The Nashville Grade School Board of Education met last night.  The Tax Levy was approved for 2014 to be payable in 2015.  Superintendent Mike Brink asked for 3.87 percent over the previous year, which is approximately a $90,000 increase.  No Truth in Taxation Hearing was required, as it is under 5 percent.  There is not expected to be any change in the tax rate because of this tax levy.  Last year it was 4.9 percent.  They tabled the discussion on a state grant from Ameren for partial funding to change lighting in the gyms and outside to brighter and more energy efficient lights.  David Ronen and Bob Konkel presented 4 options for the Board to consider.  They would cost from $1,500 to $34,997 to the school. Brink says the guys are recalculating the lights that would be needed for a better price and they will make another presentation at the January meeting.  Brink then gave the Board some information on the Hoyleton Grade School situation.  On December 8^th, the HGS Board voted 5 to 2 to dissolve the school district and annex with Nashville Grade School.  The petition was filed on December 9^th with the Regional Office of Education.  There should be a notice in the newspaper on December 24, 2014 for a public hearing on February 9, 2015 at 6:30 PM at the Washington County Courthouse.  The citizens looking to get a petition together to halt the Board’s action have 45 days from December 24^th to get everything together and submit it by February 7, 2015.  Currently they are trying to get 51 percent of the registered voters of that school district to sign the petition, which is approximately 340 people.  Brink then told the Board that the math teachers are saying the 43 minutes for math class is not enough time to get through the lesson and use the laptops.  A block schedule is being developed for consideration with three 80 minute blocks, which would have a couple of subjects within each, but would allow for more time devoted to math.  More discussion will be done in the coming months.  Music teacher Steve Northup is retiring at the end of the school year and the Board approved of Brink to begin advertising for a new teacher.  Four members of the NGS Board of Education will have their terms expire and that includes, Dave Engele, David Niermann, Kevin Rench and Shawn Knepp.  The deadline for anyone to file for the April election for a school board is Monday.  Brink updated the Board on the various aspects of the Strategic Planning, which are long range plans.  They are holding off any decisions on the Financial Stability part, as the annexation of the Hoyleton students would make a difference, so they will wait for the final decision early next year before moving forward with a 3 to 5-year plan.  They have been hitting the Technology component fairly hard with laptops for every student and having textbooks on the computers.  They are still learning and getting more acquainted with their usage.  Brink says the conversion is going well and it is positive for all involved.  Since the focus has been on learning how to use and teach with the computers and all the training that was involved, the school has not been focusing on Professional Development, but will after everyone is comfortable with the technology component.  The school has been using online resources to help advance the Communication part of the planning.  Information has been sent through emails and calendars, as well as more information has been put on the school’s website for all to see.  The addition of several clubs has been a huge success and is Enhancing Student Growth by getting the students more involved, so that part of the plan is doing well.  He says he is very happy where they are at on these long term goals for the school.