L'ANSE - Carrie Meyer made the move from high school principal at Wakefield-Marenisco to L'Anse, and last week she noticed a difference she wasn't quite expecting; more than double the attendance at parent-teacher conferences.
At the L'Anse Area Schools Board of Education regularly-scheduled meeting Monday night, Meyer reported that the high school had 46 percent attendance at its conferences - much higher than the 20 percent attendance she received in her final year at W-M.
"Continued communication between the district and parents is always important for the child," Meyer said. "So to see 46 percent was kind of a pleasant surprise.
"I was very impressed."
Meyer attributed the success to a different method of sending out report cards.
"We pass out report cards at conferences," she said. "So parents are encouraged to go."
In other business, the board:
agreed to look into a leak at the Covington bus garage.
accepted the retirement of head cook Kathleen Gabe, who served for more than 30 years. Currently, the board is accepting applications for a replacement.
announced the hiring of middle school English teacher Brian Perry as the junior varsity boys basketball coach and Baraga Chief of Police Harold Miron as the seventh grade boys basketball coach.
heard an update from Rene Lehto, who also serves on the Library Advisory Board. Lehto said the Friends of the Library raised $350 during a book sale, and that the library is currently running a special where library fines can be paid by bringing in canned foods which will then be donated to St. Vincent de Paul.
heard a report from Joan Bugni, who attended the Michigan Association for School Boards conference in Lansing. Bugni offered a variety of resources to fellow board members.
briefly discussed the action taken when the district was dismissed early for H1N1.
"We did everything too quickly," Superintendent Ray Pasquali said. "We learned a lot and we need to make some modifications."
Pasquali said the school will be more prepared for a similar situation in the future, but said overall the dismissal went well.
Michael H. Babcock can be reached at mbabcock@mininggazette.com.
