Recent growth drew the attention of the Lometa Independent School District at last week's regular session, and the board of trustees approved an addendum item allowing application for a waiver to allow the school's first grade to remain as one class.

With 24 children enrolled in the first grade, coupled with the loss of a building to fire, the school district was forced to consider a waiver. "We have no place to put the students if we split the class," said Lometa Superintendent David Rice. The board unanimously approved the item. Lometa's enrollment is at 326 students.

In other business, the board approved budget amendments accounting for a grant award of just over $60,200 for the district's after school program. An amendment concerning the remaining fund balance of almost $69,500 for the school's Star Grant also was approved.

In his finance report, Business Manager David Fisher said the district's fund balance has fallen from $1.3 million to $974,000. Approximately $200,000 in state funding is still owed to the district.

Delivery of the school's new suburban, originally slated for August, was delayed until this month. Cost of the vehicle will be deducted from the district's fund balance.

Appointed as teacher appraisers for the 2008-09 school year were Rice and Fisher and Principal Kip Bullock and Assistant Principal Rob Moore.

The board took no action regarding consideration of a nominee for the Lampasas Central Appraisal District.

In the matter of unemployment and workers' compensation insurance, trustees agreed to use the Texas Association of School Boards as the provider for both.

In his superintendent's report, Rice advised the board to accept an insurance settlement for a building destroyed by fire. Accepting the superintendent's recommendation, the $350,742.47 payment, allowing for the loss of the building as well as its contents, will be deposited into a bank account.

Rice also informed the board that the district has received grants totaling $185,000 for the after-school program which averages participa- tion of about 120 students per day.

The district also qualified for a $25,000 reading grant to be used for reading software.

Recently named as the Army Pick of the Week after defeating Zephyr, the Lometa football program will be the recipient of 100 free tickets to the All American Board. The Hornets were picked as 45-point underdogs in the ballgame.

In his principal's report, Bullock apprised the board of recent activities. According to Bullock, interim grade reports show students' grades to be "fairly well in-check." Both Bullock and Rice attributed the grade improvements to work being done through the afterschool program.

The Lometa School Board will next meet on Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m.