The CAM School District’s Board of Directors approved a contract with a new elementary school teacher during their meeting Monday morning, in Anita. Board Secretary Linda Edwards told KJAN News the Board approved the hiring of Jessica Tamerius, who will serve as a Second Grade teacher at the North Elementary School. Jessica is from Creston, and currently lives in the Greenfield area.

The Board Monday also moved to proceed with the ground work for a new multi-purpose building.

Members of the Exira and Elk Horn-Kimballton Boards of Education held a joint session Monday evening in Elk Horn, to discuss the future of the two districts following voter approved reorganization on June 25th. Exira-EHK Superintendent Dean Schnoes says the discussion was a continuation of preliminary talks which were held prior to the vote.

Schnoes said they’ve taken several steps as far as committees that are in the two districts being used as joint committees. Board policies have been reconciled so they have the same language. Issues that were previously deemed “just in case” the vote was approved, can now be finalized, and, plans are to work with financial experts to prepare one budget early next year instead of two. He says there are still some matters that need to be taken care of before July 2014, though.

The fact reorganization was approved by the voters was a relief to a lot of people, according to Schnoes, because of declining enrollment and the resulting financial stress the districts were facing. He says enrollment is always a concern, because it drives a school districts. When enrollment drops to a certain level, Schnoes says it causes districts to re-evaluate where they need to be, “down the road.”

He said while they can start looking at five- and/or 10-year plans, for now, nothing will change with the facilities or grades. Schnoes said the boards also discussed the re-alignment of a combined Board representation, and other matters during Monday night’s meeting.  He provided the members with information pertaining to when their terms expire. Three members of the EHK board will have the option to file papers for re-election this fall, while two members of the Exira board will be deciding on their future, as well. Once the elections are held, they’ll have to sit down and determine the makeup of the new, combined board prior to July 1^st, 2014.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday morning of a man wanted on local warrants. 39-year old Cory Wade Casteel, of New Market and formally of Shenandoah, was arrested at around 9:45-a.m. at the Page County Courthouse. Casteel appeared before the magistrate and was released on his own recognizance, with orders to appear later in court.