Harding Primary School Principal Sue Wilson addressed Monmouth-Roseville School District Board of Education at its meeting Tuesday, June 9. In her presentation, she recommended changing the district’s grading policy. She pointed out that the district has two different grading scales. 

 The elementary scale is between 65 and below for failing grades and 92 and above for A’s. The secondary scale is 60-90. Concerned about the differences, teachers in each of the district schools have formed a committee to discuss the matter. The group agreed that the district should be in the 60-90 range. Wilson commented that there is a gap between the sixth grade and junior high scale, and that most districts have a consistent scale. 

 School trustees have decided to discuss the change and if possible have a decision at next month’s meeting. Tuesday night was Wilson’s last district meeting as she has accepted a position with the United School District.

 Superintendent Marty Payne gave the financial report that disclosed that total revenue was at 93 percent and total expenditures were at 94 percent with just a month left in the fiscal year. As the last month does not have attendance to be concerned about, he stated they should end the year as figured.

 Board members also took the time to recognize student achievements during the spring semester which included top scholars, state scholars, junior high scholars and junior high state track members. 

 Payne said, ”I’ll always consider athletics and fine arts to be crucially important to what we do, but the number one thing we have to always keep in focus on is academics.” 

 Board members and the audience accorded Payne a standing ovation as this was his last meeting as superintendent. Next month he will start his career as superintendent of the Metamora School District. 

 In other business:

• The board approved the employee insurance coverage begin on the first day of employment;

• Security Savings Bank, Monmouth, was approved as depository bank for the school district;

• Milk bids from Anderson-Erickson and a fuel bid from Holcomb Oil were approved

• Annual renewal rates for property casualty insurance dropped to $85,820, and went up to $84,406 for workmen’s compensation insurance; and

• The board adopted the 2009 state prevailing wage scale.