School board elects officers, adds two members

McCOOK, Neb. —The president, vice president and secretary all retained their offices on the McCook Board of Education meeting Monday night, after newly elected and re-elected board members were sworn-in.

The only nomination for president came from board member Teresa Thomas, who nominated the current president, Brad Hays. Hays accepted the nomination and with no other nominations, retained the office.

Tom Bredvick nominated Thomas for vice president and with no other nominations, she retained the position. Mike Langan retained the office as secretary upon a nomination by Bredvick with no other nominations. The board re-elected McCook Schools business manager Jeff Gross as treasurer and recording secretary.

Prior to board elections, Scott Barger and Charlie McPherson, elected in the November election, took the oath of office, along with re-elected board member, Mike Langan. Hays asked that new board members email him with preferences for committee appointments. The school board has several committees that consist of two or three board members and administration that meet outside of school board meetings, such as the negotiation committee, facilities, American civics, finance and policy.

The board unanimously accepted the resignation of Kay Meysenburg, a chemistry teacher at the high school, effective at the end of this school year. In her resignation letter, Meysenburg said she has accepted a teaching position at the Wilbur-Clatonia Public Schools, which is closer to family.

Superintendent Grant Norgaard said Meysenburg led several extra-curricular activities, such as Destination Imagination and did a great job connecting with students.

Filling that position is going to be tough, he added. McCook High School principal Craig Dickes said the science staff could be shuffled to accommodate the open position if needed. Norgaard said they have some leeway but prefer someone who is endorsed in that subject.

Earlier in the meeting, Norgaard said teams of administrators will be attending staffing and recruitment fairs. By this time of the year, many college seniors are already committed to schools so administrators also focus on underclassmen as possible student teachers, he said.

The board also accepted with gratitude several donations, including $34,500 from the McCook Community Foundation Fund, with $3,000 earmarked for Bison Days, $9,500 to Bison Kids Club and $22,000 toward a CNC router, computer-controlled cutting machine. MPS business manager Jeff Gross said MCFF had asked the school system to think of unique ways to impact students and MPS industrial arts teachers researched the possibility of CNC routers. MHS principal Craig Dickes said the router would give industrial art students the latest technology being used in the field.

Other donations the board accepted were $6,928.87 from the Albert R. Cuellar estate, to be used for academic programs at the McCook Junior High and $5,000 from the Graff Charitable Foundation Inc., to the MHS boys and girls tennis program.

As a private, charitable foundation, the bylaws of the Graff Charitable Foundation Inc. restricts donations to organizations that are tax-exempt or a governmental entity. McCook Public School is considered a governmental entity.

Board member Tom Bredvick noted that the donations and administrators of the donations come from several MHS alumni and in “Positive Comments” at the end of Monday’s meeting, said the donations are an example of the great partnership the school system has with the community.