Vaccine should soon be available to School staff

RANDOLPH — Randolph Public School teachers and staff may be vaccinated for COVID-19 in early February.

That is the latest news from the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department in Wayne and relayed to the Randolph Public School Board at its Jan. 11 meeting.

Supt. Jeff Hoesing said the Moderna vaccine would be made available to teachers, staff and substitute teachers. After conducting a survey, 75 percent of the Randolph school staff indicated they were interested in receiving the vaccine.

“We aren’t making it mandatory,’’ he said. “I will tell people that we don’t know when we will have it (access to start the vaccine) again.”

The health department will oversee vaccinations and its possible other schools may get the vaccine before Randolph. There will be about a week’s notice before the vaccination begins, Hoesing said.

It is not known when students would have a vaccine available to them.

In other school board news, Randolph Elementary School will begin using a new reading curriculum to help achieve goals set for by the NebraskaREADS initiative.

According to the Nebraska Department of Education, NebraskaREADS provides resources to students, educators, and parents in an aim to develop successful readers in Kindergarten through third grade. As part of the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act, the initiative emphasizes strong early reading instruction and customized support for struggling students. Targeted interventions are put in place to help students achieve grade-level proficiency.

“Nebraska Reads seems to have a stumbling block in the first grade,’’ Principal Mary Miller said. “There is a big learning curve there that makes learning more intense.’’

She estimated 5-10 percent of students may qualify as special education students who may never read at their expected level.

But that doesn’t mean that real progress is not happening. Much work has already been accomplished, said Superintendent Jeff Hoesing.

“The elementary staff was a year ahead of the requirements for NebraskaREADS when that was passed,” he said. “How para(professionals) were used has also changed since Nebraska Reads was passed.’’

Students are moving up out of the lower range and paras have gone to training, Miller said.

The shared reading experience One Book, One School will begin in February.

Miller plans to update the board at future school board meetings.

In other school board news, Fakler Architects of Beatrice was selected as the architect for the proposed new vocational agriculture and arts building with a bid of $59,430. The project will be developed in three phases with the option to stop work at any phase, Hoesing said.

The board did not accept the proposal from CMBA Architects bid at $111,600.

At their last meeting, the school board also:

• Learned that streaming during the recent holiday basketball tournament drew 800 views. The gym can only hold 50 percent capacity due to current COVID-19 Directed Health Measures. “Fiscally, the streaming option has made sense for the school,” Hoesing said. “We can add another camera. I have noticed people streaming in the stands on Facebook Livestreaming. That’s okay for them to do that.’’

•Approved a probationary contract for Andrew Schultz to teach 5-12 instrumental and 7-12 vocal music for the remainder of the year. This semester, two new Kindergartners and one new fourth-grade student joined Randolph Public School.

•Heard a report on driver’s education that will start in June. The school will pay $95 per student. Student cost will be $200.

•Discussed policies related to online classes.

• Heard about the status of the propane bus with sensors failing becoming an issue. The bus runs cheaper per mile than a diesel bus, Hoesing said. One bus is slated for destruction by the fire department.

• Re-elected Paul Schmit as School Board president. Jim Scott will serve as vicepresident. Sandy Owens will be secretary/treasurer.

• Approved Hoesing’s contract.

• Discussed Junior High sports practices extending each day to 4:30 p.m. Schmit noted students in sports would not be able to ride buses home.

• Reviewed upcoming dates on the calendar including Conference Honor Band Jan. 23 at Plainview; Basketball and Dance Parents Night Jan. 28; Conference Basketball starting Jan. 29.

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