By Clara Osten,
clara@wayneherald.com
Discussion on how to help retain paraprofessionals in the district and the purchase of a new math curriculum for grades K-8 were among the items on the agenda when the Wayne Community Schools' Board of Education met Monday.
First reading approval was given to a document that will allow Wayne Community Schools to offer health and dental insurance to a group of employees.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Lenihan told board members that the district has been looking into the possibility of offering insurance to paraprofessionals and kitchen staff in an effort to help reduce the turn-over rate of employees.
"We have excellent paras who do a lot of direct work with students. We want to keep these employees because we want consistency for the students," Dr. Lenihan said. "It has become harder to hire people in this area, partly because of not being able to offer insurance and the need to limit the number of hours these people are able to work."
An employee-only insurance option will be offered to 12 paraprofessionals and four kitchen staff. These will be people who will be employed full time, for nine months of the year. The insurance package, or an in-lieu option will be available for the full year.
The item will be brought back for additional board review at the March meeting.
A bid of $84,194.53 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for math curriculum materials was accepted.
Elementary Principal Russ Plager told the board that the process of adopting a new math curriculum was "a long process, narrowing down the options from 37 to two to making the final selection. We feel this is the best choice for our students. It will require lots of work this spring."
He and Junior High Principal Dave Wragge said the new curriculum aligns with the Nebraska standards for instruction and will allow for a smooth transition from the elementary grade levels to the junior high.
Superintendent Lenihan explained to the board members where the money will come from to pay for the materials, which are partly web-based and partly printed materials. This includes the use of ESSER III grant funds.
Board members listened to a presentation by members of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
Advisor Alina Surber and several of the officers of both the high school and junior high groups shared information about what the organization has done this school year. In addition, a number of activities have been planned for this week, which is FCCLA Week.
Members highlighted a number of community service projects completed, including food drives for the Wayne Food Pantry, making blankets and cards for those in the community and holding family-type activities.
In other business, the board approved a contract for $21,300 with CWP Architects for architectural work to be done in regard to the HVAC system at Wayne Elementary School.
Work will be done in the locker/restroom area of the school which has a heating unit that was installed when that portion of the building was built in 2000.
The upgrades, which will be paid for with ESSER funds, will allow for heating and air conditioning units to be installed. It is anticipated that the work could be done this summer, depending on the ability to obtain the needed supplies.
First reading approval was given to the 2022-2023 Early Learning Center Handbook.
Misty Beair, Early Learning Center (ELC) Director, told the board that the handbook "has been re-vamped to make it more concise and to include all forms in one location."
She did note that prices for those attending the ELC were raised for the first time since the facility opened.
The cost for a three year-old to attend was raised from $1,400 to $1,450 and the cost for a four year-old to attend will go from $1,500 to $1,750 per year.
During reports from administrators, it was noted that graduation for the Class of 2022 will be held at the high school on Saturday, May 14. This is due to the fact that construction will be taking place at Rice Auditorium on the Wayne State College campus.
Also during reports, information was shared on a recent Penny Wars activity at the high school and Hat Day at the elementary school that raised funds to be given to the Clausen family at Pierce who were victims of a fire recently.
The Wayne Community Schools Board of Education will next meet in regular session on Monday, March 14 at 5 p.m. in the junior-senior high school library.
