Teachers working on new math curriculum

McCOOK, Neb. — The process of selecting a new math curriculum is underway at the McCook Public School District.

The McCook School Board will be asked to approve new materials for the curriculum, such as textbooks and online resources, sometime in the spring, said MPS Superintendent Grant Norgaard at the regular school board meeting Monday night.

Teachers in the school district design curriculum for each subject every five to seven years. The 2021-22 curriculum adoption will focus on mathematics. In 2022-23, new standards will be adopted in science and in 2023-24, in reading.

Joel Bednar, curriculum director and Central Elementary principal, is already working with teacher committees, looking at math textbooks and comparing them to actual curriculum, Norgaard said.

In other business, MPS business manager Jeff Gross updated the board on recent or upcoming improvements in the school district, including:

- He and Norgaard and maintenance staff have been assessing the condition of concrete sidewalks, curbs and gutters at all the schools in the district. At some point, a plan of action will be finalized for repairing or new construction.

-a new asphalt plant in Culbertson may cut the costs of parking lot upgrades and overlays. Work has begun on specs for these projects and actual work on the parking lots will begin in summer.

-A request for proposals has been published for a new route bus. Because of a lack of materials and personnel, companies have been building new buses once they get an order.

-Upcoming projects including resurfacing the track and the internal phone system. A request for proposals for a food services contract will be done in the late fall/winter. Food services contracts are federally required to be bid out every five years.

Positive comments at the end of Monday’s meeting included:

-Tucker Gillespie, student representative: The FFA labor auction is Dec. 7. He is also peer- mentoring a fourth-grader as part of the TeamMates Mentoring program.

-Board vice president Brad Hays: congratulated the boys' tennis team who were the GNAC champions. Also recognized was Tucker Gillespie, who was chosen by the Nebraska School Activities Association as one of only 48 students for “Believers and Achievers,” a program that rewards high school students in Nebraska for their excellence in academics and participation in NSAA activities.

-Board member Dennis Berry: thanked the administrative staff for the recent programs for students about social media dangers and human trafficking. He also noted the FBLA members picking up litter on the highway Saturday morning.

-Board member Teresa Thomas: Noted that the McCook School District has athletic trainers for students in sports. The athletic trainer at McCook Schools is from Community Hospital.

-Board member Mike Langan: Cited the board’s “due diligence” in their discussions on selecting an architect firm for the junior high remodeling project.

-Board member Loretta Hauxwell: thanked those who officiate at student athletic activities and noted that sports officials are declining.

-Board president Tom Bredvick: recently spoke with a new family who said after moving from a smaller district, their children felt very welcomed at McCook Public Schools.

-Business manager Jeff Gross: thanked all those who volunteered at the school district in various capacities, whether by taking tickets, keeping score, or other activities that need volunteers. “We couldn’t do it without them,” he said. He said there has been some difficulty in getting judges for speech and FFA competitions.

-Superintendent Norgaard: Cited the dedication of teachers who come in early in the morning, stay late after school or come in over the weekend. In particular, he noted the school improvement committee meeting that meets once a month and consists of teachers, a school board member and an administrator.