Loyal School Board Discusses Employment Matters

Tuesday, August 30th, 2022 -- 2:01 PM

The Loyal School Board discussed employment matters at their meeting.

The Board accepted the resignation of Terri Roscoe from her Kindergarten teacher position. Terri accepted a position at Stanley-Boyd in their Title I department. They thank Terri for her many years of service to the district and wish her the best in her new position.

The Board approved the hiring of Jenae Weyer as a Four-Year-Old Kindergarten teacher and Rebekah Smith as a Four-Year-Old Kindergarten teacher assistant. They are still currently working on hiring an art teacher, vocal music instructor, and Title I teacher.

If anyone knows of anyone that would be interested in these positions; please have them apply on WECAN or contact the school district directly. This summer has been a very busy time for the District’s Maintenance Department.

For the different projects, the District Library is completed and looks great. For the interior door project, all of the new doors are installed, but they are still installing the new cores for the locks. This should be completed soon.

For uni-vents and air handlers, the air handlers above the area that used to be the elementary library and the FACE room will be delivered in September or October.  The five Uni-vents are not in yet, but they anticipate that they will be delivered in October and will be installed either during Thanksgiving Break or Christmas Break.

Also, nine windows in seven rooms were replaced and they have ordered the revised/updated classrooms signs for new classroom areas and changed rooms. They will install them as soon as they come in.

They have been having problems with the urinals in the middle school boy’s restroom and Suda Plumbing is working on a solution. Also, the Board of Education approved a longevity pay increase of 3.75% and the Volleyball coaching decision was tabled until the special board meeting on Monday.

District Administrator Chris Lidner provided an update on the COVID guidelines the District will be using. The Board approved changes to extra-curricular pay including $841 to $1,577 for Science Olympiad, $1,156 to $2,418 for FFA Advisor, $1,156 to $2,418 for FCCLA Advisor, $1,156 to $1,577 for Spanish Advisor, a $210 stipend for mentoring, $420 for Junior Class Advisor, and $630 for Senior Class Advisor.

The Board also approved a 2.75% pay increase for the administrators. The Board also approved the resolution authorizing the school district budget to exceed the revenue limit for five years for non-recurring purposes.

If approved at the November election this will allow the District to exceed the revenue limit by $1,100,000 for the 2023-24 school year; $1,400,000 for the 2024-25 school year through the 2027-28 school year.

Elementary Principal Nancy Popp reported that the elementary school had Open House. Teachers met with their students and their student’s parents in 20-minute blocks. This time allows the students to bring in their supplies and meet their teachers.

It also gives the parents time to ask questions and share information with the teachers in a private setting. Meeting times are longer for the 4K students and the times are spread out over 3 days. Students could also have their picture taken that day.

They also continued work with building curriculum, assessments, behavior system, and Educator Effectiveness. Principal Popp also offered her thank you to several people including for playground equipment is much appreciated.

Also, she said teachers' rooms/lockers/supplies are ready. Teachers started coming in to do floating days in August and started with Professional Learning earlier.

She thanked the maintenance staff for projects and cleaning that was done; secretary staff for being ready for registration/Open House/beginning of school operation; cafeteria staff serving meals for staff and getting ready for students this week; new staff for attending extra training and getting acclimated to the district; veteran staff for happily planning for a new school year and welcoming in new staff.

Elementary Principal Doug Dieckman reported to the Board that, in the past 30 days, they held an annual meeting for special education and signed an affirmation with St. Anthony’s School.

They’re Currently serving 2 students with Speech/Language services: 1 previously from the Loyal School District and 1 previously from another District. They received Touch Math Curriculum/Intervention and Progress Monitoring tool;

Had their first full day of ARC professional development training on August 11; High School special education has moved classrooms again, back to the room with the kitchenette and washer/dryer for more lifeskills opportunities.

Also, they renewed the SEEDS subscription for IEP development. SEEDS has a new version, along with new updates 504 Plan. They renewed ADAPT subscription for 504 development.

For Title I, they held the annual meeting and signed an affirmation with St. Anthony’s School. They’re currently serving 6 students. Moby Max (math) and Mindplay (reading) have been renewed for the upcoming year with computer based interventions.

For Title III, they sent home Spring ACCESS scores to families, along with letters about programming for the upcoming school year. He also discussed homeless. He shared information with all staff, along with link to training video on what homeless means in a school district.

In the next 30 days, for special education, they must register for Touch Math professional development. They also participated in FastBridge SAEBRS training - Social Emotional progress monitoring - Set for September 30th.

There’s also Ongoing Fastbridge training, ARC professional development on September 2nd, and begin diagnostic assessments on 6-12 students using IRLA. MS/HS will be implementing much more push-in services versus pull-out for all subject areas, but primarily math and English.

Also, it will be vital for General Education Teachers to provide data (formative and summative assessments) at IEP meetings, along with completing a classroom data form provided by the special education teacher, even if they do not attend the IEP meeting.

Goals and Accommodations will go out to the appropriate general education teachers on students with an IEP, from the special education teachers 504 Plan. Accommodations will go out to the appropriate general education teachers on students with a 504 Plan.

For Title I, groups will be formed for services to begin. Letters will be prepared to go to families of students that qualify for services. They also set-up professional development for Sunday SPIRE intervention, ongoing Fastbridge training, and benchmark students at St. Anthony’s.

For Title III, they’ll develop ILPs for each English Language Learner Homeless. They’ll follow-up with staff on video. They’re currently serving 3 families, 2 Attending Loyal, 1 Attending neighboring district.

Some challenges they’ll face include continuing to find new and innovative ways to meet the unique needs of each and every student in the general education setting through a team teaching approach.

Mr. Dieckman also reported to the Board that, in the past 30 days, they had their first ARC training with the ELA/SPED/Title staff; all Fall sports are in full swing; they held MS orientation for our 6th graders; llick off with the staff at Colby was great and the emphasis on PLC;

Student orientation day went well with shortened classes, meetings, and activities; mentorship training; attending a full day PLC workshop; Club/Advisor introduction rodeo; and the Principal Advisory Committee focusing on welcoming new staff into the community and some planning for family night activities. Looking for a couple of board members to join if interested.

In the next 30 days, they need to set meeting times for all clubs and organizations; ARC trainer on site Sep. 2; develop the PLC schedule for the school year; update all GIT groups; meeting schedule for new teachers; update all shared calendars and staff shared drive;

Classwize initial training; planning for Sep. 30 PL day; CESA support for google classroom and the new recording program; finalize all student schedule changes…first 5 days; Junior class education fair trip on Sep. 21;

Begin intervention schedule with students at risk; identify students for SLA (Student Leadership Academy); and MS behavior expectation training-will do during GIT with each grade once per week.

For challenge, the Board heard about the Louis Cruz presentation that the staff members attended on Wednesday, August 17 and the welcome back event at the Loyal Sportsmen’s Club.

They are continuing their efforts to find choral, art, and Title I teachers. A big thank you goes out to all of the staff members for getting everything ready for our students. It is great to see staff and students back in the building.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.