Goessel board members hear of students’ charitable efforts

The Goessel School Board heard at its Dec. 10 meeting from Marc Grout, junior high/high school principal that ?Can the Teacher? day, Nov. 21, was a successful charitable project.

On that day, students brought canned food that was donated to the Tabor Mennonite Church Food Pantry. If a teacher?s door was covered completely with cans of food, that teacher would not teach that day, and students would watch a movie in the auditorium during class time.

The Goessel School Board heard at its Dec. 10 meeting from Marc Grout, junior high/high school principal that ?Can the Teacher? day, Nov. 21, was a successful charitable project.

On that day, students brought canned food that was donated to the Tabor Mennonite Church Food Pantry. If a teacher?s door was covered completely with cans of food, that teacher would not teach that day, and students would watch a movie in the auditorium during class time.

According to Grout, it takes about 240 cans to ?can? a teacher. The cans had to be in place before the beginning of school at 8:30 a.m.

Grout reported that four students delivered the food to Tabor Church, where pastor Corey Miller told the students about the people who need the food pantry and described the system of distribution.

On behalf of the church?s clients, Miller expressed appreciation for the students? efforts. Grout said students donate about a pickup-truck load of food every year.

John Fast, superintendent and elementary principal, reported the elementary school also has a food drive from Dec. 5 through 12. He is planning a hayrack ride through town, weather permitting, if the students reach their goal. In case of inclement weather, Fast had some other reward ideas.

Grout also reported that the annual high school community service leaf-raking day occurred Nov. 16. Eighty-eight students were divided into 10 groups that were supervised by teachers. Twenty-three lawns were raked, although more requests had been received. Grout said the people who received assistance were grateful.

Grout said the junior high students raised enough money with their Red Wheel fundraiser the past two years to retile the showers in the junior high locker rooms. Contractors have been contacted for estimates. It is hoped the project will be done during Christmas vacation.

In other business, the board:

  • learned from Grout that several high school students participated in the South Central District Kansas Music Educators Association honors band and choirs Dec. 1 at Wichita State University. Goessel band teacher Mike Connell is president of the South Central District and was in charge of the day?s events.

  • hired Jeremy Voth as the second assistant high school boys? basketball coach. ?We are excited to have him as part of our coaching staff,? Grout said.

  • considered bids for a car and approved the purchase of a Ford Taurus from Hillsboro Ford for $9,300. The car is to be used by Rose Hackney for transporting Head Start students. It is also designated as the driver?s education car. The Taurus replaces the Lumina that had mechanical problems. Fast reported the problems at last month?s meeting and noted the need for a better car.

  • learned that teacher in-service time Nov. 28 had been spent training all district staff in the use of the new software, ?My Learning Plan.? It is an online system that will allow teachers to keep track of professional development activities and the points they earn for renewing their license.

  • heard Fast?s appreciation for the Dec. 2 Christmas banquet, which was well attended by school employees.

  • noted agenda items, such as the technology plan and capital outlay needs. Due to impending bad weather and concerns of getting home, the board decided to postpone discussion of those issues until a future meeting.

  • entered into executive session to discuss personnel matters, but had nothing to report to the public following the session.

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