Superior Schools Bridge Program expanding, impacting students

Five members of the Superior Board of Education met in regular session Monday evening at the Superior High School library for 45 minutes. Peggy Meyer was absent.

August claims from the general fund in the amount of $727,338.49 were approved

Early in the meeting, Rachel Loucks, Bridge room instructor, talked about the Bridge program. (She is also a member of the Superior City Council which meets at the same time the school board meets.)

This is the first year an alternative program has been offered on the Superior School campus. The program started with four students. This week, there are eight students in the program full time and one student, who come for a couple hours each day. Students in the program include seventh through 12th grade. Four have jobs off campus which they work at to earn school credit. Four are working on job interview skills and job applications and two are too young for the job market, but have work tasks assigned within the school. To earn a credit from work, they must work 180 hours by the end of the semester.

They each have an assigned area in a classroom close to where the band practices. Early on this was a concern because it was thought some of the Bridge students would find the noise from the music area disrupting. However, Loucks reported “the fifth and sixth grade band has already really improved” and the Bridge students have noted the progress with appreciation and acceptance.

Acellus, an online educational instructional service, provided individual instruction which the Bridge students do at their own pace. They can choose to focus on only one class until they finish or work on several classes.

Each student works 45 minutes to earn a 15 minute break. “They are motivated to get things checked off and I feel like the Bridge group has formed a small community.

“I am grateful we can stay on campus and be part of the school,” Loucks said. “This is my ninth year teaching. I feel this is my most impactful year yet. I love every day and am grateful.”

With an internet connection, members of the board talked with a Heartland Roofing manager. He expects the roof repair project to be complete the middle of next week. The work started with four roofing crews. Now only one is working to complete the project. There have been no major surprises and it appears the project will be completed within budget.

Rayne Biltoft presented the student council report. Seniors won the homecoming spirit stick, which ensures them the privilege of eating lunch first during the month of September. Students donated 1,402 food items for the Back Pack program during homecoming week.

FBLA and student council members will help service the Harvest Moon Gala sponsored by Brodstone Health care, Oct. 8.

Both the student council and band will hold their annual fund raiser which is selling Eileen’s cookie dough September 22 – October 6.

The high school choir is working on concert etiquette projects to insert in concert programs and video to play on the video board before concerts to remind patrons what audience behavior is more helpful to them during a performance.

FFA members will attend Husker Harvest Days one day this week. Cayce Barry was the lead crop scout all summer. Land Evaluation is Oct. 5. The advanced fabrication class hopes to take a field trip to Metal Quest in October.

The drama department has selected the play “Ruby of Elsinnore” by Bruce Kane. The play is an adaptation of Hamlet. It is a comedy set in a hair salon. Currently there are 10 students involved.

Jodi Fierstein, elementary principal, reported pre-kindergarten through fifth grade enrollment is up slightly since the beginning of school - from 204 to 211. She also reported on testing.

Bob Cook, secondary principal, also reported on enrollment changes since the beginning of school. At the end of Monday, enrollment had dropped two students – from 218 to 216. Fall sports participation is as follows: high school football, 23; cross country, two junior high and five high school; junior high football, two sixth grade boys, four seventh grade and five eighth grade; high school volleyball, 21; girls golf, five; and junior high volleyball has seven sixth grade, three seventh grade and six eighth grade students.

Cook also reported that Thursday, Aug. 22, Dante Boelhower, a recent Adams Central High School graduate who owns his own photography business, spoke to students about some social-emotional experiences he went through as a young person that were similar to what some of our young people are currently dealing with. Boelhower challenged students to reach out to friends and adults they feel comfortable with to discuss things upsetting them or causing them to feel unsure about themselves. Dante also stayed and took pictures of the volleyball game that evening that will be utilized in the pregame hype video before varsity volleyball matches.

Supt. Kobza reported the special budget hearing will be held Sept. 26, because the school district has increased its tax asking by more than two percent plus allowable growth percentage from the prior year. Anyone in Nuckolls County with a parcel of land in the district will receive a post card for each parcel inviting them to the hearing.

Normally the tax hearing and budget hearing would be just prior to the regular September Board of Education meeting and generally is approved by the board.

This year a special board meeting will be held. The school budget must be submitted to the state by September 30.

Superior Public Schools tax asking will increase more than two percent this coming year, primarily because state aid to the district has decreased.

Supt. Kobza also reported on school safety changes. Several doors have been replaced and the wood shop has a new dust collection system.

Superior has been selected as one of the 2021-2022 Safety Honor Roll school districts in the ALICAP pool.