The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

The Frenchman Board of Education hired a new Business Manager last month. Amber Schliesser will take the reins in her new position in Fleming this week. The vote to hire Schliesser came during a meeting in late April.

Schliesser takes over the Business Manager position as long-time employee Linda Hawthorne retires this year. Hawthorne, who worked at Fleming Schools for 20 years, announced her retirement at the end of last school year and, as part of her retirement transition, will remain with the district through the end of this fiscal year. Her employment period will end at the conclusion of the 2021 financial audit.

Schliesser is a Fleming High School graduate and previously worked at the Bank of Colorado.

To kick off action items at the April meeting, board members voted to increase the base salary for certified staff members by $1,500. That motion followed with one to approve the following certified staff members: Kelly Blake, Amy Brekel, Karl Donnelson, Derek Feather, Cindy Johnson, Krystal Stone, Randy Stahley, Deron Feather, Arika Lipstrew, Hailey Ruff, Cheri Bornhoft, Lisa Chintala, Trish Etl, Jessica Japp, Denise King, Christy Stumpf, Danielle Wernsman, Becky Harms, Laurianna May and Rylie Salyards.

Board members also voted to approve all classified employee agreements and to hire Brittany Pierce as the Title I teacher. Pierce replaces Phyllis Schmidt who plans to retire this year.

Fleming board members also approved a motion to accept a bid from Champ Construction in the amount of $6,818.33 to replace the windows on the north side of the building. Superintendent Steve McCracken said the windows are being replaced due to weather rot.

At the start of the meeting, Principal Kortney Firme talked to board members about parent teacher conference attendance data. To elaborate, McCracken said the District sees good attendance from parents in the fall for parent/teacher conference and administration is brainstorming to see how to get the same attendance in the spring.

In other business the Board:

• Approved Megan Chintala as a volunteer assistant volleyball coach;

• Approved Jake Busmente as substitute teacher;

• Approved delaying school start by two hours on April 16 due to a snow storm and hazardous driving conditions.

The next Frenchman Board of Education meeting will be May 16 at the conclusion of eighth grade continuation.