The Austin High School library will be renamed for a Pulitzer-prize winning poet.

Friday, June 23, 2000

The Austin High School library will be renamed for a Pulitzer-prize winning poet.

The Austin School Board approved the action at its meeting Wednesday night at Ellis Middle School.

Richard Eberhart was born in Austin in 1904 and graduated from Austin High School in 1921.

Now 96 years old, Eberhart won the Pulitzer Prize in 1966 for his "Selected Poems" and has won countless other honors in his writing career.

He also has served as consultant in poetry at the Library of Congress.

The action had been recommended by the AHS Alumni and Friends Association.

The new name of the library at AHS will be the Richard Eberhart Media Center and according to Mike Ruzek, who made the recommendation to the board, all costs for the effort will be paid by the association’s members.

In other action Wednesday night, the school board:

n Approved a newly revised crisis management policy, spelling out lockdown procedures as well as evacuation and sheltering procedures. It also details early school closures and media procedures in the event of a crisis as well as grief-counseling guidelines. Specific crisis response team members and leaders also are designated. Also Wednesday night, the school board approved the first reading of a health and safety policy.

n Approved Mower County public health nursing service contracts for school nursing, early childhood screening and blood-borne pathogen training and consultation at a cost of $3.18 per student or the same as last year’s for the basic nursing service. The early childhood screening agreement will cost $5 for each immunization review or an increase of 82 cents, and $20 for each physical examination, an increase of $3.26. Both increases are the first in two years for the services to Austin Public Schools. The blood-borne pathogen training and consultation contract comes at the cost of $22 per hour of training, or an increase of 66 cents.

n Approved a contract with Asbestos Inc. for asbestos abatement projects in the annex building at AHS and Banfield and Neveln elementary schools. The firm was the low bidder at $18,862. Seven bids were received. The consultant’s estimate for the work was $24,079.

n Approved a new breakfast and lunch price schedule for the 2000-2001 school year. Milk remains the same, 30 cents; breakfast prices have increased 10 cents at the elementary schools to $1, $1.10 at Ellis Middle School; and $1.10 at AHS. Lunch prices also have increased 10 cents at the elementary schools, $1.60; Ellis Middle School, $1.80; AHS, $1.80; and adult, $2.50.

n Deposited $1,100 in the high school bowling trust account. The funds were received from the Community Charities of Minnesota and Echo Lanes and will be used for scholarships over the next five years.

n Approved an extended field trip for 20 participants in the Summer Target Program at Ellis Middle School and two advisers to the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center for July 17 to 19.

n Approved a non-resident agreement for student Warren Roger Lenz, son of Kent E. Lenz, to attend Brownsdale Elementary School next year as a kindergarten student.