RONAN — The Ronan School District Board of Trustees approved the purchase of three new school buses, along with personnel hiring for spring sports and two field trip requests at Monday night’s school board meeting.

In his report, Superintendent Andy Holmlund stated that district enrollment has seen a net increase of 19 students from last year. Elementary school students are up 36 children while middle school enrollment is down four students and the high school is down 13 from 2008.

In addition to budget preparation talks for the 2009-10 fiscal year, superintendent Holmlund said that if the federal stimulus bill goes through congress by the next board meeting the district should begin to get some idea from the state as to how much the federal impact funding would be for Ronan schools.

The three new buses approved for purchase from the Montana Department of Transportation will cost $212,817 after the district receives credit back for trading in two older buses. The new buses will reportedly seat 83 students, have higher backs, meaning seatbelts will most likely be made mandatory for install in a few years, and include standard LED lights which will save the district money for not having to replace burned out bulbs.

Personnel hires approved for 2008-09 sports include: seventh-eighth grade girls basketball coach Lena Baertsch; assistant middle school track coach Matt Smith; assistant softball coach Steve Woll; assistant softball coach Andy Luedtke; assistant high school track coach Jim Benn; assistant. high school track coach Clayton Curley; middle school track coordinator Shelly Buhr; assistant middle school track coach Julie Janssen; and assistant middle school track coach Joey Kolattukudy.

With Monday’s board approval, the Ronan High School Jazz Band is taking a tour to Portland, Ore., this spring to perform and learn from jazz professionals who frequent the Northwest jazz capital’s music scene.

A superintendent’s contract through 2012 was approved by the board as well as the first initial reading of new or amended policies regarding the following: Uniform complaint procedure; student and staff bullying/harassment/intimidation/hazing; seaches and seizures; and staff health.