Former IT director tapped as Central principal

McCook Public Schools' former IT director is expected to return as principal of Central Elementary.

McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — If the new principal at Central Elementary looks familiar, it’s because he is.

The McCook Board of Education will be asked to approve a contract for Joel Bednar, former McCook School district technology director, as the principal at Central, at its regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the junior high conference room. Kate Repass, current Central principal, is retiring at the end of the school year.

Bednar is currently the staff developer at ESU 15 since 2016. Prior to that, he was the technology director at McCook Public Schools for two years and before that, sixth-grade science teacher at McCook Junior High. He has a teaching degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is currently working on an educational admin degree from the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

The board will also be asked to approve a contract for Jamie Ascherl as a seventh-grade math teacher for the junior high.

Ascherl graduated from Peru State College in 2017 and since then, has been the seventh and eighth-grade math teacher at Johnson-Brock Public School in Johnson, Neb.

Other items from the regular agenda the board will be asked to discuss/approve include the school calendar for the 2018-19 school year and a new evaluation tool used in the yearly assessment of teachers.

Consent agenda items, that can be approved in one motion without discussion unless pulled by a board member, include newly revised board policies and expenditures/payroll for February. Newly revised board policies that need board approval are: Informing the public; recognition of citizens, staff members, members of board of education and students in Memorials, flowers for funeral services; Safe schools policy and safe school committee; school closings and cancellations.

At the beginning of Monday night’s meeting, the Red Willow County spelling bee champion, Isaac Griger, will be recognized, along with “Poetry Outloud” students who placed first and second in recent competition, Beth Hoyt and Victoria Norgaard. Youth Art Month will also be recognized by the board.