Monday October 14th USD 273 Board Of Education Meeting

 

 

USD #273 Board Of Education

 

 

Monday, October 14, 2019

 

 

By Terry Bailey

The USD #273 School Board met at the Board Office on North Independence Avenue Monday evening to oversee the business of the school district.

 

Superintendent Jeff Travis reminded the Board that the November meeting will be on Tuesday, November 12 because Monday, November 11th is the National Holiday of Veteran’s Day. He told the Board that the Legislative Luncheon will be held at the Smoky Hills Educational Service Center in Salina on November 14. Travis handed out copies of the recently received report by the engineers and architects on the needs of the Educational Leaning Center and the Special Ed Buildings. Travis said the report had just been received that afternoon. He encouraged the Board members to study the report and be ready to take action at their next Board meeting.

 

Trace McQueen, Student Council president, updated the Board on the activities of his organization. McQueen said the Homecoming festivities were very successful. Members are delivering Meals on Wheels. They are sponsoring a pumpkin decorating contest and a Blood Drive on November 5th. The annual Food Drive will begin on November 18th. While they have not made an official choice he said they most likely will choose the Beloit Ministerial Alliance at their charity to support this year.

 

 

 

Brady Dean, Beloit Elementary principal, said the PTO fundraiser netted $13,200. He said the Box Top collection process was on going and the BES student T-shirt sales were taking place. The students voted on the T-shirt design.

 

Special Ed Coop Director Karen Niemczyk updated the Board on the activities of the Cooperative. The Board reviewed and authorized the revised Special Ed paraeducators handbook. Boys Town consultants are visiting the Beloit campus, monitoring the action, and providing feedback to the Coop

Cassie Kopsa, Assistant Director of the Coop, reported on the Infant-Toddler program and trainings offered at the Transitional Learning Center.

Brady Dean, Elementary School principal, told the Board that the newly implemented Reading program has proven to be an overwhelming success. The new books are engaging the students at their individual reading level, reading is less stressful, and the program is bring back a love of reading.

Dean discussed the new social/emotional groups that meet each day for 15 o 20 minutes. Each group has an adult with it and the goal is to discuss and teach pro-social skills. Dean believes the program has great merit.

Casey Seyfert, Beloit Jr. Sr. High principal reported that the Biology class students had taken field trips to the water treatment plant and the wastewater treatment plant. He said the kids were able to learn about parts of our city’s infrastructure that people generally do not see or know much about.

The school’s service learning day will be October 23rd. The school will have an assembly in the morning and be treated to a motivational speaker and then kids will be sent to various locations arounds the community to perform works of service.

 

 

Upcoming activities include: Parent/Teacher Conference – October 24, Financial Aide Night – (10-2), PSAT (10-16) This is the National Merit Scholarship qualifying test, ACT prep (10-24), End of first quarter (10-18), FFA National Conference (10/29-11/2), ACT Aspire (11/4-11/7), and the All School Musical (11/7, 11/9 – 11/10)

 

New hires in the district include: Tasha Bland, Francine Ernst, Brian Gillette, Megan Housh, June Pumphrey, Mike Schrandt, Rhiannon Taylor, and Jennifer Yoder.

 

A request for early retirement has been submitted by Beloit Elementary 5th grade teacher, Donna Eck.

 

A resignation has been received by Amy Lienberger, para educator at Beloit Jr. Sr. High.