By Sarah Lentz,
For the Herald
Wakefield’s Board of Education held their regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 13. During the meeting, the board accepted a resignation, heard updates from administrators and approved an agreement for counseling services.
Wakefield school administrators began the meeting with updates from their respective offices.
Elementary Principal Jerad Wulf informed the board that there are currently 70 students using Special Education services district-wide. Secondary Principal Angela Zach praised her staff for using the district’s problem-solving strategy to come up with a cell phone use policy for students in grades 7-12. She said the policy has led to better grades and behavior from students.
Wakefield Schools Superintendent Matt Farup said some concrete work was done on the stadium project and a parking area is being expanded west of the school building. He also included the new base salary for the 2022-2023 school year in his written report. Next school year, faculty will see a $750 increase, making the base pay $39,140. That base will increase to $39,890 for the 2023-2024 school year. Farup said negotiations went well.
The board accepted a letter of resignation from secondary school counselor Lori Harding. Farup told the board that he appreciated all of the work she’s done for students and staff and that she will be missed.
“I would just really like to express my thanks for Lori,” Farup said. “Coming in, she was a great source of counseling and help and encouragement.”
In other action, the board approved an agreement with Heartland Counseling to provide counseling services to the district. Heartland Counseling already provides the service, but no formal agreement has ever been on the books.
Finally, before going into executive session to discuss the superintendent contract, the board approved the Wakefield Education Association’s request to act as the exclusive bargaining unit for the 2023-2024 contract year.
