The resignations of three staff members and the hiring of two new staff members were among the items on the agenda when the Wayne Community Schools' Board of Education met on Monday.
Matt Schaub, junior high social studies teacher, Nick Curyn, junior high math teacher and Mallorie Koch, English Language Learner teacher, submitted letters of resignation, which were all accepted.
Board members approved the hiring of Hayden DeLano as a junior high Social Studies teacher, head football coach and assistant athletic director. DeLano is currently a teacher and coach at Cross County Community Schools near Stromsburg.
Morgan Barner was hired as a junior high Math teacher. She will also serve as the cheer sponsor. Currently the Wayne High alum is teaching at Homer Public Schools.
Board members listened to a presentation from staff at Haven House.
Director Debbie Goetsch talked to the board about the services offered by Haven House and noted that in recent months, the organization has worked with a number of clients in regard to protection orders.
She also said that all services at Haven House are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are free of charge.
In other action, the board approved on second reading the AIM document which will allow for benefits to be received by nine-month full-time classified staff.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Lenihan explained the work that had been done on the document since last month's meeting.
He said that it will allow for 12 paraprofessionals, four kitchen staff members and the assistant food service manager to be eligible for benefits, including single health insurance coverage and vacation time. Also offered with be a $200 per month in lieu of payment for those not desiring to take the insurance package.
Approval of the classified staff handbook with this information outlined will take place at a future meeting.
The annual approval of a policy setting the number of option enrollment students the district is able to allow was discussed.
The number of students the district is able to handle varies from 75 in the lower elementary grades to 100 at the high school level. Several of the grade levels are already at capacity, including all the special education programs.
Approval was given on several bids for work to be done at both the elementary school and the junior-senior high school during the summer.
A bid of $10,917.44 was received from Jason Sears Flooring for summer carpeting projects. Included will be an area in the office at the elementary school, a classroom at the elementary school and a classroom in the high school. Depreciation funds will be used to pay for the project.
Concrete work in the high school driveway area and parking lot and extending a concrete pad outside the lunch room area will be done by Jorgensen Concrete & Construction. Cost for a portion of the project will be paid for with Wellness Grant funds.
Also planned for the summer is the replacement of the west high school stoop. A bid of $59,857.00 from BamBam Concrete, Inc. was approved for the project.
Work is scheduled to take place between the time school gets out for the summer and the start of summer camps.
In administration reports, Dr. Lenihan updated the board on teacher contracts, which were scheduled to go out March 15 and need to be returned by March 30.
He also shared information on the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB) strategic plan listing administrator priorities for the district.
Among these are building resources, staff and student well-being and expanded learning opportunities.
He also told the board that some of the work needed to move forward on the plan, including a survey of the campus, has already been done.
The board will meet in special session on Tuesday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. to further discuss these priorities.
During a report from the Facility/Safety/Finance committee, it was noted that work is being done to replace the bleachers at the elementary school. Also on the list of upcoming projects is the HVAC system at the elementary school. Both items will be discussed further at the next meeting.
The Wayne Community Schools Board of Education will next meet in regular session on Monday, April 11 at 5 p.m.
