Emma Alderman | news editor
The USD 329 board made changes that will affect next year’s elementary students at its meeting Monday night.
The board voted to change the variance line between Alma and Maple Hill Elementary schools to send McFarland students to Maple Hill. The vote went 4-2 with Jim Vopata, Jerome Hess, Tony Conrad and Kelly Oliver voting to change the line whereas Justin Frank, and Callie Meinhart voted against it. At the start of next school year, McFarland students will be included in the Maple Hill Elementary classes. The board hopes this will help even out the class sizes between the two schools.
The Board discussed and approved the COVID exit plan. All USD 329 schools will maintain mandatory masks until after May 19, the last day of school. After that it will be optional in school buildings and the buildings will be open to outside groups. Weight room cards will be shut off and new ones will be started June 1 for people who have paid the $30 fee.
“From the beginning of this we made the vision that we’re going to control what we can control and so we’re going to continue to do that in regards to our covid reopening plan,” Superintendent Brad Starnes said.
During Principal Oliver’s report he acknowledged Peyton Wurtz for breaking the junior high 1600 record during the home meet last Friday.
The board approved a plan to use remaining COVID funds to provide a five hundred dollar stipend for staff.
The board approved the hiring of Cody Gilmore as a WHS assistant football coach, bus driver and teacher aid as well as Clinton Firstbrook as an emergency substitute teacher. The board also approved multiple resignations throughout the high school such as Carrie Boeckman from her position as assistant secretary and Joey Heersche as high school and junior high wrestling coach. Heersche also resigned from his position as elementary school PE teacher. The high school also gained a library media tech, Kristen Broth, who was previously the junior high library media tech.
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