By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Howard and Ellis elementary schools will display tonight a writing program that was key in earning the buildings designation as a Michigan Department of Education Blue Ribbon Exemplary School.
Howard-Ellis principal Barb Garrard, along with a group of staff members and students, will demonstrate the Craft Plus writing program at 7 p.m. at the Westside Administrative Services Center, 111 Spruce St. The Niles Community Schools Board of Education meeting will follow immediately after.
Howard-Ellis learned Friday they were officially a Blue Ribbon School. The school will hold a community celebration to mark the honor in the spring.
Also at the meeting the Niles administration will request permission from the board to seek bids through the Michigan School Business Officials School Bus Purchasing Cooperative for two 84-passsenger buses. The purchase, which is expected to be made in March or April, is part of the district fleet replacement program.
"This is the normal part of the regular replacement schedule for us," said Doug Law, superintendent.
Law said the district spends about $200,000 to $250,000 on vehicle replacement each year in order to replace each bus in the 40-vehicle fleet every 12 years. One smaller bus has already been replaced this year, he added, and some maintenance vans are due to turn over as well.
Other items on the board's agenda include:
Accepting a request from the Niles-Buchanan Relay For Life committee for use of the Niles High School football field July 20 to July 22 for the annual 24-hour Relay For Life;
Appointing new district finance director Tom Skarbek in place of his predecessor Bob Wright on the Middle Cities Risk Management Trust;
Entering into a closed session meeting to discuss employee negotiations.