The dream of a career and technical education center for area students took on real life Monday night when it was announced Ray Maloney, LaHarpe businessman, purchased the former Diebolt Lumber & Supply and donated two of the buildings for the purpose of a tech ed program.
“He has offered us the largest of the buildings and the former showroom office building,” Jack Koehn, USD 257 superintendent of schools, told board members at their meeting Monday night.
The large complex is a mile south of U.S. 54, almost dead center of Allen County.
“We were wondering what our next step would be because we didn’t have a site for such a program. By golly, we have a place now,” said a very enthused chief.
“I’d like to take the opportunity to publicly thank Mr. Maloney for his generous gift,” said Koehn. “We’re very excited about what opportunities this means for area students.”
Classes offered could include welding, building trades, masonry, electrical, HVAC and cosmetology.
“It’s enough to get them certification in a specific field,” Stacey Fager, vocational-educational director, as well as principal of Iola High School, said of the proposed program.
“We’ve learned that about 30 percent of students from this area go on to college, so what are we doing for the other 70 percent,” Fager asked rhetorically. “This kind of program provides these students good-paying skills the minute they graduate from high school.”
Planning “has been conceptual up until now,” Fager said. “Now it’s got legs.”
So far, school administrators in Iola, Moran, and Uniontown have expressed strong interest in the program. Instructors from area community colleges would teach the classes, free to high school students. Fort Scott Community College, which is engaged in a similar program in Pittsburg, has expressed interest in this program as well, Koehn said. And representatives from Allen Community College and Neosho County Community College have attended informational meetings.
Funding comes from a measure commonly referred to as Senate Bill 155.
ANOTHER GIFT came the board members’ way with the announcement of a new scoreboard for the football field courtesy of Iolan Mitch Sigg.
Sigg gave the district $11,035 for the purchase of the scoreboard.
Board members approved another $700 toward the scoreboard so a sign can be affixed to recognize sponsors.
The current scoreboard is “20-plus years old, and very difficult to get parts for,” said Scott Stanley, director of operations.
“We thank Mr. Sigg from the bottom of our hearts,” for the gift, said Tony Leavitt, school board president.
THE FIRE alarm system at Lincoln Elementary is in need of updating, Stanley said.
While functional, the system is to the point it cannot be repaired if it malfunctions, he said.
“If tested, we may not be able to shut it off,” Stanley said.
Board members approved $11,654.04 to purchase a custom-made panel that can be adapted to the current system.
“We can merge the old system with the new for economy’s sake,” Stanley said.
“That’s the good news.”
The bad?
The systems at Jefferson and McKinley “are making the same noises,” Stanley said.
“My guess is in three to four months we’ll be having this discussion with Jefferson. Another few months, the same for McKinley.”
If new schools ever come to Iola, Stanley said the alarm system panels could be moved to a new facility.
COACHES for next fall were approved.
At the high school, assisting Doug Kerr in football will be Dana Daugharthy, David Daugharthy, Brad Carson and Cody Hager.
Becky Carlson will join Marvin Smith in cross country.
Assisting Emily Sigg for volleyball will be Emily Hampton and Jeff Fehr.
And Jenn Bycroft was reappointed girls tennis coach.
For middle school sports, Marty Taylor is head football coach with Scott Ellis, Mark Percy and Chris Weide serving as assistant coaches.
Terri Carlin is head coach for 8th grade volleyball assisted by Korenne Grzybowski. Stacey Sprague is head coach for 7th grade volleyball assisted by Ann Pomatto.
For seventh- and eighth-grade girls basketball, Marty Taylor is head coach assisted by Stacey Sprague.
IN OTHER news, board members accepted a separation of employment with Jerry Block as a bus driver. Tony Wagner was hired as a paraprofessional to ride the bus that transports special education students, and David Lero as a substitute bus driver.
