District task force coming up with proposal for the school board by 2020
Mairin Torgerson, Photographer
November 7, 2019
The school district has been through numerous changes in recent years. Many of the ideas executed were made possible and created by the Community Design Team. The team is part of the district long-range facilities task force made up of community members, parents, city officials, students and staff. The schoo...
Superintendent Pontrelli deserves complete support from community
Julia Bennet, Social Media Editor-in-Chief
October 28, 2019
The school board began discussions this past summer regarding a separation agreement with the Superintendent Denise Pontrelli. Closing three elementary schools and changing the course of action for the district caused an enormous amount of frustration and distrust within in the community since the BOLD...
Morris Leatherman survey results spark conversations about district changes
Rachel Duerr, Online Editor
September 26, 2019
In August 2019, a public research team called The Morris Leatherman Group conducted a phone survey with 570 randomly selected residents of the community to assess the attitudes and obtain opinions of the residents and parents in the district with all of the changes made in recent years. The Morris Leatherman Group ...
Long-Range Facility Planning Task Force need volunteers
Paige Sanders, Photography Editor-in-Chief
April 22, 2019
To better our district and community as a whole and furthermore better the future of our facilities in the district, volunteers will help make this possible. The district is covening new members for a Long-Range Facility Planning Task Force. This new wave of volunteering community members will include parents and staff w...
Budget cuts severely diminish professional and curriculum development plans
Abby Banks, Print Editor-in-Chief
March 15, 2019
The school board voted 5-1 to cut $348,000 from the district's budgeted professional development (PD) days at a March 7 business meeting. This was on top of the $500,000 cut with combined PD and curriculum development budget that occurred Dec. 20, 2018. This cut accounted for roughly 56 percent o...
EIC Column: Palestinians aim to have their voices heard
Lilly Sample, Online Editor-in-Chief
March 10, 2019
On May 14, 1948, Israel became an independent State with David Ben-Gurion as the Prime Minister. What many in the world thought of as a movement to solve anti-semitism became the beginning of a Palestinian ethnic cleansing. Ever since, Palestinians have been fighting for their lives and for their f...
School board further reduces 2019-2020 budget to fill deficit, still does not comply with policy R 5.4
Lilly Sample, Online Editor-in-Chief
February 26, 2019
During the 2017-2018 school year, the board fell into a $2.4 million deficit pit. Meetings to address the deficit began in early October, and are still continuing into late February. Being $2.4 million in the hole, the board needs to make cuts for operations to return to normal for the 2019-2020 school...
School board in discussions to cut $2.5 million
Hazel Flock, Layout Editor
December 18, 2018
On Dec. 13, the school board began examining the budget cuts within the district that needed to happen. The school is budgeting around a $2.5 million deficit and they approved $1.081 million worth of cuts as of Jan. 11. The board originally proposed $1.523 million in reductions, however after t...
Staff Editorial: keep budget cuts away from classroom
Pony Express Staff
December 17, 2018
Due to a $2.5 million deficit for the 2019-20 school year, board members are working to reduce expenses. Thousands of people will be impacted in the district next year as tough decisions will be made to cut the budget. Board members should aim to make cuts that have the least impact on student learning. Programs,...
School board gathers as new team forms
Chas Morgan, Layout Editor
November 20, 2018
The history of the school board has been a bumpy one and there has been conflict within the board and with families. "I think we've struggled the last three years since the decision to close schools, to work together as a board and move forward together. There's been some division and it seems lik...
Brookview Elementary expansion uncertain with new school board candidates
Elli Swanson, Photographer
November 14, 2018
Brookview Elementary, District 834's newest elementary school is hoping to expand very soon due to the developing neighborhoods near by. Brookview Elementary school located in Woodbury has almost met its capacity of students and continues to increase in size. Because of the increase in students...
School board discusses $2.4 million deficit
Julia Bennett, Business Editor
November 8, 2018
There will be new budget cuts in the district this year. The district is looking to address a $2.4 million deficit. The first school board meeting took place on Oct. 10 to begin conversations for new changes within our schools. The school board is reviewing possible areas to consider for reductions...