Hadeen & Molde make presentation to Haxtun BOE

The Haxtun Board of Education October meeting opened with a report on the local chapter of Future Business Leaders of America from students Kelsie Hadeen and Aly Molde. The two gave details on membership as well as a recap of experiences at the National FBLA convention in Atlanta, Ga. over the summer.

Hadeen and Molde told board members that Haxtun FBLA currently has 66 members; an increase in three from last year. Of those 66, 10 are new freshmen and eight are first-time members in grades 10-12. Twelve of the members are chapter officers, two are district officers and several are interested in running for a State office this year.

In Atlanta, National qualifiers competed in Partnership with a Business, American Enterprise Project, Intro to Business Presentation, E-Business, Capstone Completer/Past State Officer, Spreadsheet Applications and Digital Animation. A total of 16 members attended the National Conference with Advisor McCall Etl at the end of June.

Of those competing at Nationals, five of the groups presented, one competed in a test and another competed in an open event. The group as a whole watched finals in Intro to Business Presentation, American Enterprise and E-Business to prepare for the coming year. In addition, the FBLA members participated in a number of networking opportunities including a National FBLA block party at Olympic Park, pin trading and visited the Georgia Aquarium.

The two students said the trip provided a number of real-world experiences such as using public transportation and traveling by plane, subway and bus, navigating a city and learning to be safe, interacting with a different culture and financial education.

While in Atlanta, FBLA members also visited the local zoo, the Collegiate Football Hall of Fame, World of Coca-Cola, Ponce City Market and took in a Braves game.

Administration reports followed Hadeen and Molde’s FBLA presentation on Monday night, Oct. 16. To kick off her Superintendent’s report, Marsha Cody thanked a lengthy list of staff members including bus drivers Tom Davis, Dave Shafer, Dave Gibson, Debbie Myers, Don Myers, Jeff Plumb, Don Schelling, Rod Workman, Stacy Wagoner and Darwin Jeffers.

“Our bus drivers get up very early and are reliable and dependable,” she said. The recognition comes the same week as Bus Safety Week, which also means drivers plan to perform evacuation drills as part of their training.

Cody also thanked Debbie Myers for her work on the audit, Schelling for his efforts with the campus grounds and Michelle Henry for her work on the October count and overseeing substitute teachers. Other district employees Cody recognized for efforts in their respective areas include Colleen Lockwood, Becky Heinz, Amanda Ridlen, all substitute teachers and Sharon Crist.

Later, in action items, board members:

• Approved adding Kyle Fryrear as a substitute teacher;

• Approved Sharon Crist’s resignation as elementary music effective at the end of October. Earlier in the meeting Cody thanked Crist for the many ways she has served students in the Haxtun School District;

• Approved McCall Etl’s resignation as assistant volleyball coach effective at the end of the 2023 season.