IRON RIVER—Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) scores at the third grade level at West Iron County have shown much improvement, Stambaugh Elementary School Principal Ginny Detterbeck reported at the Board of Education’s April 15 regular meeting.

“Our scores,” she wrote in her board report, “in most cases, are very close to , if not above, the state average.”

Additionally, she told the board, Reading First response to special education needs has helped narrow the gap between that group and regular students.

“This isn’t even the group that has had the full three years of Reading First,” she said. As a result, she continued, about half a dozen children who were provided intervention have not had to go into special ed.

Detterbeck added that overall, writing scores in grades three through nine are showing steady improvement.

Projections for fall kindergarten enrollment are at 82, she told the board.

Superintendent Richard Burby noted that, as of Feb. 14, total district enrollment was at 1,000.

In other business:

--The board approved a resolution for non-renewal of the business manager’s contract, effective June 30.

--The board accepted, with regret, the resignation of Patti Steinberg as varsity cheerleading advisor, as of April 3. The cheerleading program has met with low participation, Burby said, and efforts to recruit students from the seventh and eighth grade were not successful.

--Deputy of Support Services Tom Karvala received board approval to continue working with west side municipalities and the Iron County Road Commission on a proposal to develop a fuel co-op.

“I think it is imperative to continue discussion on this,” said Board Member Eric Malmquist.

--The board gave Burby permission to look into insurance pooling with the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District as it relates to non-teaching employees.

“Two hundred and fifty employees would get better service, coverage and rates than smaller groups,” Burby said.

--The board supported a resolution proposed by the Citizens for Equity, a school funding advocacy group based in Traverse City, for the purpose of equalizing state between districts.

“Smaller districts receive smaller aid,” Burby explained. “And we’re at the bottom of the scale.” Instituting a 2X funding plan has the potential of adding $100 per student to the state aid allotment.

The board encouraged district residents to contact state legislators asking their support for this issue.