Resignation, appointment on school board agenda

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Board of Education will be asked to approve two resignations and accept a $5,000 donation, at the regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the conference room at the junior high,

The board will also be asked to approve a contract with Katy Snyder for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, to teach biology at the high school.

Resignations, both effective at the end of this school year, are from Carole Gaunt, who teaches second grade and has been with McCook School for 15 years; and from Katy Snyder.

Snyder is currently a substitute teacher at the high school. The board will be asked Monday night to approve a contract with her as the high school biology teacher for the remainder of this school year. Superintendent Grant Norgaard said today in order to conduct a thorough search for a permanent biology teacher and to go through the regular hiring process, Snyder must submit a resignation from that position. She can also re-apply for that position if she chooses, he said.

Norgaard said at this time, no teacher has been released from their contract. Students have alleged a high school science teacher who displayed inappropriate behavior toward female students via social media and in other instances was removed from the high school shortly before Christmas break. Norgaard said he could not comment on that as it’s a personnel issue.

County Attorney Paul Wood did not respond to an email about the filing of any charges.

Also on the regular agenda is a $5,000 donation from McCook Community Foundation for Bison Days. Bison Days is a two-day event at McCook High School, where students sign up for mini-courses on diverse areas.

Before the regular agenda, the board will elect officers for the new year, as well as hear a presentation from “Cracker Jack” students and also summary from the superintendent on ACT and NSCAS assessment results.

The board will meet in closed executive session after the meeting, first to discuss the evaluation of Superintendent Grant Norgaard and again for negotiations concerning the McCook Education Association, the local bargaining representative of the Nebraska State Education Association.