Students have sharpened their pencils and are starting a new year of school. St. Regis started on August 25, Alberton and Superior started on Monday, August 29. All of the schools have new teachers to greet them. In St. Regis and Superior, they also have new administrators to help get the year off to a good start.

Superior Schools

Chris Clairmont is the new high school principal in Superior. He and his wife, Laura, are from Hot Springs where they lived and worked at the school for 12 years. Chris was the high school principal and athletic director, he has also taught history and physical education.

Laura has worked as a special education aid and taught junior high English. In Superior, she will be the new elementary special education teacher.

“Everyone has been very welcoming,” said Laura about their move to Superior.

They are in the process of selling their house in Hot Springs before buying one in Superior.

Chris said that he has been a fan of Superior ever since he was in high school in Ronan. He wrestled there and watched as Superior’s team took State. He said he coached with Scott Kinney when Plains and Hot Springs cooped in wrestling.

He always felt that if an opening came up in Superior, he would apply for it. The couple does not have children, except for the four-legged kind. They have two labs, Koli and Tala, along with a cat.

New teachers this year are Carson Bryant, who will be replacing Diane Campbell for the second grade. Laura Clairmont will be teaching special education. Peter Walde will not be returning this year. There has also been a reshuffling of the high school teaching assignments with Beau Servo joining the faculty to teach science.

The school is implementing a new system called School Messenger. It will send out school news across all social networks including email, text, and phone. This way parents will receive instantaneous information from the school regarding news and activities, said Superintendent, Scott Kinney.

There will be a meeting later in September to update parents on the new system and other news. Superior will also be continuing its After School Program, which will begin in October.

Alberton School

At Alberton, the School Board approved Lexy Fischer as the new high school business teacher, replacing A.J. Angelo. First-grade teacher, Marla Nelson left and has been replaced by Debbie Hanson. Also, Doug Lausch will be a new bus driver. Taylor Erdman was approved to be the assistant junior high volleyball coach. She will be working beside head junior high coach Kami Milender, from Superior. Josh Reese is the new maintenance person, replacing James Forrider.

There has also been a number of classroom reassignments for the Alberton teachers. Kristi Ray has changed from sixth grade to fifth; Kim Grebence has moved from fifth grade to second; and Amy McAllister will be teaching fourth grade. Also, grade 7 through 12 teachers will be teaching the sixth graders this year.

Alberton Superintendent, Clay Acker, reminds parents that breakfast and lunch is free to all students again this year. However, students will be charged for extra entrees, breakfasts or milk. The school day starts at 7:55 a.m. until 4:03 p.m. Monday through Thursday with no school on Friday.

The school office is open from 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and parents are asked not to send children to school before 7:45 a.m.

In sports, there is no activity fee for students and all Alberton students will get into home games free. Adults pay $6.00 at the gate, or a season home game pass is $60. Seniors are free and past and present school board members are also free, and their spouses are $35 for a season pass.

Valley Christian school will once again rent the football field for their upcoming season.

Alberton School has also implemented a new Student Information System over the summer. This system improves parent and students access to interaction with their teachers. The Afterschool Program will be continuing again this year with funds from the 21st Century Grant. With last year funds, the program was able to purchase a new kiln for projects. It is currently located in the art room.

St. Regis

In St. Regis, Joe Steele is the new superintendent, and Shaun Ball is the new principal. They have a new second grade teacher, Kianna Wicklund, who took Amanda Nichols place. Tim Yeagher is the new sixth grade teacher, replacing Shane Howe. Emily Imgham is the new title teacher and she is replacing Stacia Denton. And, Melissa Martin, who is from Plains, will be the new English teacher replacing Jackie Almquist. There are also two new paraprofessionals, Cassey Perkins and Todd Fisher.

This is all in addition to the schools new teaching format using the Summit model for learning. Along with several construction projects including the old bus barn being converted into a new weight room.

Public Health Nurse, Sue Hazlett retired at the end of school last May. Her position has been replaced by Public Health Nurse, Jennifer Donovan who will serve St. Regis and Alberton Schools. Barb Jasper will continue to serve Superior School.