Eight to vie for three open seats on GC School Board
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GLENWOOD CITY — While some governmental bodies are struggling to find individuals to serve on their elected boards, that does not seem to be an issue for the Glenwood City School Board.
Interest to serve on the Glenwood City School District’s Board of Education appears to be high as eight individuals filed candidacy papers by the January 4 deadline for the three open seats that are up for election this spring.
Current incumbents Steve Davis and Sally Standaert are being challenged by Chuckie DeSmith, Amy Dopkins, Cindy Drury, Carrie Klatt, Nicole Miller and Nate Simmons.
Current board clerk Lori Klinger, whose seat is also up for election, chose not to run and filed non-candidacy paperwork before the deadline. Klinger has served on the Glenwood City School Board for the past 18 years.
Because there are more than double the candidates for the three open seats, a primary will be held Tuesday, February 15 with the top six vote getters advancing to the April 5 general election.
At this past Monday evening’s, January 10, regular session of the board of education, lots were drawn to determine the order of names on February’s primary ballot. Carrie Klatt’s name was the first to be pulled from the basket followed, in order, by Cindy Drury, Amy Dopkins, Nate Simmons, Nicole Miller, Steve Davis, Sally Standaert and finally Chuckie DeSmith.
Current board members Jodi Main and Lisa Kaiser were selected to serve as canvassers to assist executive secretary Christa Edin with verifying the municipal ballot counts following the primary.
The board also discussed several other items during its first meeting of the new year and heard administrative reports and a staff presentation from the math department.
High school and middle school math educators Sue Blackmore, Rebecca Lamb and Matthew Schutz gave a departmental presentation to the board in which each gave an overall view of what they teach along with the methods and teaching aides and technologies employed to enhance student learning.
During administrative reports Dr. Robert Vanderloop, Director of Pupil Services and Special Education, told members that the district was working on updates to the district’s Trauma Sensitive Schools, Safety and Goals policy. He also said that the district is coordinating with local law enforcement to conduct an ALICE drill which helps students and staff learn what to do while waiting for the police to respond in the event of an active shooter incident. ALICE stands for: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate.
Elementary principal Betsy Haltinner spoke about the variety of family engagement activities that have been held and are currently being planned. She also updated the board on the ongoing professional development opportunities for staff members.
In his report to the board, superintendent Tim Johnson said the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had recently released new COVID protocols and guidelines. Johnson said that those that tested positive for COVID or were a close contact of someone that tested positive would still have to isolate for ten days but could return to school after five days if they were symptom-free (without a fever) but would still be required to mask until the ten-day period had lapsed.
Johnson noted that the school district has been fortunate so far this school year as COVID numbers have been manageable but said there has been an up tick in positive cases and/or close contacts within the past week.
Under its consent agenda, the board accepted and approved the retirement requests of three long-time educators. Choral director and music teacher Angela Hierlmeier, physical education, health and drivers education teacher Gordy Hierlmeier and art teacher Mary Jones will call it a career at the end of this current school year.
Superintendent Johnson personally thanked the three educators, who have collectively taught for more than 75 years, for their dedication to the district’s students and programs.
The board also gave approval to post the openings for all three positions for the 2022-23 school year.
An overnight field trip for this year’s eighth grade class to Madison and Milwaukee areas slated for June 2 and 3rd was given the green light by the board.
Members also approved the amounts for this year’s district-issued scholarships. Ten Russell Meyers Scholarship, each valued at $1,500 will be awarded to members of the Class of 2022; four Patricia and Laverne Gust Class of 1947 Scholarships for $500 will be given out; a $300 Dorothy Kuhn Memorial Scholarship will be available as will be a single $500 Class of 1950 award; and finally the Topper Partnership Foundation will award a pair of $500 scholarships.
Prior to the regular session, the board’s committee meeting was held and involved discussions about the baseball field updates and construction time line, the drivers education program, STEM, CTE and gifted and talented programing, and a recent WASB board training session that Johnson and board members Sally Standaert and Jodi Main attended.
The board also adjusted their upcoming schedule and will meet on February 7 and 21.
