Malta Principals give school updates

Enrollment numbers, upcoming events, and leaking roofs were the topics of discussion at last Wednesday night Malta School Board meeting with each of the school’s principals giving a rundown of the goings on at the three schools over the past month.

Malta Elementary School (MES)

MES Principal Theodore Schye said that the school’s current enrollment totaled 238 (down four from last month) before touting the recent Missoula Children’s Theatre Play and announced that fifth-grade student Braydon Rhodes recently won the school’s spelling bee.

Principal Schye said the good news about leaking roofs at the school was that the gym — where the school science fair will be held this Wednesday (February 21) with a public viewing from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony to follow — wasn’t leaking, but generally does this time of year. The bad news; the school’s library roof was leaking in several places (during Malta Schools Superintendant Report, Supt. Kris Kuehn said that all the leaks at all three schools had been documented and photos sent to the school's insurance providers.)

Malta Middle School (MMS)

MMS Principal Shawn Bleth said that this year's ice fishing day (sponsored by Montana FWP and the Malta Walleyes) was canceled last week because of heavy snow at Nelson Reservoir. He said no make-up date for the event has been arranged at this time. Principal Bleth also said that middle school boys’ basketball recently concluded their season. Principal Bleth also announced that MMS student Kanyon Stiles had recently won the school spelling bee for the second year in a row.

In other business, Principal Bleth said he is currently looking into a redesign of the three school’s websites.

Malta High School (MHS)

MHS Principal and Activities Director Scott King said the school’s Jazz Combo Band will be heading to Missoula to perform at the Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival on Thursday, March 15; third quarter testing begins at the school on March 7 and the BPA State Convention will be held in Billings on March 11 through 13, a day before the High School Academic Olympics in Glasgow (Thursday, March 15.) In his last bit of activities news, Principal King said the 2018 Prom (which will host Malta, Whitewater, Saco and Hinsdale High Schools) will be held on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17, and will be themed accordingly.

In his Principal Report, Principal King talked about several leaks across the middle and high school campuses, including leaks of the ceiling in the courtyard, the cafeteria, and the girls’ varsity locker-room.

“We have been fighting some (of the leaks) since the first day we walked into this building,” Principal King said.

New Business

During the New Business portion of Wednesday night's meeting, the board of trustees passed a resolution calling for an election for the school board and passed another resolution approving intramural basketball at the high school.