ONTONAGON — Two different programs and organizations received approval from the Ontonagon Area School District (OASD) to lease office and/or classroom space at the school.

The “Communities That Care” program received unanimous board support for an office lease agreement of $2,700 per year. One of the programs this organization has is on suicide prevention.

“This is an organization that has been around for the past two years to provide students and the community in mental and behavioral health,” said Jim Bobula, OASD Superintendent/Principal.

The Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District received the approval for leasing classrooms for Moderately Cognitively Impaired (MoCI) at $11,314 per year. This lease also includes office space.

Based upon the increases in food costs to the district, lunch prices were raised 5 cents. For Elementary students (K-5), the lunch price will be $2.80 per day. For grades 6-12, it will be $3 per day. For adults, it will be $3.95 per day. Breakfast remains free to all students.

Students that want to earn extra money during their free time at school will have that opportunity by working for $5.00/hour in the kitchen.

The district will be advertising for bids on providing woodchips for the district’s heating system. Bids will be due by Sept. 12. The board approved the bid from PBBS Equipment Corporation out of Plover, Wisconsin, to re-tube the wood boiler for $28,734.

Bobula updated the board on the bathroom renovation.

“Plumbing rough-in has been inspected and approved,” he said. “Next phase will be wall tiles and flooring.”

August Winters & Sons were on campus and evaluated the condensate tank. “(They) have scheduled replacement of the tank in early fall. Cost of the project will be approximately $18,000 and will be covered by the sinking fund,” said Bobula.

Voters in the district this past year approved the sinking fund.

The OASD playground was inspected on Aug. 6 and was given an “excellent” rating by the district’s inspector. The district is currently posting for a playground attendant for the upcoming school year.

With Brandon Ward just recently handing in his resignation as junior varsity football coach, Superintendent Bobula asked and received board approval to hire Brian Amos as interim coach. Brittany Penegor was hired as varsity volleyball coach, Ray Bramlett for assistant football coach, and Tim Routheaux as junior high girls basketball coach.

An open house where parents and students can meet teachers will be on Aug. 30 from noon to 3:30 p.m.