CHARLO - The Charlo School Board voted at their April 20 meeting to renew the contracts of tenured employees Clair Rasmussen and Steve Love, keeping them both on as joint principals, despite budget concerns that led the board to question whether it was feasible to keep both educators on the payroll as principals.

The decision was reached after a 45-minute closed session called forty minutes into the meeting.

The board agreed that the right of privacy outweighed the public's right to know before closing the meeting to the 30 people in attendance.

Also on the agenda were summer maintenance projects.

Board members ticked off a list, from the purchase of a washer and dryer to fencing and ventilation projects to painting the gym, the installation of storm drains and carpeting.

The school board approved a $5,400 travel stipend for the Charlo High School Business Professionals of America competition participants. The stipend will cover travel expenses not generated by fundraising by the nine students, coming to a total of $600 in support for each student.

Charlo High School junior Spencer Shafter placed third place in prepared speech and ninth place in fundamental word processing. Senior Kristi Fullerton placed second in fundamental word processing and third place in payroll accounting at the Business Professionals of American conference on March 14-16 in Billings. Shafter and Fullerton presented an outline of their expenses and fundraising efforts thus far to the board.

The Business Professionals of America students will compete at the national competition in Anaheim, Calif., June 21-25.