LCC School Board evaluates Christiansen
LAUREL — Jeremy Christiansen has nearly completed his first semester serving as the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge district superintendent. The LCC school board members recently completed a survey reflecting his first semester.
The questionnaire evaluated Christiansen over four subject areas; including budget, district community leadership, vision and planning, and leadership.
Christiansen received 100 percent in each of these four categories, sighting many of Christiansen’s strengths he has brought to his first semester of service to the district.
Also at Monday’s LCC School Board meeting, Paige Parsons told the Board she became CPI certified. CPI stands for Crisis Prevention Intervention. Parson’s spent a week becoming certified; the first two days were spent becoming a trainer and the following three days becoming certified to train others.
Once she became certified she come back to LCC and led a two day session where all the high school and middle school paras become CPI trained, all LCC principals are now trained. The middle school paras will become trained in the near future.
With this training, a para will have the skills to de escalate a situation were a student may be verbally or physically combative.
On Dec. 21, the public release of the latest AQuESTT classifications will be publicized. AQuESTT stands for Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today and Tomorrow. School districts are placed in one of four categories; excellent, great, good, and needs improvement. The NSCAS and ACT results are included in this ranking. Positive Partnerships, Relationships and Student Success, Transitions, Education Opportunities and Access, College and Career Ready, Assessment, and Educator Effectiveness are also factored in this ranking. For the 2015-2016 year, LCC received a great classification.
“It’s a bitter sweet night for us, we want to take an opportunity to thank the four board members who served on the board for a combination of 48 and a half years of service,” said Christiansen thanking the four board members who diligently served over the last few years. Steve Schutte has served eight years, John Wolfgram served 12 years, Rich Brandow served 12 and a half years, and Betty Jo Leapley served 16 years.
“We appreciation all you do for our school” said Christiansen after presenting each board member with a plaque. Steve Schutte recognized Robert Colwell for his 14 years of service. A small reception followed with cake for outgoing members.
Several students were recognized as fall conference award winners. Erika Wolfgram and Lorna Maxon were Lewis and Clark All Conference First Team. Delaney Ehlers and Kinsey Hall received honorable mention. Izac Reifenrath, Noah Schutte, Cutter Haberman were first team for districts. Noah Stone, Ethan Williams, Ty Erwin, Austin Hall, and Cale Hartung were honorable mentions. The LCC One Act team finished fifth at districts.
The sophomore class was given the opportunity to do a field writing prompt sample for the ACT. This gives the sophomores a chance to continue to prepare for their junior year and build on current skill levels.
The High School Student Council representatives Hunter Pehrson and Izac Reifenrath told Board members about the many accomplishments of the 2018-2019 Student Council and future goals for the remainder of the semester.
“We’ve been honored with a great, active Student Council and student body,” said Angie Roberts. The high school Student Council is made up of 26 members. The pair filled the board in on all the homecoming activities, and the participation not only at school but with the community through a community bonfire to help kick off the week.
The Veterans Day Program was planned and organized by the Student Council, with the help of the administration. Following the program the Student Council members hosted a reception for the veterans and their families, serving cookies and coffee.
During the month of November, the high school collected 350 pounds of food for the Food Pantry.
This was a competition between all three levels of the school. Collectively almost 1,000 pounds of food was collected to stock the Food Pantry shelves. Since the high school collected the most, Ken Swanson was given the privilege of wearing a “very sleek turkey attire to school the following day,” reported Reifenrath.
The Student Council continues to make plans to be just as active this second semester through a Little LCC Champs program.
This developing program would pair with the elementary. The goal is to have an “elementary student be paired with their favorite LCC athletic team throughout the year and spend time visiting with the team,” said Pehrson.
Members of the high school Student Council are also hoping to develop a program called “LCC Senior Friends.” For this program the members would be given the opportunity to spend quality time with an elderly friend; in hopes the pair could learn new skills from one another.
