Nov. 22—ELNORA — North Daviess will soon have fully functioning sound systems in both the elementary and high school gymnasiums. During Monday night's school board meeting, the bid from Alvis Music was accepted and work will begin soon to get the new systems installed.

"This is something we have been battling for a while," said ND Superintendent Jodi Berry, adding the quotes from the Vincennes-based business include cables, speakers, headsets and anything else needed to get the new sound system up and running and improve the sound quality. "We will also get sound panels for the walls."

Paid out of the rainy day fund, the high school gym project will cost around $77,000 while the elementary gym will be about $34,000.

"Alvis has done the sound system at the 4-H grounds as well as at Vincennes Lincoln and Washington high schools," she said, adding Alvis expects the high school equipment to be installed before the BobCat Classic tournament late next month.

Berry also told the board there would be an increase in insurance premiums for ND employees on the company plan. Board members did approve providing $1,500 for the health savings accounts of those with a single plan and $3,000 for those with a family plan.

Dr. Barry Stone, director of curriculum and technology, said the group of students working on Cougar Creations now has a new addition to the toolbox. It's a new 3-D printer that can be controlled using a cellphone. Stone said the small gadgets can print even faster than the larger machines teacher Jamie Wagler already had in her classroom.

The elementary school also received one of the new 3-D printers and Clay Raber at the elementary school will now be having students there launch a business program of their own called Cougar Cub Creations.

Cougar Creations debuted many of its products at the North Daviess craft show earlier this month. Those interested in learning more about Cougar Creations can find the business page on Facebook.

The 2023-2024 school calendar was approved. ND students will head back to the classroom on Aug. 9 and will wrap up the school year on May 23. This year, students had two-hour delays several times throughout the year to allow for teachers to receive professional development before the school day started. Those delays Stone and Berry said were successful in getting teachers extra training. Next year, there will be one two-hour delay per month except in December and May when students will released early.

A donation from Artistic Underground owner Corey Brown, in the amount of $2,300 was also accepted.