BCLUW board approves trips, discusses laptop purchase

Trips for the music and science departments as well as a potential purchase of Apple laptops were among the chief topics of discussion at Monday night’s regular meeting of the BCLUW school board at the elementary school in Conrad.
           
After some discussion, the board voted unanimously to approve the trips, and vocal music director Bradley Wilson and band director David Bartling came to the meeting to explain their planned trip to Kansas City from April 6-9 of next year. Wilson estimated the trip would cost around $550 per student, and there will be several fundraising opportunities between now and then to help cover some of the costs. Of the 60 students currently involved in band and choir, 27 have said they would go, 14 probably wouldn’t be able to and 19 haven’t responded to a survey. The district does not budget any funds for such trips, so students would be responsible for paying or fundraising on their own.
           
Wilson added that the students would likely attend a professional ballet and that such an opportunity wouldn’t be available in the immediate area. The last time the music department took a trip was four years ago, and Scott Cizek, the parent of a music student, said during the meeting that it would be something special for the students who have worked so hard in music.
           
“These are going to give kids some memories that they can keep with them for life,” he said. “It’s something they’ll never forget.”
 
Read more in this week's Grundy Register.