ELNORA — The North Daviess School Board on Monday approved a driver’s education program for $350 per student as long as there are least 15 students enrolled.

“We’ve run a driver’s education program a number of years here,” said Superintendent Bob Bell. “Interest is high É It’s the same program as the last two or three years.”

The classroom portion will be conducted before school and run April 1 to about May 17, he said, with a minimum 30 hours of classroom time. The driving phase will be scheduled from approximately May 20 through June 21.

The superintendent also made two bus-related recommendations that were approved. Route three, owned by Melinda Perkins, was transferred to Paul Albertson, who has been driving the route for the past month. Also, an extension of 1.4 miles per day - an extra $4.49 per day - was approved for Becky Eaton’s route to accommodate new students on the route.

Board members also approved a conflict of interest statement for Maintenance Director Darrell Wagler.

“Darrell may occasionally sell us water filters,” Bell said, adding the amount would less than $1,000 a year.

Bell reported the snow makeup day from Friday, Feb. 1, will be Friday, March 1.

He also told the board the corporation received almost the entire reimbursement requested for textbook assistance.

“We received our textbook reimbursement check of $33,510.45 from the $33,917.29 that was submitted to DOE (Department of Education),” Bell said. “This money is reimbursement for those students who qualified for textbook assistance.”

In his report to the school board, high school Principal Jed Jerrels said both the junior high/high school and elementary buildings ran a lockdown drill Feb. 11. He said there are areas in the junior/senior building that need enhanced security, and the process will be ongoing.

“All in all, it was a great first step to the security of the students and staff,” Jerrels said.

The staff also had a session with Daviess County Sheriff’s deputies regarding what to do if an intruder does make entry to a building. Jerrels said he hopes to do more such training.

Staff and students all have been busy. The junior/senior high school principal said several band and choir students attended Solo and Ensemble Contest last weekend and were successful in medaling. FFA students attended the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville Feb. 13 and will be traveling to Mt. Vernon for a leadership contest and Boonville for Envirothon competition. On Feb. 6, junior/senior high students participated in the regional earthquake preparedness drill.

“The talent show was Feb.12,” Jerrels continued. “What a wonderful opportunity for our community. They did a great job, and it was fairly well attended.”

He said the annual Senior Financial Aid Meeting was held Jan. 15 at the high school and was very well attended.

Staff members continue small group training for SLO and Rise Indiana, and several staff members have been or will be attending professional development activities. Elementary students and staff also are keeping busy, according to Principal Jody Berry.

“The math team is preparing for competition at Griffith Elementary,” she said, adding that this year, for the first time, there will be a fourth-grade-only team as well as fifth- and sixth-grade combined team. “So we’re excited about that.”

Berry said the elementary school in the “ISTEP crunch” process. Though teachers prepare their students year round, she explained, Feb. 17-28 is a time to review and refresh. ISTEP+ Applied Skills for grades three through six will be March 4-13; IREAD3 for grade three will be March 18-20; and ISTEP+ Multiple Choice for grades three through six will be April 29 to May 10.

“North Daviess Elementary raised $2,120 for Pennies for Patients, a fundraiser benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,” Berry continued her report. “And that was in only a week.”

The fundraiser was Feb. 4-8. The elementary principal said first semester incentive celebrations were recently held for students who showed growth from pre- to post-test.

Upcoming activities at the elementary school include the kindergarten and third-grade musical at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 21, at the NDE gym; Title I Bingo for Books, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., March 20, in the NDE cafeteria; and the second- and fifth-grade musical at 6:30 p.m. March 21 in the NDE gym.

Read Across America will be March 1, when students will wear red, white and blue and bring their favorite book to school. Volunteer readers are needed, and anyone wishing to volunteer can contact Mrs. Gainey at awgainey@ndaviess.k12.in.us or 636-8000, ext. 3132.

“At last count, we were already in the 70s for kids signed up for kindergarten roundup,” Berry told the board. “We usually have 80-some.”

ND kindergarten roundup for 2013-2014 will begin Feb. 25 and run through March 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Any child who will be 5 years old before Aug. 1, 2013, is eligible to attend kindergarten in the upcoming school year. To register, parents can call 636-8000, ext. 2000.