School board to salute building project

At its first regular meeting of the new school year tonight, the Rainy River District School Board will congratulate staff and students of Atikokan High School for moving forward with their “Outers” building project.
The school received $85,000 from the Ministry of Education through its Lighthouse Project to support student success in rural secondary schools, as well as $65,000 from local fundraising and $5,000 from the board.
“This Student Success initiative will expose students to the variety of trades necessary in a construction project of this nature,” the board report reads.
“It is our hope that this project will motivate students to stay in school and pursue careers in the trades,” it added.
After three weeks of excavation and backfilling that took place in July, the site for the “Outers” building is ready.
Students will begin preparing the site for the concrete, as well as constructing prefab walls, throughout September and October.
Construction Technology teacher Jeff Lehman has been instrumental in ensuring the project could move forward on schedule, the board report states.
The project is slated for completion in 2008.
Also at tonight’s meeting, the school board will swear in its new student trustee—Jenna Nowak of Fort Frances High School.
She is replacing Jay Neilson, who graduated from Rainy River High School in June.
Tonight’s agenda also includes:
•a presentation on the importance of professional learning communities;
•a vote on some updated policies, including a new transportation policy;
•a presentation on Summer Institute 2006 held last month; and,
•a report on summer facility projects.
The meeting gets underway at 7 p.m. at Robert Moore School.