The Worth County School is making changes to their Homecoming celebration this year in response to complaints received by parents following last year's celebrations. Before, during Homecoming celebrations, students were released from school following the coronation which happened on the Square. However, school officials said that led to students being unsupervised and creating a safety issue. Now, every student will ride a float, return to the school on the float, and disembark at the school following the celebrations. This was done despite a student petition delivered to board member Sherri Runde and presented at Thursday night's regular board of education meeting.
There will now be a community pep rally at the football field at 7:00 Thursday night, where athletes and participants in fall activities will be recognized and the royalty will be named and crowned. The traditional pregame Homecoming ceremony, with fathers escorting royalty onto the field, as well as the student pep rally on Friday morning will remain the same. Royalty will peel off from the parade when it reaches the Square and have their pictures taken and there will be a reception for them afterwards at the Worth County Senior Center..
Board member Richard Mullock said that the safety of students was the top priority. "If we continue as usual and something ugly happens, then how can we defend our position?" he asked.
Principal Jon Adwell reported that if the student body gets below 20% D's and F's, then students will be allowed to use cell phones during lunch period. Currently, that rate is 26.9%. Last year, it was 34%.
Assistant Principal Chuck Borey reported that there was a sharp drop in disciplinary referrals to his office this year. He said that it was a combination of teachers using different classroom management skills, strong disciplinary measures, and the walls being completed resulting in less background noise and more ability to focus on tasks. He reported that staff has been attending trainings regarding the new state evaluation system. Attendance this year is 97.66% for K-6 and a similar figure for the high school. This is above state average.
During the recent hot weather, there were no early dismissals. That is due to the school putting in new air conditioning throughout the building. Other schools in the area have been letting out early frequently due to the excessive heat.
Superintendent Dr. Matt Martz reported that there were now opportunities for ag students to earn math or science credits towards graduation while taking ag classes. That had not been the case previously. This will make it easier for ag students to graduate and still have a strong ag background. Martz also reported that under tentative state plans, the school would not be accredited with distinction despite scoring 94% on the state standards. Under the tentative plans, the state is seeking to require schools to have a pre-high school foreign language component and a talented and gifted program, two areas which Worth County and many other rural schools do not offer. Martz agreed with Board President Jeff Andrews that it constituted discrimination against rural schools.
Martz reported on followup work that he did with the capital improvements projects discussed at July's board meeting. He added another project to the list in response to citizen feedback, fixing the stairwell leading from the band room to the football field. Other proposed projects include fixing the east steps and stopping the leaks into the girls locker room, recoating the ag roof, fixing the bleachers by the football field, and security doors and a security system. Martz said that a citizens committee will be formed to prioritize the projects. Possible ways of financing include extending the bond levy (which would not require a tax increase), doing a lease-purchase agreement, or using capital improvement funds. Currently, Martz said that the school has money in the budget to do small projects, but not all of them.
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