SIERRA-PLUMAS JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD met August 11th in Downieville, and was videotaped in Loyalton. Superintendent Dr. Grant told of Occupational Therapist services and the hiring of Janis Hardeman as School Nurse to provide services for children on both sides of the County. Megan Meschery, President of The Sierra Schools Foundation told of donating over $120,000 to the district, schools and teachers and outlined the spring grant cycle of $22,000. She told the sad news of having to cancel the 2015 Gran Fondo, having started with low numbers and with not enough volunteer power. She is hoping to regroup with a different branding and different ride. The Board passed the Superintendent’s County Salary of $21,963.00 per year with Trustee Sharon Dryden voting no. In the District portion, the Board approved the Superintendent’s salary addendum of 5% for a total of $124,455 with Dryden voting no. Following the meeting, Dryden stated she was not in favor of a raise above the Superintendent’s contract. The addendum is 5% above his contract, same as what the teachers were given. In both sessions, public hearings were held to announce adoption of the Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators for the 2015-16 school year. It announced a diligent search to recruit a fully prepared teacher was made and an insufficient number of certificated persons met the District’s employment criteria for the mathematics teaching position at Downieville and the Board authorized Grade 7-8 Pre-Algebra and Grade 9-12 Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry teaching assignment to Robin Bolle on the basis of a California Commission on Teacher Credential Variable Term Waiver. The Board approved Bolle as Downieville Science and Mathematics, grades 7-12 and issuance of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Waiver in Mathematics and a Short Term Staff Permit in Biological Science. Robin has a BA in Environmental Studies from Santa Barbara and said she loves a challenge, has worked in child care and knows the community well. The Board appointed Melanie Larson as Downieville K-3 teacher, moving with her two kids from Auburn to Sierra City where she has a residence. She has a lot of experience teaching in multi-grade classrooms. Plant Maintenance Worker Mike Hale has retired and was recognized for his service but was absent as it was his birthday. He was approved with a CalPERS exception to continue driving school bus. Mike started in the schools in August of 1983 and had a degree in landscape maintenance. Dr. Grant told of his “endless patience and persistence and how he helped with the Christmas programs. Mike was the first trained and licensed bus driver for the district and was said to have given “great service for many, many years.” First day of school is August 31st and Teacher In-Service Days are August 27 and 28, starting off with an 8 a.m. welcome breakfast followed by a speaker from Nevada County schools. Newly-hired Loyalton High School Principal Tom Jones was present in Loyalton and talked about deep detailing of classrooms, a new copier and a 3D printer which he called “an awesome piece of equipment,” used for math and shop. He was planning a potluck breakfast for his staff. For sports, Jones told about an August 22 multi-school football scrimmage with games to follow through September 12th and “a lot of football.” There will be a volleyball game against Portola on August 25th.