THE FAIRMONT AREA SCHOOL BOARD TUESDAY APPROVED CERTIFICATION OF A DECREASE OF 2.91 PERCENT IN THE PROPOSED 2019 PAYABLE 2020 TAX LEVY. THAT IS A TOTAL OF $166,414.98 DECREASE FROM THE PAYABLE 2019 CERTIFIED LEVY. THE PROPOSED 2020 PAYABLE 2020 LEVY IS AT $5,545,482.33.

The Fairmont School Board on Tuesday heard of several requests for gifted and talented grant dollars from various teachers in the Fairmont school district. The grant dollars are set aside each year by the school board.

Jonas Nissen, a high school English teacher, requested $1,500 for several students to attend a writing workshop led by professional authors.

Claire Theobald, a junior high school history teacher, requested $2,174 for the National History Day competition.

Sam Viesselman, high school robotics coach, requested $6,000 for materials, tools and technology for an upcoming robotics competition.

Grant requests totaled $9,677 with $14,323 remaining in the gifted and talented fund.

In addition to the gifted and talented grant dollars, there were several requests for STEM grant dollars. Another six teachers in various subjects requested grant dollars totaling $78,000.The money went to a variety of projects dealing with either science, technology, engineering or math. There is a total of $29,026 remaining.

The board accepted a donation of $1,000 dollars from the Fairmont Lion’s Club for the Automotive Academy in the school’s vocational wing at Tuesday’s meeting.