Five staff members hand in resignations; several hired
OSMOND — The District 42R Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, April 12, following the last of the focus group meetings, which will be summarized in an article next week.
During the meeting, the board discussed staff changes: resignations and new hires.
Several visitors were present at the meeting, including Jared and Jenny Wingert and Justin Koehler, and staff members Angie Aschoff and Brian Guenther.
Americanism, Math Series Discussed
Mrs. Aschoff discussed a recent meeting of the Committee on American Civics, which is one of two required to be held per calendar year. She pointed out several items in a printout of the duties of the Americanism Committee.
Mrs. Aschoff then discussed the need for a new math series, which is necessary because of the change in standards. The old series being used by the district is outdated, and elementary teachers are having to supplement what is being taught in the classrooms.
She explained the Expressions series which was chosen by the group, and the two different options available — a five-year series or an eight-year series, and the costs associated with each. The math series was only presented to the board for their information; no decision was made at this time.
Upcoming Events Reported
Principal Kurt Polt reported on a number of recent and upcoming events. The kindergarten round-up was held April 8 with 10 students in attendance. Two others were unable to attend that evening, for a total of 12 possible students next year.
The senior honors breakfast was scheduled for the morning of April 13, and the awards convocation for April 15.
Prom will be held on Saturday, April 17, at the city auditorium. Only families of participants will be allowed inside the auditorium during the grand march; however, like last year, the grand march will begin at the public library so that the public may participate. Post-prom will be held at the school and at Main Street Alley.
Mr. Polt advised that state FFA, FBLA and FCCLA were all held virtually this year because of COVID-19. Four students attended the Pierce Honor Band on April 10, while 14 will attend the Neligh Elementary Honor Band on Saturday, April 17.
Polt reported that the District Music Contest will be held in Hartington on Friday, April 23, and the pre-contest recital will be held here at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20.
The conference track meet is scheduled at Hartington on May 1, Polt said, while the conference golf meet is scheduled for May 3 at Rolling Hills Golf Course.
Polt advised that diplomas needed to be signed at the meeting that night, and added that commencement is planned for Saturday, May 8, at 2 p.m. with no attendance restrictions. There are 19 seniors on track to graduate, and their last day of school is May 4.
Mr. Polt reported that he has scheduled three interviews for the office assistant position this week. He added that the screen and projector for the gym were delivered and installation is to begin this week as well.
Polt reported that he met with three staff members to go over the district’s emergency operations plan; they will have two more meetings before the plan is approved. He also went over the class schedules for 2021-22.
Funds, Bids, Masks and Other Items
Superintendent Dave Hamm commented on personnel changes, and said that, after the interviews for administrative assistant, the only one left will be for kitchen assistant.
Superintendant Hamm reported that the district did receive GEERS Funds which will be used for the purchase of iPads. He also reported that he had not received any bids yet on the yellow building, but had sent personal invitations to bid to several businesses.
Hamm reported that students and staff seem to appreciate not having to wear masks. He said he is nervous, seeing Nebraska’s numbers going up, but added that there has only been one case in the past two months in this school district. For graduation, he said guests will be required to wear masks, but there is no limit on attendance.
Supt. Hamm said that, since Board Member Larry Krohn had recently asked about new Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) health education standards, he provided a printout of information. In addition to content area standards that are required by statute (math, reading, writing, etc.), the NDE develops content area standards for fine arts, physical education, health education and world languages.
Although not required by law, the standard provide a framework for quality teaching and learning. The state board will take final action in the fall of 2021; however, local boards are not required to adopt them. They do, however, have to have standards in place for health education.
Mr. Hamm also reported on a new student date system being used by the district.
Board Comments
Board President Mark Moes advised he had received a thank you from the Aschoff family. He also advised that there are five staff members who have resigned their positions: Keri Schultze, who will retire at the end of the school year; Dawn Baue, Cory Lenton, Todd Schultze and Kim Miller. It was pointed out that three of the five had taken positions in the towns in which they live.
Moes then asked if there were any committee reports. For the transportation committee, he said that Dwight Kahny had put together a list of the district’s vehicles, their ages and mileage. The board discussed the two vehicles which would be replaced first — the older special education car and the 2006 bus.
Board Member Michelle Reikofski reported for the Sharing Committee. She said the group met in March and there are not a lot of changes.
Moes asked Board Member La-Donna Stanosheck about the information gathered from the focus groups. She asked when the board can get together to discuss what the board can get out of the information. After some discussion, it was decided to have a board workshop on Monday, April 26, at 8 p.m.
Reikofski advised she had attended a county commissioners meeting, and encouraged others to attend and show support of Commissioner Jim Schmit and being vocal about getting a road east of town paved.
In other business, the board approved teaching contracts for Dillan Wolfgram, Abby Krueger and Vanessa Steinkraus.
School Numbers, Sharing Discussed
Jared and Jenny Wingert brought the conversation back to the subject of sharing with Wausa and other schools. They stated that “activities drive the kids” to the schools that have them, so what are the district’s next options?
Reikofski agreed that Osmond needs to move forward and said that the focus group that met that night was the first one that indicated it wants to move forward.
Mr. Hamm advised that community members are saying to move forward with Wausa; however, they have the numbers for some activities, so if they say they don’t want to combine for those activities, then the district needs to look at Plainview or other area towns.
Jared commented on the fact that younger kids — freshmen and sophomores — are on varsity teams and they are too young, so the district needs to be able to have junior high, junior varsity and varsity teams so younger kids aren’t on the varsity team.
After much discussion, Hamm said it’s not just what the board can do. Parents need to be more vocal, even writing letters to the editor, etc. to move forward.
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