By Clara Osten,
clara@wayneherald.com
The resignation of two administrators was among the items on the agenda when the Wayne Community Schools Board of Education met on Monday.
High School Principal Tucker Hight submitted his resignation, effective at the end of the current school year. He has accepted a position with ESU #1 as a teaching/learning specialist.
Johanna Osborn, Assistant Principal at Wayne Elementary School, also submitted her resignation. She and her family are re-locating out of state.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Lenihan said the district is starting the process of hiring someone to fill Hight's position and will look at options for the assistant principal position.
Paige Milliken, a Wayne High alum, was hired to fill the EL teaching position. She has worked as a para in the EL department and is currently student teaching. She will graduate from Wayne State College in May.
Monday's meeting began with the annual board organization for 2024.
All positions will be filled by those who were in the roles in 2023.
This includes: Board President - Jodi Pulfer; Board Vice-President - Jaime Manz; Recording Secretary - Deb Daum and Treasurer - Mary Jean Roberson.
Other annual appointments included State Nebraska Bank as the district's Depository Bank; The Wayne Herald as the Classified Recording Records and designating Perry, Guther, Haase & Gessford, P.C., L.L.O. as legal counsel.
Third reading of an AIM document in regard to hiring a human resource director took place during the meeting.
Board members voted to move forward with hiring someone in an hourly position. The district will start looking to fill the position and according to Dr. Lenihan, "hope to have someone on board as soon as possible."
A negotiated agreement with the Wayne Education Association was approved. It included a $1,300 increase in base pay and a 5.7% total package increase. This is a one-year agreement for the 2024- 2025 school year.
The 2024-2025 school calendar was also approved. According to Dr. Lenihan, it is similar to the 2023-2024 calendar.
School is set to begin Wednesday, Aug. 14 with a half day. Christmas break has been scheduled from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, with classes resuming on Monday, Jan. 6. Graduation is scheduled for May 17, 2025
The district will also send out information to ESU #1 on what services the district will need for the 2024-2025 school year and approve the contract for these services at the next board meeting.
Board members discussed possible options for student transportation for the coming year.
The district's contract with First Student, the current transportation provider, is up this year and the district will go out for proposals for the services.
First and final reading approval was given for an AIM document for a new secretarial position at the Early Learning Center/Special Education building. The district hopes to fill this full-time position as soon as possible in preparation for the opening of the ELC facility later this year.
Discussion was also held on entering into a swimming co-op with Norfolk Public Schools.
The Norfolk Schools have sent Wayne Schools an offer for the co-op which would involve boys for the coming year and both boys and girls in two years.
Administration was tasked with finding additional information before any decision is made. Among the items discussed were interest among students in participating, practice times, costs and transportation.
The Wayne Community Schools Board of Education will next meet in regular session on Monday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. in the junior-senior high school library.
