The Rickard Elementary School in Williston doesn’t meet the state criteria for obtaining funding for a Title I program.

However, the Williston Public School District 1 School Board agrees it should have a similar program because more than 40 students at the school need assistance with reading and math.

The board approved Thursday running a program to assist those students by paying $120,000 out of the school district’s general fund.

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction regulations state a school must have 33 percent of a student population using the free-and-reduced lunch program to receive Title I money, said Malcolm Pippin of the Finance Committee. Rickard’s highest count is 27 percent, he said.

Money received from the Title I program is for two Title I teachers at the school. The services are needed, even though the school doesn’t qualify for them, he said. Committee member David Hanson agreed. “We need to find a way to fund it,” Hanson said.

The $120,000 is for the teachers’ salaries. If Rickard meets the DPI criteria by next year, it is to receive Title I funding.

Meanwhile, the board heard from Williston Middle School music director Chad Askim. He’s hosting this summer’s fourth annual Yamaha Sounds of Summer Percussion Camp in Williston from June 28-30.

The camp has 36 students registered, with 21 from the Williston Public School District 1, he said.

“It’s amazing the amount of music they learn in two days,” Askim said.

The camp is $50 and is for ages 11-18. At 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, a concert by the students is at Williston’s Harmon Park and refreshments are to be served.

In other business, the board:

• Tentatively approved moving its board meeting next month to July 30 to allow more time to close the financial books, as requested by Superintendent Viola LaFontaine. Board members Kim Egge and Susan Brokaw said they couldn’t be present, and Duane DeMars was absent Thursday, so it’s unknown if he’ll be able to attend. The meeting may be scheduled earlier.

• Approved amending the 2009-2010 school calendar so the first quarter ends Oct. 28 instead of Oct. 29, the second quarter ends Jan. 12 instead of Jan. 8 and the third quarter ends March 23 instead of March 12.

Report cards are issued Nov. 3, Jan. 20 and March 26. Mid-terms are held on Sept. 24, Dec. 1, Feb. 16 and April 23. Parent-teacher conferences are from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on March 25 and 4:30-7:30 p.m. on March 30 for elementary schools and 4:30-7:30 p.m. on March 29 and 5:30-8:30 p.m. on March 30 for the middle and high schools.

All changes were made so each quarter has equal number of days. The fourth-quarter end date and report-card date, May 28, wasn’t changed.

• Approved the purchase of 100 Dell computers for $109,795.80 as the school district continues to upgrade technology.

• Heard the June 5 strategic planning meeting was successful. There were 36 people at the meeting, and the committee consisted of teachers, administrators, board members, community members and parents.

They were divided into eight groups that discussed a topic and the task of each team was to answer the question: “What current and emerging problems, issues or trends might significantly affect the school district over the next five to seven years?” There are plans to meet Monday for more of a focus, and eventually the strategic plan is to be submitted to the school board, LaFontaine said.