IRON MOUNTAIN — The Iron Mountain School Board and the Iron Mountain Education Association have finalized the calendar for the full 2019-20 year.

The district had been going with a month-by-month calendar while they searched for a new administrator. Jerome Sardina, formerly principal at South Haven High School in southwestern Michigan, was named to the post in late August.

The calendar has the last day of classes scheduled for June 4. There will be no school Nov. 28-29 for Thanksgiving, during winter break from Dec. 23 through Jan. 5 and during spring break March 23-27.

The full calendar is available on the school’s website.

In other business, the board:

— Heard board member Steve Brooks report the Building and Grounds Committee has spent $27,000 on priority 1 and 2 school maintenance items. Some of the items include elevator repairs, replacing an electrical panel and abatement at the East building. About $20,000 in additional repairs remain to be completed, including clocks and lights at North Elementary School of the Arts, he said.

— Brooks also said the district has a fund balance of about $44,719, but after the audit that it is projected to be about $235,000 by year’s end. He added that the district currently is spending more than it brings in, which will cut into the fund balance, but they are trying to get back to a zero-based budget.

— Received a fundraiser request for taking fourth-graders to Mackinac Island in May 2020. The trip would cost $175 per student without fundraising and include an overnight stay at a hotel on the island, ferry ticket, dinner, breakfast and a pizza lunch. The trip also would feature visits to historical sites such as Fort Mackinac and the Grand Hotel. No action was taken; it will addressed at a future meeting.

— Approved updates to the course catalogs, reflecting changes in curriculum, plus changes to student handbooks.

— Learned the district needs a junior high quiz bowl coach. Julie Wonders, director of the community schools, reported they have opened up the team to fifth and sixth graders. She also reported the date for Great 8 Games has been moved up a week to Feb. 8.

— Heard from Ed Mattson, director of Police and Fire Services, asking the public vote Nov. 5 for the millage to support restoring a police liaison officer in the school. Board President Rob Langsford said the liaison officer plays an important role in the school. It will not add any money to the tax bill because an existing millage for Central School has been paid off. “You want to tell everyone how important it is without making negative connotations about it,” Langsford said.

Superintendent Sardina reported on his progress with his 90-day plan. He said he has visited all the buildings and met with some of the teachers. He also recently met with superintendents from other schools, started the first instructional team meetings, is working a job descriptions, and developing teacher evaluations and growth plans. He continues to update the board with Friday bulletins.

Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 42, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.