Roberts to resign as Goessel superintendent

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN CYNTHIA GOERZEN
The Goessel school board, “with deep regrets,” accepted a letter of resignation from Chet Roberts, superintendent and high school principal, at its Feb. 9 meeting.

Roberts, who was hired as a teacher and coach in 1970 and has been involved with the district for more than 30 years, stated in his letter that he has “only positive feelings for the school, kids, staff, board and community.

“The hardest part for me will be leaving the kids,” he wrote. “They are a blast and have kept me young.”

Roberts said he feels the time is right to resign.

Board member Richard Drake made a motion “with deep regrets” to accept the resignation. Board chairman Lynel Unrau also expressed deep regrets, extending to Roberts his wishes for the “very best.”

Unrau said he has known Roberts for 33 years and “had the opportunity to play under his command for one year…. Chet had a passion for coaching, passion for teaching, passion for administration.”

The board reluctantly voted to accept the resignation and met in executive session to begin planning ahead, but did not report anything in public session.

Earlier in the meeting, Roberts presented the 2004-05 school calendar to the board. Roberts said 184 student-contact days are required, and the district will have 190 teacher-contract days.

Plans are for in-service to be held Aug. 16, 17 and 18, with the first day of school to follow Aug. 19. No school will be held Labor Day, Sept. 6. School will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m., Oct. 15, for teacher work day. Oct. 29 will be a “comp day.”

Thanksgiving vacation will begin at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 24. Christmas vacation will begin at 12:30 p.m., Dec. 23.

An in-service day is planned for Jan. 3, 2005, with classes resuming Jan. 4. Jan. 31 will be an in-service day, and no school is planned for Feb. 21 in observance of Presidents’ Day and Martin Luther King Day.

Spring break and Easter vacation will be at the same time in 2005. Consequently, the break will be one full week; no school is planned for March 21 to 25.

May 17 will be the last day of school for seniors. May 26 is to be the last day of school for all other students. High school commencement is scheduled for May 21 and eighth-grade promotion for May 26. May 27 will be a teacher work day.

Board member Maynard Knepp asked if the calendar correlates with other schools in the consortium. Roberts said he had already talked with the Canton-Galva administration.

Drake voiced concern about sports practice the day before Thanksgiving.

The board approved the calendar as presented by Roberts.

In other business:

— The board accepted the resignation of Chrysta Guhr as junior high track coach for this season because of maternity leave.

— Roberts discussed legislative issues with the board. He said “there is a push under way” for consolidation, warning that it could come about in a subtle way.

“Consolidation really does not cut costs as much as people say it does-it’s a little misleading,” Roberts said, adding that transportation costs increase with consolidation. He said he has talked to state legislators about his concerns.

— Roberts said the school district would “only get a very small piece of the pie” if the state increases taxes for education. He said the district does not qualify for “at-risk” funding or English as a Second Language funding.

He said Gov. Kathleen Sebelius wants to equalize capital outlay; some districts would get quite a bit of money; some would get nothing.

— Roberts reported that with weighted enrollment, Goessel’s student count is 567.7.

— According to the report by John Fast, elementary/junior high principal, the county spelling bee is scheduled for Feb. 20 at Center High School. The eighth-grade quiz bowl team placed first and the seventh-grade team second at the Remington invitational.

— Fast reported that junior high students can qualify for the VIP program either by being on the honor roll or by increasing their grade-point average. Students who qualify receive a card and coupons or certificates from merchants for discounts.

— According to Fast, four exchange students explained their cultures to the fifth- and sixth-grade classes.

— It was reported that the elementary staff appreciated the luncheon from the parent-teacher organization.

— Roberts reported that Bennington would like to join the Hear of America League.

— Junior high basketball tournament play was announced to begin Thursday. The boys ended the regular season with a record of 7-3, the girls were 2-8.

— The high school has one wrestler still competing with the Hillsboro High School team after a second wrestler was injured.

— Resident Anton Epp attended the meeting and shared his concerns about school tax legislation. He had written a statement that he presented to the board. Epp said he does not see many of the social ills here that he has noticed in other places.

— Roberts reported The Learning Consortium had received a $15,000 grant.

— Drake, reporting on the Marion County Special Education Cooperative, said the negotiation process had been started. He also said $18,000 to $20,000 had been approved for computers. Next month, the director’s contract for 2004-05 will be discussed.

— The board approved the fencing at the football field and discus cage according to specifications that Roberts presented.

Unrau said, “We’ll be practicing on the track, but we likely won’t have a track meet here this year.”

— Roberts presented the need for a permanent dividing wall in the junior-high locker room area.

He reviewed other needs, including windows for the elementary school. He said bids are due the last Friday in February.

Roberts also reviewed the need for a maintenance shed to be erected at the elementary school with storage space, vehicle space and a heated shop area.

— The board discussed buying a bus. Roberts suggested a 54-passenger bus with 205 or 210 horse power and underneath storage.

Bluebird, Thomas and International buses were discussed, but no decisions were made.

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