Board accepts $11K donation from Booster Club, but turns down new intramural sports
The McCook Public Schools board of education accepted a $10,986.50 donation from the Bison Booster Club during its monthly meeting Monday evening.
The donation, earmarked for support of school activities, was accepted unanimously by the board, although three board members then voted against adding two activities for sixth graders.
Sixth graders have intramural football and basketball for boys and volleyball and basketball for girls, and, at the request of the high school wrestling coach, would have added wrestling for boys. Softball would have been added for girls to satisfy the state's Title 9 requirement for equal sports opportunities for boys and girls.
Wrestling would have started yet this month; softball would have started in the spring. Coaches are paid $500 per intramural sport.
Board member Diane Lyons said the addition of the two sports is not a recommendation of the curriculum and programs committee, and she and fellow board members Shane Messersmith and Larry Shields voted against adding them.
Casting votes in favor of the additional activities were board members Tom Bredvick and Mike Gonzales. There was no further discussion of the subject.
In other action:
* The board directed administrators to solicit bids for vans/vehicles to replace the district's 15-passenger vans that, for safety reasons, must be eliminated. The McCook school district has nine such long vans, and will need to replace three each year for the next three years. The new vans must meet state legislative, Nebraska Department of Education and insurance industry specs.
Business manager Rick Haney said administrators are still researching safety issues such as wheel base and side air bags, and are not ready to buy yet. They will include their safety requirements in the bid specs, he said.
* Eighth grade teacher Colleen Olson told board members that eighth grade core subject teachers had very positive comments about new "student-led" parent-teacher conferences Oct. 30 and 31. Olson said that each student presented a portfolio of his/her work to his/her parents at conferences, and then teachers stopped by the table to discuss the student's progress. She reported that 93 percent of parents attended parent-teacher conferences.
A survey completed by 62 parents after the conference indicated that:
My child's participation in the conference was: 59 satisfactory and 4 unsatisfactory.
The amount of time to speak with a core teacher was: 55 satisfactory and 4 unsatisfactory.
The amount of time spent in conference was: 55 right amount, 4 too long, 1 too short.
Olson said many parents who completed a survey seemed pleased that they had a scheduled appointment for their conference, rather than having to wait in line to talk to teachers. Four, however, preferred the traditional parent-teacher concept.
When asked what they learned about their child/children during the conference, several comments were: "She wasn't doing as well in science as she said." "He's better than we thought." "She knows she needs to work harder." "Not giving 100 percent effort and she knows it." "She is a confident young woman."
When asked what parents enjoyed most about the conference concept, parents answered: "Scheduled time." "Being on such a one-to-one with the core teachers." "That it was short and to the point." "Quick and easy." "Watching my child show pride in her work." "Seeing how well he interacts with his teachers." "Finding out what my child needs."
McCook Elementary Principal Lynda Baumbach reported that 97-98 percent of parents attended parent-teacher conferences at her school. She said that parents were able to look at the new math book and curriculum.
Superintendent Dave Schley said that attendance at parent-teacher conferences was up at the high school.
* Schley reported that the district will begin a concentrated focus on vocabulary, "a weakness K-12." Central Elementary teacher Mary Dueland told board members that vocabulary skills impact reading comprehension and strengthen all areas of study.
McCook Elementary Principal Lynda Baumbach said that kids aren't talked to or read to as much as they once were, and "there are huge gaps" between the students who have broad vocabulary skills and those who don't.
* MHS Student Council members Mary Spilinek and Olivia Walter reported that approximately 420 students attended the homecoming dance and that an assembly with speaker Todd Becker on drug and alcohol awareness "had a positive effect on students."
The MHS StuCo was recognized at the state Student Council convention for its recycling efforts and Make-A-Wish Foundation fund-raisers. The group earned a "Gold" level award as an "outstanding" Student Council, for its members' involvement in community support.
The group hosted a Halloween overnight lock-in for members, and then prepared breakfast for teachers involved in parent-teacher conferences.
* The board approved a four-year contract with Eakes Office Plus for copiers throughout the school system. The lease will cost $2,200 per month; the school provides its own paper. Eakes is the district's current provider; the new contract will save the school about $4,000 a year.
* Diane Lyons said she met with members of the McCook Art Guild, who want to concentrate their efforts on starting an elementary art program. Lyons said she is impressed that Central Elementary has an after-school art club, and encouraged students and teachers to take advantage of exhibits brought to the Museum of the High Plains in McCook by the Sheldon Art Museum.
Lyons also said she was impressed with teachers' projects to teach about the general election, although, she said, a child described to her how he voted for "Rambo Bombo."
* Tom Bredvick said that the junior and senior highs need air conditioning as soon as possible, although there is no time schedule or recommendation from the finance committee to do so. The fall heat schedule compresses each class time, he said, hurting the learning environment as much as or even more than the oppressive heat.
* Shane Messersmith said he was told by a Wood River resident, while both were attending the MHS football game in Ogallala, that McCook was lucky to have junior/senior high band instructor Donita Priebe. The Wood River resident "had nothing but good to say about" Priebe, Messersmith said.
* Mike Gonzales said he was very impressed with the winning spirit and record of the MHS volleyball team. "Their coach should be proud," Gonzales said.
* Acting president/vice president Larry Shields said that the McCook Elementary PTO plans a family movie night Nov. 25.
-- Connie Jo Discoe