Teachers adjusting to math changes

McCOOK, Neb. — The Nebraska Department of Education approved changes to math standards and teachers at McCook Public Schools will have extra time to analyze those changes.

Math teachers will have a half-day to work collaboratively on making changes to the curriculum to match any potential gaps, said Superintendent Grant Norgaard at the regular McCook School Board meeting Monday night.

Norgaard updated the board on several district items, including:

- A result of the teacher shortage, fall career fairs are a new phenomenon and the McCook School District administration will take advantage of that. Four McCook School principals will attend a career fair in Kearney in an effort to build relationships with soon-to-be-graduating teachers and perhaps recruit some student teachers.

-Four million dollars has been allocated to the Nebraska Department of Labor from The American Rescue Plan Act 2021 Teacher Recruitment and Retention grant. Grants range from $2,500 to $1,250, with the amount based on when a qualifying teacher is hired by the district. They can be awarded to educators in the areas of mathematics, science and career and technical education and to childcare and early childhood providers. The district can apply on behalf of a teacher, Norgaard said. However, as the grant comes in the form as an income/salary, Norgaard said he wants to discuss it with the McCook Education Association (MEA), the local chapter of the state’s teachers union, to see if the award money would impact teacher’s salaries the school district annually negotiates with the MEA.

During Board comments, board member Dennis Berry said McCook Public Schools is fortunate with smaller class size and thereby a lower teacher-student ratio, compared to other parts of the state. He noted that in Omaha Public Schools, class sizes are up to 29 students in elementary grades, 30 for middle school and 35 students at high schools.

Also at Monday night’s meeting, Samantha Rodewald was sworn in as the non-voting student council representative on the board. Rodewald participates in FFA, band, cross country and track and plans to study wildlife management with a minor in biology when she graduates.