With just two months left of summer break, the Frenchman Board of Education is preparing for the start of the 2021-22 school year in Fleming. Board members gathered in the school/community library for a June 22 meeting to adopt the upcoming budget and hire staff members in preparation for the upcoming school year.

To open the meeting, Kortney Firme, now in her second year as Principal, told board members that information from the previous school year has been rolled into the coming year in the Power School program, system software used for storing student information. She also presented the 2021-22 high school class schedule and gave a brief update on students who are utilizing the IXL program this summer.

IXL is a computer program Fleming Schools uses to provide additional instruction and practice for students. According to Superintendent Steve McCracken, several junior high students are benefiting from the program over the summer in areas of math and English/language arts.

In his report, McCracken touched on several updates for board members, including the announcement that volleyball players Kendyl and Kally Kirkwood were named All-State First Team and Whitney Chintala was named All-State Second Team.

He told board members Fleming Schools is currently accepting applications for paraprofessionals; including one classroom para and one Title 1 para.

The Superintendent also gave a report on a recent mishap in the science lab. McCracken said that while cleaning, a custodian tipped over a chemical cabinet. That cabinet, he said, contained bottles of mild acid and in the fall, one bottle broke and released acid into the cabinet. Luckily, the acid was contained inside the cabinet and the spill was cleaned properly.

McCracken told board members that 26 out-of-district students have applied for attendance in Fleming for the coming school year. Later in the meeting, board members approved a second reading of policy JFA, out of district student admissions.

While moving onto action items, board members first approved the consent agenda including approval as Jessica Japp as the 11th grade sponsor, student employment for Laney Schliesser, Madison Harms and Jamie Nab, overnight and out-of-state travel for the football and volleyball teams, and Denise King as a critical shortage teacher.

McCracken said student employees are working to paint hallways, the lunchroom and locker rooms.

The BOE later approved the 2021-22 budget as well as the student handbook for the coming year. McCracken said there were no major changes to either documents from the year prior, but minor date changes were made to the handbook before being sent to the printer for publication.

In preparation for the upcoming volleyball season, the Board approved hiring Megan Chintala as the head high school volleyball coach. Doug Kamery, who coached the Fleming Lady Wildcats for a number of years, stepped down from his position at the conclusion of the latest season. Chintala served as a volunteer assistant on last year’s team, which brought home the State runner-up title.

Deron Feather was hired to serve as the assistant high school volleyball coach.

In other business the Board:

• Approved a quote from Colorado School District Self Insurance Pool for $87,962 for the school’s liability insurance;

• Approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with Logan County to assist Fleming Schools with board elections in November.