Superior Students will bag cell phones in the new year

Actions taken Monday evening during the regular monthly meeting of the Superior Board of Education bring significant change.

Early in the meeting, Jason Jensen was recognized for his eight years of service as a board member. This was his last monthly board meeting. He played a significant role in establishing the beef in school program.

In November, Brad Biltoft and Matt Bargen ran for school board as incumbents and were reelected. Krista Tatro also ran for the position for the first time and was elected. She will fill Jensen’s position.

School will be different second semester in Superior. Members of the board of education voted unanimously to provided a lockable pouch (YONDR bags) for all middle and secondary school students for their electronic gear: cell phones, watches and earbuds. The pouches will be locked during school hours, but will stay with each student. The district expects to expend $5,775 to implement the program.

Simply banning all student cell phones from school property would have been cheaper. However, the pouches have several advantages: cell phones monitor medicine for diabetic students; students taking college classes will be able to work with their on site instructor, unlock their pouches and use their cell phones to complete required tasks; and students walking or driving to and from school will immediately be able to access their phones before and after school to communicate as needed with family members, which was considered by board members as enhancing safety.

This month board members will be reviewing sample policies related to cell phones with the expectation of having policies in place for second semester.

Supt. Kobza said, “Lots of the students are OK with the proposal and I think some will even be relieved.”

The district has been warned that the first six to eight weeks will be rough as some people (both adults and youth) are addicted to cell phone use and there will be a period of withdrawal.

Another change approved by members of the board of education is far more expensive. A $1,611,440 bid from Farris Construction was accepted to secure the front entrance to the high school, renovate public restrooms near the entrance, provide a permanent concession stand, move and add administrative offices, provide a conference room, mother’s room (now required by law), a staff restroom, etc. Expected completion date is Sept. 30, 2023.

The project was introduced three years ago. It was delayed after determining that the school roof repair must take priority. Later it was further delayed after no contractors would bid the project because of labor shortages.

Prior to the vote, Supt. Kobza, reviewed current fund balances and projected revenue. The district has $2,225,266 available for the project from the special building fund, the depreciation fund. However, using the money will greatly deplete those funds.

In response, Matt Sullivan president, said, “As a member of the finance committee and the building and grounds committee, I think we should proceed with the project, but I want the whole board to understand the finances.”

In addition he said, “Obviously, we will deplete the funds from where they are at now. The project is lots higher than it was three years ago.”

The board also accepted the certified resignation of Timber Huynh, middle school reading instructor and high school English teacher and offered a certified contract to Miranda Trowbridge to teach English. Trowbridge will be a December graduate from Wayne State. She comes from a family of teachers and is a North Bend High School graduate. She has a background in theater, speech and drama.

Funding the early retirement incentive was approved. However, Supt. Kobza did not expect to have any applicants this year.

November expenditures from the general fund in the amount of $608,662.50 were approved.

By consensus, no action was taken on the superintendent’s contract. Matt Sullivan, board president had talked with legal council and suggested no action since the current contract is a two year contract and does not expire until next year.

Several present made presentations. Drew Harris, ESU 9 administrator, and Joe Haney, ESU 9 special education services director, discussed the ESU 9 services. Harris said, “Some think we can charge whatever we wish. However, the billing is regulated by the Nebraska Department of Education and we can only charge for the actual cost of qualified personnel with an addition of a small administrative fee.”

Scott Boyles, an ESU 9 board member was also present.

Rayne Biltoft present the student activities report. She is a member of the Superior Student Council.

Bob Cook, middle and senior high school principal, complemented the drama department and reviewed their activities. Six cast members were recognized as outstanding actors during district competition: Ashleigh Primus, Haley Belcha, Dereck Kirchhoff, Declan Miller, Lincoln Sander and Parker Littrell.

Winter sports teams practice began in mid-November. There are 22 participating in high school boys basketball, 10 in high school girls basketball, 15 in junior high girls basketball, 15 in bowling (nine boys and six girls) and 14 in junior wrestling (nine from Superior, one girl and four boys from Deshler).

Jodi Fierstein, elementary principal, reviewed activities surrounding “World Kindness Day” and a Wildcat Prides activity.

The family fun night planned for last week was rescheduled to the coming Monday (Dec. 19) because of weather. There will not be a winter concert this year. The Fun Night Carnival and Scholastic Book Fair is a two hour family activity.

Several board members reported on sessions they attended at a state school board convention.

The meeting adjourned shortly before 9 p.m..