First day and lunch prices changed, staff hired at PCS
By Becky Uehling
Grant Tribune-Sentinel
The first day of school for students at Perkins County School has changed from August 17 to August 18. This is to allow extra staff training for new language arts curriculum being implemented, according to Perkins County Schools Superintendent Phillip Picquet.
A scheduled training day in June on the curriculum was cut short because the trainer became ill, Picquet said.
“The only available date to meet in-person with the trainer was August 17,” Picquet said. “I felt it was more beneficial to utilize the 17th for training and avoid taking a day out of school in September or October, so that is why we postponed the start of school.”
School will start at 8 a.m. on the 18th and will end at regular time of 3:30 for Elementary School and 3:32 for the High School, he said.
Change in Lunch Prices
Not only will families have to start paying for lunches again this year at PCS, but they will have to pay a higher price because of inflation. The price of lunches will go up .20 cents for lunch, and .50 cents for second portion, breaking down as follows:
• Breakfast, $1.80-$2;
• Grades PK-6 lunch, $3-$3.20;
• Grades 7-12 lunch, $3.50-$3.70;
• Adult Lunch, $4-$4.20;
• Extra milk, $.35 to $.75;
• Second portion, $1-$1.50.
For the past two years, school meals have been free as a result of the COVID pandemic and the Universal Free Meals Program passed by Congress. This program is expiring, and meals will no longer be free to everyone during the 2022-23 school year, Picquet said.
Along with this, Picquet said prices will be raised to meet the inflation of food prices.
However, Picquet pointed out, if families are struggling to pay for their child’s lunches, the free-and-reduced program is still available.
“I encourage families to complete the application for this program that has been mailed to all families with children in the school district,” he said. “Anyone who did not get an application can pick one up at either building any time during the school year.”
The application is kept confidential.
The school’s lunch program is a pay-ahead program, meaning that guardians must keep money in their child’s lunch account for the child to eat, Picquet said.
Money can now be deposited online to a child’s account. To be set up this option, guardians must contact their child’s individual school building’s secretary. The lunch bill can also still be paid by check or debit/credit card in person, at the school.
Positions Filled
Two final certified positions have been filled at the high school, Picquet said.
Unfortunately, Amanda Schuester, who had been hired to fill the open high school science teaching position, and also cover eighth grade science, was unable to accept the position, Picquet said.
However, the district has been able to hire retired Perkins County High School science teacher Renee Marquardt to fill the position for one year, he said.
“We are thrilled Renee accepted our offer,” he said.
Accepting the open Athletic Director Position at the school will be retired PC High School Principal Dean Friedel, also for a one year contract.
“Dean has been on the ground running,” Picquet said. “There are many behind the scenes meetings and things that the AD is involved with that most people don’t see, and Dean has been covering several of those for us already.”
Both of these positions will continue to be open and actively advertised for to be filled with full-time staff, Picquet said.
Elementary Back To
School Night
Back-to-school night was held early this year for the Jr./Sr. High School on August 1. The elementary Open House will be held on Monday, Aug., 15 at 6 p.m. for K-2nd, and 6:30 p.m. for third-sixth.
Elementary students may bring their school items during the open house and leave them at the school in preparation for the first day.
As in years past, Pinnacle Bank will have a grill-out from 6-8 p.m. after the open house on the 15th at the Grant City Park. All are invited to attend.