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Interim Superintendent, Lee Sandy reported that student enrollment this week reached 1,599. The number better than expected, but less than hoped for, Sandy said. He said that 120 student left the district to schools in Mancelona, Traverse City, Elk Rapids and Forest Area, and home-schools. A small number of Kalkaska students were lost to prison or jail and for some, where they moved is unknown. Sandy said the school gained 40 new students.

Sandy said he was concerned about the State of Michigan budget shortfall of $1.8 billion and the possibility the state may shut down. Even with passage of the State Aid Bill there appears to be no money to support the bill. The district will feel the impact, Sandy said.

Five board members expressed interest in attending the MASB Assembly on Nov. 1, at Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. The board voted to send Jim Harris and Michael Gaylord as delegates. Jennifer King and Bill Hardy will serve as alternates. David Hogerheide also will attend as a non-voting delegate. The MASB Assembly offers educational classes, trade shows, and other information valuable to board members.

The board approved the hires of Samantha Krause, Jeffrey Malbouef, Arica Swoverland and Leigh Kennedy at Birch Street Elementary School. Joshua England was approved as Kalkaska High School social studies teacher.

The board accepted the resignation of high school teacher, Kelly Dutcher. The board approved the purchase of new copier machines from Northern Office Supply.

The consensus was that the company's proposal was cost-saving, and additional costs will be saved with implementation of new online billing. With a unanimous roll call vote, the board entered into closed session, and then returned to open session to ratify the Kalkaska Association of Support Employees contract, which will be effective Aug. 27, 2007 through Aug. 27, 2009, as a result of collective bargaining. Sept. 26 will be student count day.

The next board meeting Ñ facilities discussion will be held at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8.