By Jeff Bertrang

ISD 88 Superintendent

I have lost track of the number of Blizzard Warnings and Polar Vortex events we have experienced this winter. There have been too many to count. There are times when the forecast is correct and times when it isn’t. Unfortunately, we don’t have a crystal ball to help us with decisions; our decisions have the best interest of students in mind. The school calendar has been revised to makeup for some lost time in the classroom. March 31 is now a day of school for all students. Should we have any additional snow days, May 9 would be the next date made up.

March is another busy month for our school sites. Spring testing will start for our elementary students, high school students will register for next year’s classes, our winter sports teams will finish up and spring sports seasons will begin. There are many fine arts events throughout the month with plays, concerts and competitions to highlight our student talent. The Eagle Extravaganza is scheduled for March 14th, sponsored by the Friends of ISD88, to raise money for school projects and the Rotary Scholars Banquet is slated for March 24th, honoring area school scholars.

Congratulations and thank you to all of our coaches, athletes and parents for their efforts during this past winter season. Winter is a long season, but there are many memories each of us takes away when it is done.

The facility task force will meet for their fourth meeting on March 11th. At this meeting, the group will review updated information from the architect planning team, discuss the options presented and make a recommendation that goes forward to the full school board for consideration. After much discussion and planning, the task force has whittled the list down to two options. One option is to reconfigure grades, add space at the main campus for performing arts, physical education, classrooms, programs and update athletic fields as much as can be done. The other option is to reconfigure grades, change the existing high school building to a middle school and build a new high school campus with athletic fields.

All of the work the task force is doing is geared towards the future for our school and the community we serve. I appreciate all of the work the community members on our task force have done for us. Their experience, knowledge and input have been invaluable in this planning process.

Go Eagles!