School board wraps up the school year, looks into future
PLAINS – The Board of Trustees met on Monday and tended to business as usual in a two hour meeting at the Plains High School, wrapping up the school year in preparation of a new one.
Track and Field Distance Coach Tony Banovich voiced how proud he was of the track team, a team that exemplifies the term student athlete.
Out of the 22 kids on the team, Banovich said all but three made the honor roll. Out of the 18 or 19 who made the honor roll, there were 9 or 10 straight A students. The lowest GPA for the girls was 3.47 with a cumulative GPA of 3.87 and the boy’s team was over 3.2.
Banovich stated the team had “exceptional academic success.”
“That’s on top of two hours of practice everyday, on top of meets every Saturday. Several of those kids work part-time jobs, and many of them are members of other groups such as drama, the National Honor Society, class officers, student councilors,” said Banovich. “When you want to look at the definition of student athletes, you don’t have to look any further than what the track team was this spring. Just some exceptional performances both on and off the field.”
Superintendent Thom Chisholm commended Banovich for his efforts, stating the performance mirrors the leadership.
“The legacy you created there lends itself to that – so thank you for that,” said Chisholm.
After the team was commended for their hard work and dedication, High School President Larry McDonald gave his report and addressed the school board.
McDonald stated 12 seniors, 17 juniors, 15 sophomores, 14 freshmen, 20 Eighth graders and 8 seventh graders made the honor roll.
“They did well. We had a lot of good performances from the kids this year,” said McDonald, diving into how the kids compare to a national level.
“Montana students overall are among the top in the nation, (they’re) always in the top of every subject,” said McDonald. “When you look at these results here, our 2012 to 13 results, Plains in every grade level pretty well exceeds Montana’s results.”
According to McDonald, the test results show the students are performing well or better than most students in the country.
“It makes me kind of proud. These kids are good kids. Overall, I don’t think we could have a better bunch,” said McDonald.
This year everyone graduated with the exception of one student. That student is currently making up a credit and once that credit is completed, his diploma will be awarded to him.
“Everyone will be graduated shortly,” said McDonald.
Elementary Principal Jim Holland commented on the test results as well, stating that 93 percent of the tests taken at the 3rd through 6th grade levels were considered to be proficient.
“That’s pretty good,” said Holland. “That’s a credit to the kids and the teachers.”
As for the elementary school honor roll, there were 24 fourth grade students, 18 fifth graders, and 11 sixth graders out of a 16-student class.
With the kids continued academic success, Chisholm looked into the future.
As he discussed the Department of Commerce Quality Schools Grant or the classroom addition project, Chisholm said the project will be going into full swing.
“It’s so exciting for all of us,” said Chisholm.
The school plans to extend the current building with a new addition. The combined campus will help with school safety, school accreditation and school achievement.
Chisholm said next month the finalities will be secured and the district will start to engage in the contract project where some beginning ground work will be done.
“Things are looking very well. There is a tentative timeframe that we have charted roughly,” said Chisholm
The final documents for the bids will go out in January and at end of that month or the beginning of February the school should find out who the contractors will be.
Chisholm said a year from this date he hopes the final touches will be added to the addition.
“By the middle of June next year, we’ll see a lot of reasons to put some smiles on faces,” said Chisholm.