Crane board recognizes student achievements
At a meeting Tuesday, the Crane Elementary School District governing board acknowledged students in the audience for their achievements during a recent Yuma County MathCounts competition.
The first-place team, from Crane Middle School, consisted of Victoria Pena, Spencer Jackson, Charlynda Brown and Dominic Lett.
The teams had 20 minutes to work together to solve 10 problems before their competitors.
Crane Middle School students Steven Gresham and Dominic Lett were also recognized for winning the first and second trophies, respectively, in the individual countdown round. Charles Golding, also from Crane, received third place.
The second-place team was from Centennial Middle School and consisted of their “A” Team: Hyrum Broby, Jovan Cramer, Jakob Hunter and Allyson Libberton, as well as their “B” Team of Brandon Jeffers, Joe Madrid, Eric Rhoades and Jemini Rubio.
The team from St. Frances of Assisi School received third place.
MathCounts is a national math competition geared toward motivating sixth- through eighth-grade students to strive for higher achievement in the subject.
Also during the meeting, Victoria Pena was additionally recognized for winning the Yuma County Spelling Bee.
Pena was last year's third-place speller that took home the crown at this year's 67th annual bee by correctly spelling the word “streusel.”
She will be competing at the AEF (Arizona Education Foundation) Arizona Spelling Bee in Phoenix on Saturday, March 23, for a shot at going on to compete at the national level.
In other meeting news, Superintendent Bob Klee reported to the board that the Gowan Science Academy currently has 233 enrolled of the 240 capacity designated for the first year of the district sponsored charter school, to open in August. He added that seven of the school's nine teaching positions have been filled at this point and they are also looking to hire someone for a secretary registrar position as well.
Lastly, the board had a first reading of a revised policy in regards to the distribution and posting of promotional materials.
“This policy option delineates a more open forum for the distribution/posting of promotional materials. Based on binding legal precedent, schools must treat all groups wishing to distribute outside material equally. The recommended policy model is a less restrictive approach to allowing outside material.”
The board is taking the revisions under consideration before holding the second reading and consideration for adoption in April.
Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858.
