ORIGINALLY WRITTEN CYNTHIA GOERZEN
Goessel junior/senior high school principal Curt Graves told the school board at the Jan. 10 meeting about problems caused by the recent ice storm.
Graves said ice on Tuesday, Jan. 4, caused tree limbs to fall, affecting the electrical transformer at the junior/senior high school.
With the electrical supply then at one-half power for a short while before the electricity went off completely, the motors for three roof-top heaters over-heated. The biology room became filled with smoke, smoke alarms sounded, and the west end of the building was evacuated.
Graves commended custodian Norman Schmidt for doing “a fantastic job” in dealing with the ice storm problems and working around the clock.
Graves also expressed appreciation for the work of Graber’s Hardware in Newton.
All students were sent home after lunch Jan. 4. Since there was no heat or electricity and roads were icy, school was not held for the following three days.
Classes reconvened Monday, Jan. 10. Superintendent/elementary Principal John Fast told the board the school calendar had enough time built in so there still are enough hours to meet requirements even after the recent snow days.
In spite of the inconveniences, Graves said, “we felt very fortunate.”
Fast told the board of plans for a cleanup day. After the event, Graves said 75 high school students participated in the effort last Wednesday morning with 35 continuing into the afternoon.
Graves said the effort was organized with the city. Students went up every street in town, collecting 151 loads of tree limbs.
“It was just the right thing to do,” Graves said. He said that although it was not an academic activity, it was a lesson in community service.
Rod Base offered the use of his skid loader, and other members of the community helped also.
On another matter, Fast told the board that Linda Ogden of Communities in Schools will be conducting meetings in Marion County communities Jan. 17 to 21.
She plans to present the Marion County “report card” in Goessel at a 7:30 a.m. breakfast on Friday, Jan. 21, at the school.
Issues of interest include education, health care, and housing. The public is invited. Community people who wish to attend the breakfast are asked to notify the district office (367-4601) by Jan. 19.
In other business:
– Fast and Graves said the Christmas programs had gone well and were well-attended. They commended the music teachers for the results.
Fast said the grade school program was held in the high school auditorium for the first time. Graves said he heard numerous positive comments about the additional lighting in front of the high school building. He expressed appreciation to Kyle Funk for completing the lighting project.
– Fast told the board he is working on an Enhancing Education Through Technology grant jointly with the Burrton school district. He said the grant focuses on grades four and five and would provide $70,000 for the school if approved.
— Fast said he is planning a technology trip with board members and teachers to see how other schools use technology in their schools.
— Fast said the staff is preparing for the accreditation visit April 13. Graves said the Jan. 3 in-service day was mostly devoted to QPA and the school improvement process. Graves said revised QPA criteria will be implemented in the 2005-06 school year. Since yearly accreditation will be required instead of every five years, he said additional in-service time will be needed.
— Graves said the school has been accepted for Breaking Ranks II, a high school reform initiative of the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals. The program will seek to improve student performance in three core areas: to create ideals and goals for collaborative leadership, personal motivation to learn, and curriculum instruction which will assess student needs.
The program will benefit Adequate Yearly Progress and “No Child Left Behind” efforts.
Graves, counselor Janna Duerksen, board member Dan Miller, and two staff members plan to attend the first state conference April 11.
– Fast said construction on the press box was going well. Construction of the maintenance building is at a standstill because of inclement weather.
— Fast said the bus lane at the high school had been rocked as a temporary solution until spring.
— board member Richard Drake reported on the recent Marion County Special Education Cooperative teleconference. He showed a brochure that is being sent out to potential director candidates. The MCSEC board hopes to interview candidates in February, with a goal of hiring a director in March.
– the board entered executive session to discuss personnel issues but had nothing to report in open session.
