NEWPORT — A request for senior privileges from the Class of 1995 at Nokomis Regional High School tops the agenda for the 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, meeting of the SAD 48 board of directors. The board meets in the library of the high school.

Superintendent William Braun said that Brenden Fitzpatrick, vice president of the senior class, is scheduled to make a presentation to the board.

Although he is unfamiliar with the practice in SAD 48, Braun said most schools expect students to maintain a specified grade-point average, achieve the required credits and have a last period study hall to allow an early release.

He does not expect the board to act on the request Tuesday night.

The board also will review the new block scheduling at the high school. The program of expanded class time was added to the school in September.

“We’ve had some successful reports,” Braun said, “and some probably had some difficulty. With an 80-minute block and classes every other day, it provides an opportunity for better organization, more opportunities to ask questions, and more time to get things done. But it can provide some difficulty in planning. This will provide an opportunity for feedback.”

The board also will act on the resignation of a mathematics teacher at Hartland Junior High School. The resignation comes in the wake of discipline problems at the school, but the teacher reportedly has resigned for personal reasons.

Filling the position will require reopening the application process of last fall, coupled with applications from recent graduates, to find a strong candidate, Braun said.

The process will allow the administrators to assess the funding for the position, along with a desire to create an alternative education program at the junior high.

State approval has been received to fund one new bus for SAD 48, according to Braun.

“We have 36 buses, (with) 32 on the road every day,” he said. “Can you imagine? At this rate (of) one a year, we could have a 32-year-old bus on the road someday.”

The district actually requested three new buses. Braun expects to reassess the bus issue in conjunction with preparation of the annual budget, possibly to use the approved funding to lease-purchase the needed three buses.

Chairmen of the board committees will meet on Jan. 5 to set a schedule of committee meetings for the next quarter. The Education Committee will meet with the Nokomis staff at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the superintendent’s office to discuss standards and outcomes for high school students.