McCook teacher one of five finalists for 'Teacher of the Year'

A teacher from McCook Central Elementary was one of five finalists for "Teacher of the Year."

Mary Dueland, fourth grade teacher at Central, was in the running for the award given by the Nebraska Department of Education, said McCook Schools Business Manager Rick Haney during the "Positive Comments" segment of the regular McCook Board of Education meeting Monday night. Although she didn't win, Haney said he likes to think she came in second, he told the board.

Haney also mentioned that the recent McCook Senior High FFA pancake feed and hired hand auction was a huge success. He said he attended the auction and intended to "buy a few guys" for some projects around the house but his hand was up only a couple of times before "the bids blew me out the water."

Clay Jordan, a member of the MHS FFA club and attending Monday night's meeting, told the board that the auction netted about $7,000.

Board member Shane Messersmith also lauded the recent FFA auction and cited how far the program has come since it began a few years ago. He also mentioned the performance of the McCook High School Band at the halftime show at the Bison football game with Lexington Oct. 10. While he was there, several from Lexington commented on the nice uniforms and how good the band sounded, Messersmith told the board.

The MHS Band also received kudos from board member Diane Lyons, who related that the new uniforms looked fantastic and that she could hear the marching band practice early in the morning when it's still dark. Lyons also said that at the University of Nebraska-Kearney homecoming she recently attended, she saw three former MHS band members now in the UNK marching band: J.P. Tapia, Tyler Cobb and Casey Cobb.

Tom Bredvick commented that the community "had a chance to shine" at the recent GNAC softball tournament hosted by McCook. He commended staff and volunteers and called it "an exceptional showing for our community."

Larry Shields expressed his concern about a six-county survey that concerned the labor supply in the region. According to the survey, population is down six percent in the area from 2000-07 and the annual non-farm wage in Red Willow County is about $8,000 less than the state average.

"We're losing kids and losing people and we can't afford that," he said. He urged the board to "do everything we can to educate and bring people back here," he said.

"Let's step up to the plate and pay (wages) that the kids can come back to."

Shields also commended the staff at Central Elementary and the Junior High, as did Interim Superintendent David Schley earlier in the meeting, for pitching in and helping out during Principal Dennis Berry's absence. Berry is recovering from surgery.

Board member Mike Gonzales noted a recent program presented at the high school about the dangers of drinking and driving and said that students "took it seriously," with some students visibly moved.

"If (the program) saves one child or one family, it was well worth the effort," Gonzales said.