Stevensville board approves September claims, hires paraeducator, and renews library variance

The Stevensville School Board approved routine financial claims and personnel actions at its October meeting, including a $154,587.16 set of general claims and $12,570.01 in student account transactions for a combined total of $167,157.17.

During discussion about the claims packet (items 41710–41790), trustees asked for clarification about specific charges, including a $3,000 office furniture purchase and a payment to "Smith Consulting" for federally funded technology services. A staff member explained that Smith Consulting is remunerated from federal B-rate funding for internet and device services.

Before approving the consent agenda, the board removed item 24 — the hiring of a candidate related to a trustee — for separate consideration and recorded Fran’s abstention on that removal. The board then approved the consent agenda and, in a separate vote, approved hiring Lynn Bradford as an elementary paraeducator. The chair conducted roll-call voting for the hire and recorded the affirmatives.

Trustees also approved a renewal of an Office of Public Instruction variance for the middle/elementary library arrangement, with superintendent Tennis advising that the arrangement had been successful in serving student needs and would not reduce access to library lessons or collaboration.

All formal votes and motions were taken on the record during the meeting; the claims, hiring and variance motions were approved as presented.