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The activities area of school life was in the spotlight at last week’s North Branch School Board meeting.  The next year flat event rate of pay for workers at various extracurricular events was approved, 5-0,  with member Lavalla absent and member Naegele attending by internet.  The action was requested to bring the pay into line with other Mississippi 8 conference districts, the Board was advised.  Workers and officials’ pay is reimbursed by the region.

Workers at varsity games, including those working the shot clock, ticket takers and announcers, the football “chain gang” and scorebook keepers are among those affected.  There hasn’t been a revision to the rate of pay for about 10 years.

The rate of pay has been $32 for ticket people, it goes to $45. Scoreboard and clock keeper was $30 and will be $55 for next season.  Site managers now at $50 per event go to $75 and those who get doubleheader assignments get $100 and football game site managers get $125. Chain gang workers go to $45 (varsity only.) Basketball shot clock workers go from $30 to $55.

The Board then accepted a partial year summary describing fundraiser revenues. Leading income came through the wreath sales’ profit of $10,388 courtesy of efforts by the 6th grade. The girls basketball program on-line merchandise purchases netted $8,000 profit.  Third- highest revenues were through baseball program coupon card sales, at $6,240.

The Board also heard from  Kindra Helin, Activities Director, who introduced several advisors for activities ranging from speech to FFA.  Leaders recapped their seasons, spoke about achievements and in some cases their growth and the need for space for their programs.

The Tech Challenge program expects to have five teams next year up from three recently.  Watch for their demonstrations at the county fair and state fair (Aug 24 and 26.). The team members also show off their skills at the July 16 Concerts in Central Park in North Branch.  Advisor Becky Leuer noted that mentor Tomy Cummings received recognition as mentor of the year winning the Compass Award.

Another program that’s  also scheduled to be busy in summertime, is FFA.  Advisor Amanda Cook told the Board three years ago she was only dreaming of having a program and it has developed beyond her imagination in this first full year.  These kids are grades 7-12 They will also be at the state fair, county fair and bringing their AgVentures exhibit to remote locations this summer.

Speaking for a long-running North Branch program— Knowledge Bowl advisor, and Viking alum Samantha Nuthuk— told the Board she inherited a strong program, adding she was a team member when she attended North Branch High School.  Knowledge Bowl is grades 9 through 12. 

Theater and speech were also represented by Laura Long and Max Anderson. And, robotics FIRST FRC advisor Angela Tveit gave a summary of the 15th season.

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