School board accepts tech club, counselor

The Havre Public School District Board of Trustees met Tuesday to accept the formation of a Technology Student Association chapter at the high school.

The TSA is designed to build leadership skills and technological literacy through competition and completing projects.

Havre High School Principal Craig Mueller said they are going to gauge the student interest in the club, but students will be able to join at the beginning of the upcoming fall semester.

Students in the club will be given series of problems that they have to solve and work on complex activities from start to finish, the TSA website says.

Mueller also informed the school board that there would be a licensed addictions counselor at the high school in the upcoming fall semester.

The counselor will be a full-time employee and will be at the school from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every school day.

Mueller said Marlando Sparks, the speaker who was invited to the high school last year, led them to think about the services they offer their students.

“I think it was a little bit of a wake-up call for us to look at what services we provide for our students,” Mueller said.

The counselor will not cost the district anything, as it is completely funded through a grant. The counselor will provide counseling to students who are facing substance abuse issues. Meetings with the counselor will be completely referral-based.

Mueller said the counselor will be a presence in the hallways of the school and will be there to talk to any student who may need help.