IRON MOUNTAIN — The Iron Mountain School Board approved hiring Matthew LaLonde as assistant director of the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Schools.

LaLonde had previously worked for the Breitung Township School District.

IMKCS Director Julie Wonders said it will be nice to have an assistant and board member James Carollo believes he will be a good addition to the community schools.

The board Monday also heard an update on renovations to the Central School, which will house fourth and fifth grade students for the next school year starting in the fall. The Imagination Factory Children’s Museum was in the building for several years but plans to move into their new location across the street this spring.

The district is spending about $300,000 on remodeling, including painting, adding doors, drywall, lighting, flooring and speakers. The HVAC project in the Izzo-Mariucci Building is also expected to start in the spring.

Superintendent Jerry Sardina said he will meet with Coleman Engineering to discuss renovations at the track. Coleman has a long history with the track and know more about the foundation, Sardina said. District officials hope to have the track renovated at a cost not to exceed $400,000 to $500,000. They are checking on whether state funding might be available to defray some the costs, with some also coming from the donation from the community schools.

In other business, the board —

— Was told Beth Hart will be a long-term sub for early kindergarten. She was going to fill for another teacher who is going on maternity leave, but they have found someone else for that position. An early kindergarten teacher will need to be hired in the fall, Sardina said.

— Accepted the resignation of Chrissy Burcar as an education assistant. She will stay until Feb. 27. Sardina said the position has be filled by someone who had previously applied but was not selected.

— Learned 60 students — from 4-year-old kindergarten to fourth grade — have taken part in the district’s Snuffy Hoops Club afterschool basketball program.

— Heard that the 31st-annual Great Eight Games will take place this weekend.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.