School board approves speech and debate club

At the Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, the board allowed the creation of a Speech and Debate Club and finalized that there would be no mill levy this year.

HHS student Jacob Bachmeier spoke to the board in favor of kick-starting the club. He said that when he joined the speech and debate team at Havre High School his freshman year, he found that there was the remnants of a club, but it was close to being shut down.

Bachmeier said he wanted to bring it back to life.

“I’m very pleased that someone stepped up to do this,” vice-chair Harvey Capellen said.

Bachmeier said that the club would recruit people for its ranks and also for the team at the high school, as well as during trips to Havre Middle School.

He said speech and debate helped him when he was younger — when he was much more bashful and afraid to speak — and thinks it could help others.

The board spoke in favor of the idea and voted unanimously.

Andy Carlson, superintendent of Havre Public Schools, spoke at the meeting about this year’s mill levy. He said he would recommend that the school board not run a mill levy for the elementary school this year.

Eileen Couch, Harvey Capellen and Ed Hill, who ran for their own positions this year unopposed, will be sworn in at the next special board meeting April 28, at 12:15 p.m. at the Robins School Administration building.

The next full board meeting will be held May 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Havre Middle School auditorium.