The District 38 school board held its final meeting of the year last Wednesday and, thanks to the winter storm bearing down on the Flathead, made it a quick one.

Superintendent Russ Kinzer announced that a date of Jan. 26 has been set for moving into the new sections of the elementary school. That construction was originally not slated to finish until March.

The early finish not only gets teachers and students back into regular classrooms, it also saves a lot of money.

“Because of the accelerated schedule, John Caselegno (the construction manager) estimated at least $100,000 in savings,” Kinzer said.

That money goes right back into the building, Kinzer said, to fund things that were initially cut out of the design to ensure the project stayed within budget.

The construction crews’ hard work for the last eight months hasn’t gone unnoticed in the building either. Last week, teachers at the elementary school cooked a surprise pot-luck dinner for the workers as a token of their appreciation.

“I have to report, there were some tears,” Kinzer said.

In other business at the meeting, the board approved a pair of field trips, including one open to all high school seniors to visit Washington D.C. as part of a Smithsonian tour. High school government teacher Lindsey Aldrich is heading up the trip, which would include visits to sites like the Smithsonian Museum and the National Zoo. She said the seniors are planning a black-tie dance event for Valentine’s Day to help offset the cost to students. More information about the event will be forthcoming.

Though he wasn’t present, a new high school newsletter prepared by BHS Assistant Principal Matt Jensen was passed out to board members. Kinzer said the monthly newsletter will be mailed out to all students’ parents as part of an effort to increase communication between students’ families and BHS. A Web site with up-to-date information about sporting events, schedules and practice times was also unveiled.