Haxtun Schools works to fill gaps; accepts art teacher's resignation effective Dec. 30

In one of two final meetings of the 2022 year Haxtun Board of Education members approved a number of substitute teachers and janitors to help fill in the gaps of staffing needs. Additionally, board members approved the resignation of art teacher Sara Martinez and approved motions regarding a new 13-month CD, a bond payment and several policy revisions.

The Nov. 15 meeting opened in the high school meeting room with reports from administration including principals Dustin Seger and Becky Heinz as well as Superintendent Marsha Cody. Heinz said elementary staff members have been working on strategic plan goals, specifically those concerning reading and spelling and the use of the Science of Reading curriculum. A second priority focus includes tier two interventions for students in their classrooms.

Heinz added that elementary teachers are currently in phase two of piloting a dyslexia program. She said phase two involves reviewing progress monitoring, completing benchmark testing with students and having parents complete a questionnaire. She said the pilot team recently completed some professional development to help identify needs.

To finish up her report, the elementary principial said certain staff members have also attended professional development with BOCES on Autism 101 and a STAR autism trainer recently spent the day in Haxtun’s significant support needs room. “She provided us with some valuable coaching and training to help with this process,” Heinz said.

Secondary Principal Seger reported work on in-service and staff meetings. He said his focus has been on engagement strategies with walkthroughs of classrooms, grading, homework, showing grace to students and RANDA. Seger is also spending time and effort in developing homegrown talent information. Takeaways, he said, have included information for Ogallala Commons, E-fair and the commonwealth academy and re-focus of homeroom and schedule changes.

One change in schedules, Seger said, will come second semester when the junior high and high school will move to the same bell schedule. Changes will be made to the junior high and high school lunch hours to form a cohesive bell schedule to allow teachers the same class periods for instruction time in both junior high and high school. The change means junior high and high school students will eat lunch in the lunchroom at the same time.

In her Superintendent’s report, Cody reviewed a final draft of an evaluation tool for her position that will be used for the 2022-23 school year. This evaluation will be conducted on an annual basis to coincide with the Board of Education’s decision to renew, extend or non-renew a superintendent’s employment contract. Each board member is expected to complete the document and later the Board will gather to create a final single document to be shared with the superintendent at the time of the annual performance review.

Cody also reviewed a janitorial schedule for those who are filling in both in part-time and substitute roles as janitors. Later in the meeting, board members approved adding Patrick Martinez, Christie Toops and Noah Toops as janitors. The three help with cleaning duties on nights and weekends primarily in the elementary and junior high buildings.

While discussing finances, Cody gave an update on the recent October count. This year, she said, Haxtun Schools had a total of 307 students with an average of 310.6. That number is down 1.7 from the year before, she said.

Cody also reviewed information on the community/parent survey link recently sent out. The survey asks parents and community members, as well as staff, their thoughts on the four-day school week, the calendar, what the survey taker wishes to see in Haxtun High School graduates and information about the proposed policy regarding random drug testing. As of last week, Cody said the District has received just under 80 parent/community responses to the survey.

The survey will be open for the remainder of the first semester, which ends mid-December. Cody said at that point, information will be complied and presented to the BOE later in January. To take the survey visit the link https://forms.gle/grd4FXjh5CvPpTfBA.

Later, in action items, board members approved the resignation of Art Teacher Sara Martinez, effective Dec. 30. The District is currently seeking a kindergarten through 12th grade art teacher.

“It has been a pleasure working for you over the past seven years,” Martinez said in her resignation letter. “I always said I had the best job in the world. I never dreamed this day would come that I would want to hang up my paint brush and leave the students. I am thankful for the amazing opportunities you have given me during my employment at Haxtun School.”

In other business the BOE:

• Approved Lynda Firme, Jayden Stieb, Meghan Cody and Taylor Schram as substitute teachers;

• Approved cashing in CD 6575 and to place the money in a new 13-month CD at Points West Community Bank with three percent interest rate;

• Approved the bond payment of $203,874.57;

• Approved policy and policy revisions regarding student absences and excuses, graduation requirements, staff dress code, staff ethics conflict of interest and district choice open enrollment.