Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey wrote this article and took the photo.

The River Bend Board of Education was introduced to eight of the 14 new teachers that
will lead classrooms during the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. The estimated enrollment
of 851 will have six new teachers in the elementary school, two in the middle school, and four in the high school. Left-to-right are Educators Caitlin Maloney, Kate Gardner, Jaime Pflederer, Samantha Whitney, Tara Rhoades, Brianna Stuart, Christie Houzenga, and Megan Frick.

Superintendent Darryl Hogue informed the Board of a possible delay in new bathroom
construction, due to delayed deliveries of the equipment.

Action items during the August 10 meeting were passed. The approval of the first reading of the Books/Materials Selection and Reconsideration Policy 6:260-API received considerable discussion and often heated personal evaluations. “This policy was crafted to provide more direction to the teachers as they purchase material, as well as provide a more structured response, if a book is challenged.”

The tentative 2023 budget was approved for Public Review with a date of September 21, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., being set for the FY23 budget hearing.

Director Hogue was directed to seek snow removal bids for the 2022-2023 school year.

Due to the purchase of new ovens and stoves, three double ovens and one stove were declared surplus, and disposal was authorized in an appropriate manner.

The District acknowledged receiving gifts from a D. S. Flikkema Grant ($500) for “All About Reading and Decodable Text,“ and EASY ($1100) for extra-curricular fees.

The next River Bend Board of Education meeting will be Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at the Fulton High School.