The Cassopolis Board of Education hired Kimberly Holder and Wendy Grace at its regular meeting at the Squires Education Center Feb. 10.

Grace was hired as an elementary level reading teacher for at-risk students, while Holder was hired as an elementary level math at-risk teacher. The positions are from February to June of this year.

The board agreed to enter into negotiations with Lewis Cass Intermediate School District to consolidate its business services. The agreement is in accordance with the Financial Best Practices Incentive signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder in June of 2012.

As part of the incentive, the state wants districts to obtain competitive bids for non-instructional services.

“Lewis Cass is trying to partner with us for business services,” Cassopolis Superintendent Tracy Hertsel said. “They want to run a pilot program to see how this will work. Like everything else, it will be a work in progress because it is new. We are hoping it is beneficial for both of us.”

The board also discussed and approved the FFA’s trip to the state convention March 5-7 in East Lansing.

In other action, it reviewed its board goals, which will be up for approval at the Monday meeting.

Due to the number of snow days for Cassopolis Public Schools this year, the district will have a half-day of school for students Feb. 27. Parent-teacher conferences will be held at the regular times (2 to 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 8 p.m.).

Students will not have class Feb. 28 due to a teacher in-service day.