School board to vote on graduation date 2016

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Board of Education will be asked to approve two resignations and set a graduation date for next year, at its regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the Junior High conference room.

Resignations come from Kimberly Heimann, teacher at McCook Central Elementary for three years and Jeffrey Ellis, physical education teacher. Heimann said in her resignation letter that her resignation would be effective at the end of this school year. Ellis said in his resignation letter that he is anticipating an approved contract from another school district and his resignation would be effective as of May 20.

Also Monday night, the board will be asked to approve a date for graduation ceremonies next year. For the past two months, the board has been discussing moving the ceremonies from Sunday to Saturday. The proposed move was precipitated by board members concerned that underclassmen attending as guests at Senior Celebration (held on graduation night and a night-long event) were having trouble attending school the following day on Monday. Other considerations included allowing travel time for visiting family and friends coming to receptions and graduation.

Additional items the board will be asked to approve Monday night include:

* a teaching contract for Stephanie Storrs of McCook, for McCook elementary.

* the McCook High School band trip to Disneyland in 2016; band instructor, Donita Priebe, will give the board details about this trip earlier in the meeting.

* a $357 donation from the Optimist Club for WIN curriculum. The "What I Need Now" period at the high school is a 25-minute extension of fifth period before lunch. Seniors and juniors with A's and B's with no detention or behavior problems are allowed to leave for a longer lunch. Those who are not passing or struggling with a subject stay and get extra help. Sophomores and freshmen stay the entire period and learn study skills, with the Optimist donation providing new curriculum for this.

The board will also acknowledge the Optimist Club for sponsoring the barbecue on May 6 at Weiland Field prior to graduation practice and the Hometown Competitiveness Youth Task Force for providing seniors with hometown mail boxes.

Earlier in the meeting, Superintendent Grand Norgaard and Central Elementary principal Kate Repass will update the board on the external team visit in February, when administrators from other school districts visited the McCook School District.

Making a presentation to the board will be McCook Junior High student, Arianna Van Pelt, who competed in the state History Day competition and has qualified for the national competition this summer.