Chas Lengfelder fills school board vacancy

    Chas Lengfelder is a new member of the Holyoke School District Re-1J Board of Education, filling the vacancy that occurred with the recent resignation of Dennis Herman.
    Lengfelder will serve until the next board election, which will be November of 2019.
    Lengfelder and Jerad Kingman responded to the board’s request for interested applicants, and both were interviewed at a work session just prior to the June 5 board meeting.
    Board president Pat Wiebers acknowledged to both applicants that their written responses to the application questions evidenced their deep-rooted passion for providing meaningful educational experiences for students.
    Kingman was encouraged to remain active in the district through work on a shared leadership committee or through any other means available.
    Lengfelder took the oath of office as a board member, as administered by Wiebers during the regular meeting.
    Employed by United Parcel Service, Lengfelder noted that he’s worked in the community for eight years and has lived here just over a year.
    As a parent of kids ages 23 and 17, he has been involved in activities at St. Anthony’s in Sterling and at Fleming. Now, with stepchildren ages 11, 8 and 6, Lengfelder looks forward to being involved in Holyoke.
    “My main goal is to deepen roots in this community,” he said in his Tuesday evening interview. He said that being new to the community perhaps gives a different perspective that could be beneficial for objectivity.
    He referenced that he’s a hard worker and loyal, and he looks forward to being involved as a member of the school board.
    
3 teachers hired; board says farewell to Ortner
    At last week’s board meeting, Sarah Miller Bergner was hired as a sixth-grade teacher, Danyell Coons as the JR/SR high physical education teacher and Adam Cottam as the 5-12 band teacher for the 2018-19 school year.
    Bergner has nine years teaching experience as a fifth/sixth-grade writing teacher at St. Angela School in Chicago, Illinois.
    She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in political science/peace studies and a master’s in elementary education from Northwest University.
    Bergner holds a K-9 teaching license for the state of Illinois and also a K-9 elementary teacher license and a 6-12 history teacher license for the state of Colorado.
    Coons earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports administration/advertising from the University of Nebraska, Kearney, where she also participated in track and field throwing events.
    She completed the alternative licensure program through Northeast BOCES and has taught K-4 physical education in Wray since November of 2016. Additionally, she coached throwing events for Wray middle and high schools and taught a ninth-grade boys weightlifting class.
    Coons will be placed on the salary schedule at B.A., step three.
    Cottam has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from Pacific University in Oregon and a master’s in music education from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
    He has taught this past year in Florence as an assistant director of bands in the Fremont School District at both Florence and Fremont high schools. He will be placed on the salary schedule at M.A., step two.
    Acknowledging the retirement of JR/SR high principal Susan Ortner, Wiebers paid tribute to her years of shaping the minds of students.
    “Thank you for your years of unending loyalty and dedication to our students and your endurance over the years as new and improved best practices were introduced and reinvented, as pay scales and benefit packages fluctuated greatly, and students and teachers alike experienced ever-increasing expectations for excellence,” Wiebers said to Ortner.
    With Tuesday’s board meeting being Ortner’s last official duty as principal, Superintendent John McCleary cited that she landed a band teacher at the final hour, so she is going out on a high note! Cottam accepted the position at 3:37 that afternoon, confirmed Ortner.
    
Football coaches hired
    Further additions to the 2018-19 extra-duty assignments were made in the area of football coaching at last week’s board meeting.
    Stipends were approved at $3,102 for head HS coach, $1,861 for assistant high school, $1,825 for head JH and $1,241 for assistant JH, as well as $3,102 for strength coach for the district.
    Assignments include Bryan Beckner, strength coach, as well as Dusty Sprague, head HS football; Nic Balog and Russ Sprague, assistant HS; Gary Sperber, HS volunteer assistant; John Baumgartner, head JH; and Sam Distefano, assistant JH.
    
Random drug testing report given for second semester
    McCleary and Ortner gave a second-semester summary report for the random drug testing for students in extra-curricular activities.
    McCleary said policies and procedures were followed for the semester. A total of 237 students were enrolled in RDT as of May 21.
    A total of 104 tests were given during the semester, with 79 students tested once, nine students tested twice, five dilutes retested and two parent requests made. The report indicated there was one positive test for THC (marijuana) reported during the semester.
    McCleary said he believes RDT is a very effective program and one that needs to continue. “I don’t necessarily believe that it keeps kids from exploring or trying drugs, but it is a strong motivator for students to say 'no,' especially when it comes down to school-related activities and events.”
    
Other business
    In other business at the June 5 meeting, the board:
    — Accepted the resignation for JR/SR high English teacher Amber Schroetlin, effective immediately.
    — Reviewed thorough attendance, discipline and activity data as presented by principals Ortner and Kyle Stumpf.
    — Approved Lauer, Szabo & Associates to conduct the district’s 2017-18 audit.
    — Heard from McCleary about alternatives being explored as a result of significant increases proposed in health insurance costs. This was the only subject discussed with regard to the preliminary budget.
    — Noted a spring sports summary prepared by athletic director Sandra Rahe.