PCS enrollment at 405
Much of Aug. 19’s Perkins County School Board meeting was spent discussing the 2019-20 budget.
Superintended Phillip Picquet said the discussion centered around trying to balance increasing cash reserves to better assist with cash flow throughout the year to ensure the district is in a healthy financial position, while also being cognizant of the tax asking and patrons.
Back to school
Back to school night for junior high/senior high school students and the elementary open house each saw an 85% attendance rate.
Principal Ben Jones reported 168 students enrolled in 7-12, with 92 boys and 76 girls and the following breakdown: seniors, 28; juniors, 24; sophomores, 36; freshman, 25; eighth, 25; and seventh, 35. There are eight new students: two part-time students in seventh grade, one in eighth, one freshman, two sophomores, one junior and one senior.
Elementary Principal Nicole Long reported enrollment at 237: preschool, 37; kindergarten, 30; first, 36; second, 20; third, 36; fourth, 28; fifth, 30; sixth, 30.
Activities
Activities Director Jeremy Struckman had several things to discuss, one being classification for sports. Struckman said PCS is on the bubble for many activities. Girls sports this fall are classified as D1, and winter activity classifications will be released next month.
Reclassification for football will happen this year for 2020-21. Struckman said he will meet with Football Coach Jonathan Hunt and the administration to talk about numbers and the options for what is best for the district and football program.
He said participation rates in high school and junior high sports are up as a whole this fall compared to last year.
Perkins County will host High School SPVA track, cross country and volleyball this year. Struckman said he is putting in for district volleyball, basketball and track, however, he is not putting in for district cross country as he feels it is too much pressure for first-year coaches.
The E. Lee Todd track meet, which was not held last season, has also found a new home on the calendar. Struckman is currently waiting on Colorado’s sports governing body so Colorado schools may attend. If Colorado High School Activities Association grants PCS to host a prequalification meet, the Holyoke Dragon meet will be absorbed into the E. Lee Todd meet.
Struckman has completed the 2020-21 activities schedule, and will send out contracts during the first quarter. He said 75% of the referees have been contracted.
The school website has the activities calendar and sport-specific calendars. Struckman praised Renee Seiler for keeping the website updated and DeeAnn Bishop for updating social media.
Struckman is now serving as conference secretary on the SPVA board of directors.
Discussion and action
• The board accepted the resignation of Sally Borowski as media center para-educator, thanking her for her years of service.
• The board voted to transfer $40,000 from the general fund to the activities fund.
• The new phone system is up and running, with a seamless transition.