By HOLLY GASKILL
Community survey results came back with high support for the addition of a preschool, said Kim Conner, Southern Wells Junior-Senior High principal.
The district is hoping to renovate part of the existing building to accommodate the preschool, operating several days of week for half-days.
Conner said the survey showed a desire for longer hours for the preschool, as well as a latchkey program with the elementary. While they hope to work toward this goal, Conner said they would need to get the program on its feet first and secure funding to staff for those hours.
Conner added that Area 18 Career and Technical Education had approved for a potential preschool to be used for high school childhood education courses. These courses would also be open to neighboring schools.
Preliminary quotes for the classroom renovation came in at $128,000. Conner said they would look to add a preschool restroom, playground and fencing, in addition to purchasing new classroom materials. The district is pursuing several grants to help offset the cost of these renovations.
Interim Superintendent Steve Darnell expressed his excitement for this update, noting that developing a preschool had been a longtime goal of the district.
Darnell also announced that the school had been awarded a $45,000 safety grant to help support the school resource officer contract. This grant requires a 50 percent match on part of the school, $14,000 of which the school board agreed to use toward the addition of a finishing film on school windows. The film is supposed to prevent glass from shattering out of its frame, slowing down an intruder in an emergency.
Other updates from Tuesday’s board meeting were:
The board approved 15 fundraisers for school groups. Among those, student Lane McClure asked permission to coordinate a school drive to help those affected by recent hurricanes. The school board commended his initiative and service.
The girls golf team was celebrated for their successful season.
Several donations were formally accepted. This included $200 from Park Community Church to be used toward unpaid lunch accounts, $1,000 from the McNatt Friendship Circle to be used toward lunch money and textbook assistance, $25 from the Bluffton Street Fair as an award for the archery club for their float in the parade, $300 from Vicki Andrews for the purchase of bracelets for Red Ribbon Week and $7,000 from Scott Seeds for work at the softball field.
The 2023 budget was adopted.
The board accepted resignations from Cierra Harley, elementary instructional assistant, and Brandon Hoff, technology director. They also approved the hire of April Leas elementary instructional assistant and the following coaching positions: Jacob Duncan as wrestling coach, William Fiechter as assistant wrestling coach, Amane Lane for JV softball, Jordan Szarenski for JV boy basketball coach, Dale Miller as freshman boys basketball coach, Kyle Penrod for elementary boys basketball, Monica Edgerman as track assistant, Gary McFarren as track assistant and Ross Palmer, Jen Meyer and Kyle Penrod for elementary girls basketball. Blade Rheinhart resigned as varsity baseball coach.
holly@news-banner.com
