LCC School Board hears from parent group and students
LAUREL — Following the Pledge of Allegiance, school board members met Dec. 10 in Laurel for their regular session with two groups giving main reports. The first report on the PTO parent-teacher organization was delivered by Jessica Recob. “We started PTO last spring,’’ Recob said.”The high school had a booster club. We didn’t really have K-8 parental support. We hope to develop experiences and connections between home and the school. We would like to introduce experiences with the zoo, museums, increase educational toys and books in the home.’’ The group has 17 members. They plan to hold a Literacy Night event on April 30. A group of approximately half a dozen students attended the meeting to report on their trip to Omaha for the Human-EX Impact and Discovery Summit. The experience identifies levels of student engagement based on Maslow’s Hierarchy. Three speakers were included in the experience. Some of the leadership skill concepts students said they were exposed to included: Failure doesn’t need to be final. Being a hero is inside not physical. Villains always give us dirty looks, but we don’t have to give them permission to make us feel bad. Students took a survey with the results showing different traits of their personalities. Students also were divided into random groups and went into a maze. Students had to use body language. The exercise was designed to help students realize how much you say without ever talking. It was also announced Monday that Amber Hoeppner will be starting a home daycare business and leaving the school staff. Also Monday, Mid States School Bus Inc. of Wayne presented a proposal to board members. Representatives attending were Dale Phipps and Dean Carroll. The company would like to know by March if any kind of an agreement would be pursued. The 2018-2019 audit was also approved Monday by board members. “The audit was positive. The only comments made were typical ones such as the school doesn’t have enough staff,’’ Supt. Christiansen said. Board members passed the renewal of certificate of deposit with Security Bank. A general fund CD will be combined with another CD. The board also approved a project called “Phase One’’ of ceiling and lighting project for $39,359. The project will be completed and initiated during break. The Board also noted Supt. Christiansen passed his evaluation with flying colors. “The superintendent evaluation involved a tool that listed seven characteristics for evaluation including 58 items that were all met by Jeremy Christiansen,’’ Hall said. “The board is pleased with his performance.’’ Board members also got caught up on some of the events and activities going on at the school. FCCLA travelled to Wayne State College for experience with Family and Consumer Science information. FBLA will be recycling plastic bottles at games and taking them to the recycling center. The special education staff attended a Dr. David Kilpatrick seminar and learned the science behind reading. Last week the elementary celebrated Education Support members. The Art Club travelled to the Old Market and Orpheum Theatre in November.
Principal Ken Swanson attended an On-To College workshop for ACT prep at ESU One. Twelve wrestlers are competing from LCC. Randolph has six wrestlers within the combined school effort. Seven boys are competing in junior high wrestling. Girls basketball players number 14. Boys basketball team members total 20. Junior high students were exposed to a digital citizenship presentation. Jean Granquist secured a grant for gifted students to use an online vocabulary program. Mike Fluent will be completing a project with the LCC alumni group. He has been commissioned to do an art placement sculpture. His commitment includes involving industrial technology students for work with welding. The art department students will do some work with textures and different designs for the project. The concept will be a Unity Tree for the alumni corner. “The concept will include a celebration of community, family and school coming together,’’ said Superintendent Jeremy Christiansen. The project will be completed by Ag Days. Negotiations committee members will be meeting in January. Board president Jay Hall said no one has signed a document yet. The school board members are planning a retreat. Heartland therapy will be partnering with the school for a guidance counseling project.
