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Cuellar family honored
McCOOK, Neb. -- A local family with 12 children, all of whom graduated from McCook High School, and one a long-time teacher in McCook, was recognized for a liberal donation that paid for the purchase and installation of the new electronic sign at the high school.
The family of Al Cuellar, through the McCook Educational Foundation, donated $43,322 to the district for the sign recently installed at the entrance at the high school.
Cuellar spoke to the board and said the donation was in memory of the Macedonio (Mike) and Tranquilina (Mary) Luevana Cuellar family and their 12 children: Pete, who graduated in 1934; Josephine, 1937; Margaret, 1939; Juanita, 1941; Joe, 1944; Manuel, 1945; Veda, 1946, John, 1950; Frank, 1951; Delores, 1953, Albert, 1956 and Richard, 1960.
"All of the kids graduated from here and went on to college or to the service," Cuellar said. "All had good jobs and paid taxes and no one went to prison. That's pretty good for 12 kids."
The board expressed its gratitude for the donation, with board member Diane Lyons adding that Cuellar also provides a scholarship to area students every year through the McCook Educational Foundation.
Business Manager Rick Haney noted that Al was a social studies teacher for 38 years at McCook Public Schools and had taught thousands of students through the years.
The board also formally recognized two other donations.
Sharon Wordekemper, special education teacher at the junior and senior high, was awarded a $1,000 check from Wells Fargo Community Connection. As the recipient of the award, she will direct how those funds will be used in the district. She was nominated by Bill Burton of Wells Fargo.
Ashley Laurie, a senior at McCook High School, was also recognized by the board with her recent donation Monday night for soccer goals at McCook schools.
Laurie is raising funds to buy regulation-sized goals for all of the McCook School District schools, with goals already in place at the junior high. An avid soccer player, Laurie said each goal set costs $800 and hopes the high school will have its own team in the future.
With the recent donation, she told the board, "Now it's up to you to get a soccer team."
The board also received with gratitude a $792 donation for the boys and girls golf teams.
In other business, the board approved two trips for high school students and for the superintendent to get bus proposals for an over-the-road activity bus.
Regarding the bus proposals, McCook business manager Rick Haney said the district has been saving for several years for the purchase and it was nice to have the funds available.
FFA students, under ag instructor Tracy Cooper, were approved by the board to attend the national convention in Louisville, Kentucky from Oct. 28-Nov. 2. Cooper told board members that Collin Messersmith, who graduated two years ago, will be receiving the highest degree possible at the convention, the American degree.
Richard Smock, history teacher at McCook High School was also approved for a four-day trip for junior and senior high students to Washington, D.C. The trip would cost students $1,504, coordinated with a travel company. The price includes admission costs and lunch, with students responsible for lunch and souvenirs. Students would leave May 26 for Omaha then flying to Washington. Smock told the board that the kids would be on a whirl-wind schedule visiting major points of interest, including the Smithsonian Institute.
Positive comments from the board at Monday night's meeting included:
* Teresa Thomas: cited the open houses at the schools
* Diane Lyons: Jennifer Jiminez, speech pathologist with McCook Schools, will begin "Circle of Friends" groups. Disabled students are grouped with non-disabled students, for socialization and problem-solving skills and so students can learn to feel comfortable with each other. Also, at the junior high, a 17-minute class period has been started, similar to the "Win" (What I Need) class period in the high school. During this period, students at the junior high can improve learning in areas that have been identified by teachers and if already at grade level, will work on challenging activities that will enhance learning.
* Shane Messersmith: will be traveling soon with the FFA group to a group activity.
* Loretta Hauxwell: thanked business manager Rick Haney for work on the budget.
* Sandy Krysl: also thanked Haney for work on the budget, as well as teachers Tracey Cooper and Richard Smock for sponsoring trips for students.
* Tom Bredvick: thanked Haney for the budget and also Al Cuellar's donation. Bredvick noted that in the past nine months, the school has received donations each month from the community.
* Rick Haney: thanked Al Cuellar's generosity.
* Superintendent Grant Norgaard: has been talking with High Ability Learner teachers for about upcoming programs.