The Clancy Elementary School Board at its Jan. 10 meeting waded into Clancy’s increasingly complex quest to locate an adequate water supply — and engaged with some caution.
Clancy Water and/or Sewer Board President Lori Gilliland, along with Collette Anderson from consultant Great West Engineering, provided an update on the ongoing water project, which is attempting to replace contaminated private wells with a public water system.
Gilliland and Anderson requested future discussions with the school about its water supply, and about how the school might operate in a new water district. School Board Chair Sarah Brown asked for clarification; since the school draws water from its own well, she wondered how it would benefit by joining the water district.
Anderson explained that the proposed water district boundaries include the elementary school as well as about 80 homes. Hydrologists working on the project have stated that two wells likely will be needed to provide sufficient quantity and quality for a community supply. The water board, she said, is hoping to locate a well near the school’s existing well.
The school, Anderson said, “would see some cost savings in annual monitoring and testing” of the water supply by being part of the district. School board members expressed skepticism of that idea, and asked how the school might opt out of the water district altogether. Superintendent David Selvig said the school would need to formally request being excluded from the district. “That isn’t always easy,” he added.
The board agreed to table further discussion until its next meeting, and to remain open to future conversations with the water board.
Other business
The school board also accepted the resignation of Selvig, who will have served as superintendent and principal for eight years. Selvig told the board he intends to step down from both positions on June 30, retiring from the education field. He came to Clancy in 2016 from Scobey, where he was superintendent.
The board is in the process of selecting Selvig’s successor.
Second-grade teachers Kathy Igielski, Melissa Kosena and Karen Richter reported on a significant improvement in STAR Screening Tests between the fall and winter terms. Igielski noted the biggest gains came from many of the higher-need students, such as English as a Second Language (ESL) students. “Now, one test is not the only measurement we want to use,” Igielskisaid, “but the results we’ve seen in just one half of the year are very impressive.”
The board also committed to addressing teacher salary negotiations for the 2024/2025 school year with union representatives. Brown explained that the salary negotiations were linked to another effort the board is undertaking – deciding on an amount for a future mill levy. Brown said the board was hoping to use the public relations resources the union representatives had offered for public outreach on the levy. “I’ve never done a mill levy in my life!” Brown said, “Why would we not use the resources that are already there?”
Selvig, however, urged the board to consider preparing its own public relations campaign. “While [the union] certainly will have their own public outreach, their motives may not be the same as the board’s,” Selvig said. Brown agreed, and discussions on the levy were tabled until March.
