School Board Rehires Dr. Martz, Offers Contract to Megan Poppa

The Worth County School Board voted to rehire Superintendent Dr. Matt Martz at the current salary for the upcoming school year. The board will review his salary at a future meeting. The board also voted to offer a probationary teacher contract for the 2020-2021 school year. The board also voted to accept the resignation of Brooke Hecker at the end of the current school year.

The Technology program was rated as “Excellent.” Strengths listed include the ability to replace 75 Chromebooks a year, the ability to use federal money through vocational classes, the ability to upgrade network speed, more security cameras, and a complete computer science course progression. Concerns listed include lower enrollment numbers in business tech classes and the upcoming change to a new technology director in the upcoming school year.

The Extracurricular programs were rated as “Above Average.” Strengths listed include the fact that 86% of junior high or high school students are involved in extra-curricular activities. Many teams and organizations and individuals have achieved high levels of success in the past year in academics, athletics, music, and co-curricular activities. The addition of red shale to the softball field helped with drainage. The school plans to complete the new shed for the softball field in the spring of 2020. Flooring, a camera, and Internet access was put in the weight room. All coaches and sponsors are MSHSAA approved and trained in CPR/AED/First Aid and concussion management.

Several concerns were listed as well. The junior high softball team only had eight 7th and 8th graders that were eligible during the season. Freshmen had to play down for the school to field a team. The track will require a structural spray in summer 2021 at a cost of $55,000. There is still a drainage issue around the backstop area. Visitor seating at the football field needs improved.

The school got back on rotation as far as uniform replacement goes, but they still need to keep up with rotation. Junior high softball uniforms have not been replaced since 2006, and band uniforms have not been replaced since 1995. Junior high track uses old uniforms as well.

Practice times are difficult because of high participation and duplicate numbers. Basketball times are conducted at inconvenient times because of having only one gym. Sometimes, high school basketball teams are forced to practice at 6 pm, and the school has to fit four teams in on the same day during junior high.

The stage is still not available for music practices during basketball practice, while students miss instructional time because of activities.

Recommendations include continuing to maintain the high participation rate, coaching preparation, and certification. Other recommendations include maintaining funding levels to replace uniforms, budgeting to maintain the track, and placing a concrete barrier in front of the softball bleacher area to help with runoff. The addition of more practice areas would have to be a part of the district’s overall facility plan.

The following are programs that the school offers; figures are the number of students participating: Student Council (10), FFA (63), Vocal Contests (7), Football (17 + 9 NEN), Class Officers (16), Honor Choirs (6), FCCLA (45), Cheerleading (12), Instructional Contests (8), Basketball (29), Choir (8), Band (26), FBLA (21), Academic Bowl (9), Golf (8), Track (36), Honor Bands (3), Wrestling (3), NHS (21), and Softball (17).

The following are programs offered to junior high students, along with participation numbers: Student Council (4), Choir (5), Football (8 + 4 NEN), Band (20), Academic Bowl (4), Class Officers (8), Basketball (19), Cheerleading (5), Instrumental Contest (4), Softball (9), and Track (23).
Students in the following organizations have represented Worth County at the State Level: FFA, FBLA, FCCLA, Track & Field, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Girls Basketball, Girls Gold.

Students in the following organizations have represented Worth County at the National Level: FBLA, FCCLA. Worth County has won conference or district championships in the following: Girls Basketball, Softball, Boys Track, Girls Track, and Junior High Girls Track.

Enrollment figures were released for the Elementary. There were 149 total students. Figures by grade are – Kindergarten 19, 1st Grade 20, 2nd Grade 25, 3rd Grade 16, 4th Grade 21, 5th Grade 24, 6th Grade 24. As of January 8th, 144 students have a 90% or better attendance record. As of January 10th, 119 have a 95% or better attendance.

Tiger token classes of the month were the Kindergarten and 4th Grade classes. They got to carry a banner with them to their specials and got a trophy to display in their respective classrooms. Third grade won the attendance inventive for December.