Pine River Board to vote on elementary school name change

Name change to LeRoy Elementary will help unify the district says board

By Karin Armbruster Pioneer News Network LEROY — Pine River Area Schools Board of Education members will vote on changing the name of LeRoy Elementary School at the June 24th meeting. A brief discussion between members took place at Monday’s meeting regarding the change. Most board members were in favor of a change, as they believe it will help unify the district, although the change will mean a small cost to change stationary, letterheads and erect a sign outside of the school. Two names were proposed by board members, including Pine River Elementary School and Pine River Area Elementary School. Whatever the board’s decision, the elementary will be a K-3 school, Pine River Middle School will house grades four through seven and Pine River High School will serve students from eighth to twelfth grade. In more business, the board approved a motion purchase a new elementary math curriculum called Math Expressions. In a presentation, Tustin Elementary Principal Alan Thomas discussed the program and digitally showed the board components of various lessons from kindergarten to second grade. Along with a teacher’s lesson guide, the curriculum includes workbooks for the children. Thomas said the curriculum is being used in other districts with success, and said the program is tied to the common core, appropriate for student expectations, user-friendly, can teach multiple ways of performing math problems, is consistent with vocabulary and terminology and enhances communication with parents. Kindergarten books cost $25 each, while first and second grade books cost $27 each. Thomas said the company is providing a special discount, but it could not guarantee the same prices for the books in the future. The board approved the motion with none opposed. The next PRAS Board of Education meeting and budget workshop will take place at 6 p.m. on June 24 in the high school/middle school media center.