Board of Education hires business official; approves junior kindergarten for 2017-18 school year

The Board of Education, at its regular meeting Monday, Feb. 13, hired Melissa Fettkether, as the school business official beginning this summer. She will replace Clara Lensing, who is retiring after 40 years of service. An annual salary of $66,000 was approved for Fettkether.

Laurie Baldwin was hired as a special education paraprofessional at $11.35 per hour and as an activity bus driver at $11.50. Chandra Halverson was also hired as a Head Start special education paraprofessional. Her hourly rate is $11.35.

Ryan Zurbriggen, elementary principal and Danielle Rose presented information on a potential junior kindergarten program. The junior kindergarten, they explained, will be for five year old students who are not ready for the rigor of kindergarten. These students would qualify for full state funding since they have to be five years of age by Sept. 15. This full time program was approved and the classroom will have a full-time teacher. The junior kindergarten will be implement in the fall of 2017.

• Some of the advantages of the program include:

• It is a developmentally appropriate program

• It provides an early support system

• It would provide support for immigrants/migrants

• Social and emotional support.

• Easy transition to kindergarten

  Read the full article in the February 22 edition of the Postville Herald.