USD 398 Board of Education voted July 12 to waive all textbook fees for the 2010-11 school year.

Superintendent Rex Watson recommended waiving the fees because of economic hardship faced by many families in the district. The district has a high proportion of families that qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and textbook fees would just be another burden on those families.

It will be the fourth consecutive year waiving textbook fees. The district will lose about $11,000 by waiving the fees, but the district won’t have to spend time trying to collect the fees.

“We thought it was a good gesture to our families not to charge that,” Watson said.

In other business:

• Land bequeathed to the district by the Litton/Kliewer estate sold for $132,000, and a wheat crop on the land was sold for $1,038. The district will invest the proceeds, which will fund agriculture and pre-veterinary scholarships.
• Salary adjustments for all employees were made after board members met in closed session for 70 minutes.
• Classified employees will receive a 1.25 percent raise. Administrative salaries will not increase.
• The district’s contribution to health insurance premiums for teachers and full-time classified employees was increased from $310 to $365 per month. The contribution to administrative employee’s health insurance was increased from $310 to $565.
• Terry Eberhard was re-elected board president. Other board officers are vice president Gary Jones, board clerk Sharlene Brooks, and district treasurer Patti Gaines.
• Leslie Allison, Linda Allison, Deborah McSweeney, Dianne Nickel, James Pohlman, Lorrie Reynolds, Harlin Unruh, and Linda Wetta were approved as emergency and standard substitute teachers.
• Marc and Leann Temanson donated $500 to the Adventure Program.