN VALLEY – At their Aug. 18 meeting, the Swan Valley Elementary School Board voted to contact Missoula Electric Cooperative and request a bid for burying the power lines at the school access points. They also approved contracts for certified and classified staff.

Chair Jimmy Boyd presented information to the board regarding the process of burying power lines. The lines currently cross both access points to the school. If the lines were down and emergency services needed access to the school, responders would have to wait for the crews from the electric company to show before proceeding across the lines, Boyd said.

The District voted unanimously to pay $150 to MEC to obtain an estimated cost to bury the lines. If the District accepts the proposal, they make payment and then are put in line for the work to be completed.

In his administrative report Principal Aaron Morgenstern stated they expect approximately 30 students for the beginning of the school year. He said they are still enrolling students and will offer firm numbers at the September meeting.

In other business, the board:

• Approved contracts for the 2023 Certified Staff: Jamie Mathew, Chris Mauldin, Colleen Harrington and Morgenstern and Classified Staff: Danni Parcell and Nikki Harnisch.

• Approved the 2023 budget.

• Appointed Principal Morgenstern to the Missoula Area Education Council Joint Advisory Board.

The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.