Ironwood school board starts up school year

By MEGAN HUGHES

[email protected]

Ironwood — The Ironwood Area School District board met on Monday evening to finalize items pertaining to the 2023-2024 school year.

One of the topics the board discussed was the hiring of a number of staff members for the 2023-2024 school year. The list is as following:

—Cody Kurta: hired as a long-term substitute special education teacher and the middle school football coach.

—Denver Sharrow: hired as a K-12 business education teacher.

—Anthony Stehlik: hired as the driver’s education instructor.

—Devon DeRosso: Hired as the varsity assistant football coach.

—Gabe Justinak: hired as a middle school football coach.

—Amanda Stempihar: hired as an elementary school teacher.

—Elizabeth Regnier: hired as a paraprofessional.

—Bailey Griebel: hired as a long-term elementary substitute teacher.

—Kristina Kendall: hired as a substitute teacher

—Daniel Durham: hired as a substitute teacher.

The board also recognized the resignation of Paul Zysk and Adam Mackey as middle school boys basketball coach and varsity baseball coach respectively.

At this time, the school is still searching for an alternative education social studies teacher, until one is found, the students will be using an online program by Apex to fulfill that educational requirement.

The board heard an update from Superintendent Travis Powell regarding the Professional Learning Community (PLC) Institute and how many staff attended.

“The feedback seemed to be very favorable,” said Powell. He explained that at this time the majority of the teaching staff has attended the institute, which aims to help teachers to work together to improve the learning environment to help students thrive.

He gave an example of “When we say ‘Did you get that?’ and they say no, we go ‘Okay. Let’s try it again a different way,’” he said. “Our teachers will be able to experience an increased confidence in the student’s knowledge of content.”

This is an expansion from last year, with staff from K-12 participating, as last year, only the K-6 teachers had completed the institute training.

K-12 Principal Melissa Nigh gave an update about a number of items of interest, including a literacy grant that the school has received. According to Nigh, the second grade class has implemented an Response to Intervention (RTI) program in order to provide literacy intervention, the K-8 has begun using a new curriculum this year.

“They are all ready to go,” said Nigh about the new curriculum. “We are very excited about that.”

She also updated the school about the online registration progress, saying things are working well. “We have had parents come in, and we guide them through it,” she said. According to Nigh, the confusion came from parents not being aware that they had to create their own PowerSchool account, rather than use their child’s. From their own accounts, parents are able to check their student’s grades and help to get them signed up for classes.

The consensus among the board members was that the PowerSchool online registration was an improvement from previous years.

Nigh thanked Auburn Powell and Pam Lorenson for helping to plan the Back to School night, as it ran really well.

In other news, the board:

—Approved the safety grant purchases, including: intruder resistant film for glass doors and windows, the Raptor visitor management system, approximately 80 cameras for safety, hi-visibility reflective door numbers, and upgrades to three interior doors. The total cost for these safety grant purchases is $84,361.

—Approved the purchase of the Edgenuity program to be utilized for teaching virtual elementary students. The board clarified that students Enrolled in the edgenuity program were considered full time students of the Ironwood Area School District.

—Approved the purchase for Chromebooks. Powell explained that every year the board is attempting to purchase a portion of the Chromebook stock at the school each year, so as to space out the need to replace old ones.

—Approved the minutes from the Building and Grounds Committee as presented.

—Approved the renewal of the student accident insurance for student athletes.

—Heard the strategic planning update. Powell explained that the projects they have undertaken are running smoothly, including weight room updates, painting updates and updates to bathroom privacy.

—Heard an update about the after school program. Powell explained that he has been doing work on getting it up and running. “All of it is ready to do, I just don’t have it staffed,” said Powell. According to Powell, the program would run from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. He has meetings this week regarding scheduling.

—Approved the 2023-2024 student handbook pending minor corrections.

—Approved the 2023-2024 course offerings, and Apex and Edgenuity catalogs.

—Heard the assistant principal and athletic director reports, as well as the special education and food service updates.

—Approved the athletic contracts for tennis, cross country, ski team, golf team, baseball and softball for the 2023-2024 school year.

—Approved the athletic and alternative education student handbooks.

—Approved the alternative education course offerings.

—Recognized the donation of two backpacks containing school supplies that were donated in July.