Two of five days lost to winter weather in USD 257 have been rescheduled and two of the remaining three might be forgiven.
Board members voted Monday evening to have classes on a second scheduled snow day, May 19. In February, they added a day of classes on April 22, the other snow day.
A third day could be made up on May 20, a Friday that was to have been a teacher work day at the tail end of the semester, said Dr. Craig Neuenswander.
A decision won’t be made until David Grover, high school principal, can assure that seniors, to be dismissed on May 13, will have sufficient class time to graduate.
Neuenswander issued a cautionary note: “This still is February and while the weather is supposed to be nice for several days, we still could get winter weather.”
“I’ve never had to call off school two days in a row — three the first week of February — much less five in one year,” he said of his 12 years as USD 257 superintendent.
An aside was problems with diesel fuel in four buses gelling when the temperature dropped to 24 degrees below zero early Thursday morning. Some buses were dispatched twice that morning. All students were in class by 8:30.
An additive to prevent the solidification will be added to fuel when extreme cold is forecast, said Scott Stanley, maintenance and transportation director.
PRIOR TO the business portion of their meeting, board members toured the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
Susan Raines, executive director, and Jeff Jordan, technical director, led them through classrooms, performance areas and into the bowels of the center to see boilers and other mechanical support systems.
On the auditorium stage, Jordan explained how with a series of ropes and pulleys he can control curtains, drop scenery and lighting, almost with a feather touch.
Raines pointed out original art work created by students over the past 40 years lining hallways outside her office and near the Creitz Recital Hall.
Board members learned that all floors in the Bowlus Center are concrete except that in the band room.
“Mr. (Dale) Creitz wanted a wood floor,” Jordan said. Creitz was band director for many years and is remembered for his successes with Iola High marching bands and stage orchestras.
Raines observed that many of the improvements made to the Bowlus Center in recent years, including such things as reupholstering all of the seats in the auditorium, have occurred at the financial behest of the Friends of the Bowlus.
“They’ve raised money to make over $700,000 in improvements,” Raines said.
“Sunday I gave Roy Rogers Jr. and his band information about the Bowlus,” she said. “They were amazed what the people of the community have been able to do to raise money and that we have been able to attract the performers we have.”
BOARD MEMBERS accepted a bid of $13,683.90 from Government Connection, the lower of two by $3,000, to purchase 50 desktop computers and 22 19-inch monitors for McKinley Elementary School. Fewer monitors were required because several in use will be retained. Federal funds will foot the bill.
The additional computers will bring McKinley up to speed with other schools in the district.
BRIAN CORDEL, assistant superintendent at Nickerson, has withdrawn as a superintendent candidate.
He cited “… recent developments with my current job and some family issues” in an e-mail received here Sunday, two days after he visited the district.
Board members met in executive session for an hour to discuss non-elected personnel, but did not mention superintendent candidates afterward. Those being considered are David Grover, Iola High principal, Brian Biermann, middle school principal at Louisburg, and Brian Petarek, Clifton-Clyde superintendent.
Board members have given no indication when they will make a decision.
