Teachers excited for new science resources at Holyoke School District

On behalf of the Science Resource Committe, four local teachers presented information on new science materials at the regular meeting of the Holyoke School District Board of Education on Tuesday, May 3.

The committee has spent months researching resources that would be good purchases for K-12 science classes and that would come alongside the curriculum that is aligned to state standards.

“There are so many jobs around here that revolve around science,” said board president Dusty Sprague. “It’s important to us that you believe in what you’re using.”

Kerri Bliss presented on the materials for kindergarten through second grade, noting that they will be very engaging and hands-on lessons.

Carly Daniel and Joann Goss shared their findings about resources for upper elementary students. This age group will be focused on phenomenon-led activies that are investigation-centered, which allow the students to solve questions on their own.

Goss emphasized that a Spanish version of the materials has been very valuable

to her and her students. Science is a good starting point for some kids that are left out in other areas, she said. Another valuable asset has been a science cart that has portable resources for classrooms.

Amanda Brown thanked the board and administration for the wonderful science facilities at the school and said it’s very attractive for new science teachers.

She said that in regard to the new resources for the junior high and high school students, she’s excited about the pre-packaged lab kits that will allow them to do hands-on learning.

Playground equipment coming

Elementary Principal Andrea Kammer told the board that the playground equipment that was expected to arrive July 22 is now scheduled for Aug. 5. Although that is pushing close to the start of school, she said staff members are willing to make adjustments to recess if the timeline gets delayed again.

Kammer said that one of the students’ favorite twisty slides recently cracked and is now blocked off, so it’s good that plans were already in place to refurbish the playground with some new slides, landings and activity boards.

“This will allow for our children to use the playground for several years to come,” she said.

JR/SR high Principal Angela Powell also gave an update on ideas for a donor wall in the commons area. The 3D modeling class and graphic design class have been collaborating to design a dragon head with tiles that can be engraved with donors’ names.

Depending on the design that is chosen, it would have space for 300-600 donors.

Powell said that they would like to buy a laser cutter that can be used for not only this project but many different projects at the school.

She said she hopes the donor wall can be assembled sometime in the fall.

School looks for creative ways to recruit, retain staff

During a discussion on budget parameters, board members keyed in on the need to get creative when recruiting and retaining staff members.

Powell said that while searching for applicants to fill a couple of open positions at the JR/SR high, the small number of people who were willing to consider the job was concerning to her.

She said that last year Holyoke’s attractive four-day school week was a help in recruitment, but now that more and more area schools are also switching to four-day weeks, it’s not having the same effect. Higher gas prices for those who might want to commute are also not helping.

One open position is for a science teacher, and Powell said that if she doesn’t find someone soon, they may have to search for an applicant overseas or use a virtual teaching option.

Kammer echoed some of those thoughts in her search for staff members at the elementary school, noting that positions that usually have a high number of applicants do not have that this year.

The principals reminded the board that there are a few alternative routes to teaching licenses for interested applicants who may not have a background in education.

An investment in training someone local could pay off in the long run, said Superintendent Kyle Stumpf.

The board gave the administration permission to start interviewing applicants for the new positions of dean of students at both schools and an additional counselor at the JR/SR high. These positions will be built into the preliminary budget, and there are some grants that could possibly help with the financial side of things.

However, it is not a requirement that the district fills these new positions. “If there’s not a right person for this job, I have no intention of hiring,” said Powell.

“I think quality is key,” said board member Jessica Koch.

Also at the May 3 meeting, the board approved the hiring of Jessica French as a JR/SR high social studies teacher, Bailey Chintala as a first grade long-term substitute and Aydaly Juarez as an elementary secretary for the 2022-23 school year.

Homegrown Talent Initiative hosts visitors

As part of the Homegrown Talent Initiative, the school district held a site tour for about 25 people on April 12. They not only got to see the schools and visit with students but also got a tour of the town.

One of the most enlightening stops was the John Deere implement business, where all but one of the participants said they had never been around equipment like that. They were encouraged at the variety of jobs that could be attractive to young people at a business like that.

Board member Summer Maloney said the site tour was a chance to see how far the HTI program has come while also giving the school a bigger vision for the future.

Participants gave positive comments about how students were excited to be at school, how the academic opportunity center showed students how much staff members cared and how great it is that Holyoke is offering multiple pathways to graduation.

“It helped us get reenergized to get positive comments from peers,” said Stumpf.

Other business

At the May 3 meeting, the board:

— Approved second reading of Colorado Association of School Boards policies presented April 5, including criminal history record information, and support staff vacations and holidays.

— Changed the board meeting time Tuesday, May 17, to 6 p.m. due to a choir concert.

— Acknoweldged donations for the Kristie’s Kids Backpack Program, in honor of the late Kristie Pelle, a teacher at Holyoke Elementary School. Food is sent home with students over the weekends, which is a good and needed thing in the school district, said Powell.

— Discussed capital projects at the district-owned superintendent’s house, including a kitchen remodel and a new roof.

— Noted that the district has a written waiver from Colorado High School Activities Association to conduct wrestling practices with other school districts due to the small numbers in the Dragon wrestling program.