School board approves contract, discusses coronavirus
OSMOND — With a light agenda and Superintendent Dave Hamm absent because of illness, the District 42R school board covered its agenda very quickly on Monday, March 9. Among action items were approval of a quote from CCS Presentation Systems on five interactive flat panel boards, which will be covered by this year’s REAP (Rural Education Achievement Program) funds, and approval of a teaching contract with Lacey Bahr to serve as elementary instructor for the 2020-21 school year.
Principal’s Report
Principal Kurt Polt congratulated the boys’ basketball team on their third straight trip to the boys’ state basketball tournament, and advised that they will play Southern Valley on Thursday, March 12, at Lincoln East High School at 3:45 p.m. There will be no school that day.
Mr. Polt also congratulated the senior and junior high quiz bowl teams, the former placing sixth of 31 schools at the ESU 8 competition and the latter placing fourth of 25. Polt advised that caps and gowns were scheduled to be shipped from Jostens last week, and diplomas will be ready to be signed at the April board meeting .Also, approximately eight kindergarten round-up letters will be sent out next week, with the date for kindergarten round-up set for April 7.
The principal reported that all 14 Osmond entries at the conference speech meet medaled Monday. He advised that the local speech night is next Monday, March 16, at 7 p.m. and the district speech meet is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, at Creighton.
Mr. Polt reported that, on Feb. 26, the district hosted a speaker from North Central Health District on the dangers of vaping for grades five through 12. There are also assemblies scheduled April 8 on the importance of sleep for grades seven through 12 and on April 16 on human trafficking awareness by the Set Me Free Project for grades five through 12.
Upcoming dates Mr. Polt reported on included: March 11, end of third quarter; March 16, NSCAS testing window opens for grades 3-8; March 17, sophomores to take preACT test; March 19, report cards to be mailed home; March 21, first scheduled track meet at Wayne State College indoor meet; March 23, 7-12 band and vocal concert at 7 p.m.; March 24, juniors to take NDE-required ACT test here; March 26 ,third quarter honor breakfast for seniors and their parents at 7:30 am.; March 30, jazz band will perform at NECC (this and concert on March 23 will help them prepare for District Music Contest).
Superintendent’s Report
With Mr. Hamm absent, Board President Michelle Reikofski read through his report. In news of the kitchen remodeling project, a piece of tile that was sent in for asbestos testing came back at 4%. The threshold limit is 1%, so the tiles will need to be abated. The district is waiting to hear on a price from a local person certified in asbestos abatement. Purchase of a used walk-in cooler saved the district some money which will help with the additional cost of abatement.
Mr. Hamm will be advertising for several positions in the next month or so, including those for custodian and MTSS/date steward. The district’s ESEAaudit took place recently and all seemed to go well, Hamm reported.
Board members discussed a number of items regarding the board retreat set for Monday, March 16. It is on the same day as the local speech night, which the board would like to attend, so they made the decision to start the retreat at 4 p.m. so they can be done in time. Reikofski noted that it is important to show the speech team support.
In Hamm’s report, he noted that the bond election results would come in Tuesday night, and he would contact them with results as soon as he heard from the county clerk. In addition, he thanked Mark Moes, Reikofski and Larry Krohn for filing for reelection.
Coronavirus Discussed
In other business, the board discussed the coronavirus situation. Board Member Tyler Gansebom noted that there will be people asking about the situation, and asked if the district should have a statement. After some discussion, Principal Polt commented that, as with any other contagious illness, parents should make sure that if students are ill, especially if they have a fever, they should stay home.
Krohn asked how often the school nurse is in Osmond. Poll replied that she is there a couple times a month; however, the staff at the school monitors students and they are “taking temperatures multiple times a day.”
Polt added that the district will release a statement as soon as the superintendent is back at school and they have time to put one together.
