Odessa-Montour school board 2/10/11

Meeting:  The Odessa-Montour school board met, Tuesday, Feb. 8, for just under an hour.
Attendance:  All board members were present.  There were no members of the public in the audience.
Action:  The board made two changes to graduation requirements regarding classes. Superintendent Jim Frame said students will only be required to take two years of a foreign language.  This is down from three years previously required.  Frame added students can take more than two years of a language if they want.  The board also agreed to remove the parenting class as a graduation requirement.  Frame explained the same material is covered in health class.
• The board accepted an $817 donation from the Montour Falls Moose Lodge and adjusted the budget accordingly.  The donation is for the purchase of snowshoes.
Discussion without action:  Art teacher Karen Gunning gave a report on the art department and what the yearbook club is doing.  In addition to working on the yearbook, students are also running a Web site and created a 45 minute media presentation for the yearbook.  Frame said it features student made movies and photo slide shows.
• The Parent Faculty Organizations for the middle/high school, H.A. Hanlon, and B.C. Cate, have combined into one organization.  Frame explained each will exist separately, but will be connected across the grade levels and meet together.
Upcoming meetings:  The next school board meeting is Thursday, March 10.  It is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., following an executive session at 6 p.m.