Concurrent enrollment, graduation requirements and this year’s preliminary student count all topped information presented to the Frenchman Board of Education during an August meeting in the Fleming Library.

Counselor Randy Stahley, Athletic Director Lisa Chintala and administrative team members Kortney Firme and Steve McCracken gave board members an update just as the 2021-22 school year kicked off in Fleming.

Stahley told board members there are 15 Fleming students who are taking concurrent enrollment classes this semester.

Concurrent enrollment provides high school students with the opportunity to enroll in college-level courses and earn credit in high school and college at no cost to them for tuition.

The 15 students are taking 41 different classes for a total of 125 credits, Stahley said.

Stahley also gave an overview of new graduation requirements. According to Superintendent McCracken, Fleming officially adopted the new graduation requirements last year.

“They are aligned with the new graduation guidelines that the Colorado Department of Education and the State of Colorado adopted,” he said. “Our students will continue to have to meet the minimum Carnegie Units graduation requirements. In addition, our students will need to obtain a minimum score for math and English on standardized testing such as SAT, Act, Accuplacer, ASVAB, etc.”

If students cannot obtain that minimum score, McCracken said they will need to complete a capstone project, which is very similar to a portfolio or evidence of work that a student can compile that demonstrates they meet the qualifications to receive a high school diploma.

Principal Firme told the local BOE the student count stands at 217 for the 2021-22 school year. That number, she said, reflects 30 new students and 16 new families. Later in the meeting, board members voted to increase class size limits for seventh and eighth grades for the current year.

By a roll call vote, members Randy Kirkwood, Christa Lousberg, Kim Nolde and Carmen Vandenbark all voted yes and the motion passed. Board member Shane Schliesser voted against the motion.

McCracken said in later follow up that the class sizes for the two junior high grades were increased to 20 for this year. Previously the limit was 18.

In her time with board members, Athletic Director Chintala said 13 girls are on the high school volleyball team, 19 are girls playing junior high volleyball, 22 high schoolers are on the football team and 23 players are on the junior high football roster.

Before moving onto action items, McCracken discussed the process of a possible HVAC project. He said Fleming Schools plans to apply for a BEST grant to upgrade the HVAC system this year. Grant applications are due in February and if the grant is awarded, construction would begin next summer with a completion date of 2023.

McCracken said 22 companies requested a copy of the RFQ/P for the project, seven of which attended a walk-through two weeks ago.

BEST grants are awarded through the Colorado Department of Education with funding from The Colorado State Land Board, Colorado Lottery and marijuana excise tax. BEST grants, paired with local matching dollars, aims to improve Colorado’s education environments through capital construction projects.

In other business:

• Stahley is planning an assembly for sixth through 12th grade students to address Internet security and social media;

• Board members approved adding Aleah Ramey, Allison Johnson and Kylie Chamberlain to the substitute teacher list;

• The BOE approved Harrison Johnson as an assistant wrestling coach and Kirkwood as an assistant junior high football coach;

• A motion was approved by the Board to purchase six electric door operators for the new bus barn from American Building Systems for $7,458;

• Board members approved duties for Samantha Nielson as a custodian in addition to her work in the kitchen, not to exceed 40 hours per week, along with an employee only health care benefit;

• The BOE approved increasing Kendra Koehler’s hours to 40 hours per week as well as an employee only health care benefit; Koehler is a school custodian;

• The Board approved Ellen Lippstrew as a 140 day/year retired employee, she serves as a Title 1 para-professional.