The storm that covered much of the state in another blanket snow Thursday and this morning forced area schools to call off classes Friday.

Litchfield, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Eden Valley-Watkins and Kimball schools all will be closed today.

Litchfield Early Childhood program also cancelled preschool screenings for 8:20 and 10:20 a.m. Parents with screenings later than that were urged to check the weather before venturing to the screening.

Crackerjack Preschool in Litchfield announced it would have no morning preschool classes.

After more than seven months of negotiations, the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School Board and the teachers’ union approved an agreement for the 2007-2009 school years.

The two-year contract gives teachers a 0.8 percent increase in salary the first year and a 1.2 percent salary increase in the second year.

“I think that shows the staff’s willingness to do what’s best for the district,” said Mike McNab, teacher and union negotiator.

Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School will close at 10:30 a.m. North Elementary in Atwater will follow, closing at 10:40 a.m., and South Elementary in Cosmos will close at 10:50 a.m. Afternoon activities are canceled.

A wing of the South Elementary School building in Cosmos, which has been unoccupied since last year, may soon again serve a useful purpose.

Pat Thomas, supervisor in the Meeker County Social Services Department, outlined to the County Board Tuesday a tentative plan under which a day treatment program under the auspices of the area special education co-op would use five classrooms in the school building.

Contract negotiations continue with Roger Rueckert to become the next
part-time, interim superintendent for the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City
School District. The School Board’s negotiating committee recently met
with Rueckert to discuss a contract for the 2008-09 school year with
options for two more years. The committee has a few things to clarify
and expects to have a contract proposal for the School Board to consider
at its April 28 meeting.

After more than seven months of negotiations, the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School Board and the teachers’ union approved an agreement for the 2007-2009 school years. The two-year contract gives teachers a 0.8 percent increase in salary the first year and a 1.2 percent salary increase in the second year.

Shortly after the second bell rings to signal the start of another day at Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School, principal Sherri Broderius bursts into a math classroom with an announcement that would make anyone jump.

“Hurry, you guys need to go to the theater right now. There’s been a murder. Hurry!”

The dumbfounded Algebra II students obediently rise from their chairs and head to the theater, unaware that it’s their math skills that could crack the case.

Sit in on an agriculture class at Litchfield High School, and it might not be what some people would expect.

For example, students might be arranging a decorative floral arrangement or mounting their newly harvested deer. They could be discussing how to groom a rabbit or testing water from the local creek.

And don’t expect the students to be dressed in John Deere green either, for many of the students have never milked a cow, chased cattle or ridden in a combine.