Austin school officials continue to be proactive against bullying, and school board members are recognizing those efforts.

The Austin Public School Board awarded Danielle Borgerson-Nesvold Tuesday night with a certificate of recognition for her leadership within the Community Against Bullying (CAB).

“It’s been my new burden,” she said. “But it has definitely been worth it.”

Among community-wide meetings, Borgerson-Nesvold has helped coordinate a visit from the Scary Guy. The Scary Guy, an imposing, influential figure in anti-bullying efforts, will visit Austin from Oct. 31 to Nov. 11. Borgerson-Nesvold said those dates are tentative, and the school district is budgeting for a few more days so it can make the most of his visit.

There will also be a teen dance on Oct. 28, and Borgerson-Nesvold will still be leading anti-bullying meetings every first and third Tuesday of each month.

Austin joins efforts with LeRoy-Ostrander

Among efforts within Austin, the Austin Public School Board approved a targeted services agreement with LeRoy-Ostrander Public Schools. Austin will provide summer school opportunities to those students who need it. Austin is already providing that service for Southland and Grand Meadow schools. The program is partially funded through state dollars, while Southland, Grand Meadow and LeRoy-Ostrander will pay for some administrative services, as well.

Referendum vote nears

Though the referendum is just around the corner — Nov. 8 — school board members didn’t discuss many new details about it. Superintendent David Krenz said there have been roughly two to three dozen community meetings regarding the referendum and a new grades 5 and 6 school near Ellis Middle School. Though the board hasn’t directly heard much opposition to the plan for a new school, one community member did speak out Tuesday night about the idea. Gene Novak said he knows many community members who oppose the plan for a new school; however, nobody was with him at the meeting.

Board member David Ruzek mentioned the district already has $20 million on the books, and would need to raise more than $8 million to build a school. If the November bond referendum passes, the Austin Public School District’s purchase agreement for the school site south of Ellis will become official. If the referendum fails, the agreement becomes void.