At the regular January Board of Education meeting, the board took action on several items. The district hired two new teachers who will begin next school year. Mrs. Kamla Hails will join the district as a kindergarten teacher and Mrs. Melanie Spangler will teach high school business. Additionally, Mrs. Leslie Prior, who has been student teaching in the district during the first half of the school year, has completed all of her requirements and was officially hired as a special education teacher. Finally, Mrs. Ashley Snow will be transitioning from fifth grade to an elementary math interventionist next school year.
In other action, the Board approved the adoption of a new K-5 reading curriculum, Wit and Wisdom, for next year. The curriculum is based in the science of reading and specifically selected to compliment the district's Orton-Gillingham approach to reading instruction. The curriculum is designed to build background knowledge and vocabulary, both of which are essential to reading comprehension.
The Board also approved the purchase of a new school bus to be received in July.
Graduation was set for Saturday, May 21. The eighth grade ceremony will be held at 10:00 and the high school graduation will be at 11:30. The ceremonies are scheduled to be held outside in a similar fashion to last year.
Additionally, the following high school courses were added as options for students to choose:
Public Speaking, Botany, World History, Social Media, Culinary Occupations, Introduction to Family and Consumer Science, Cooperative Education, Introduction to Business, Business Management, Banking, Finance, Business Technology, Survey of Technology, A/V Broadcasting, Applied Mathematics in Agriculture, and Photography.
Finally, the Board conducted interviews with six candidates for an open position on the Board. Katelyn Lewis was selected to fill the position. The term runs until April 2023.