Superintendent Ken Crawford

Highland Superintendent Ken Crawford told the board at Monday’s meeting, Sept. 14, that the district has no one with COVID-19, staff or students. “We have two quarantining,” he said. The virus count for the district is on the Highland webpage.

The Highland School Board, meeting in person but socially distancing and wearing masks, received positive reports on the hybrid return to learn progress and an update on the Highland Honor Society.

Elementary teachers Janelle Sulhoff and Rebeca Yoder said the students are excited to be in school and the teachers are equally excited to teach the children in the classroom, even if it is every other day. The teachers said the smaller classrooms give them the opportunity to work more closely with the students. The students would like to come every day, which is the goal of the staff.

One teacher also noted it is really difficult preparing for students in the classroom and doing videos for those being taught by Zoom. The teachers are preparing work to be done at home without overloading the parents.

One teacher said, “We are working as hard as we are able to make things work.”

It was noted that the stress factor of COVID-19 is not easy on anyone, but the teachers are working hard to make the children feel loved.

Cindy Conrad and Molly Zywiec, the sponsors for the Honor Society, spoke optimistically of the projects they are doing to raise funds. The Honor Society will be meeting Sept. 30 to elect officers and plan various fundraisers and visiting senior living centers. She said the club also wants to hold a blood drive.

The Honor Society, which started the year with $40 balance, needs to raise money to pay national dues of $385.

The board approved two students to graduate early including one who wants to join the military.

Supt. Crawford urged board members to listen in on several of the sessions of the Iowa School Board Convention, which is going to be held virtually in November.

Plans are moving ahead for homecoming with the students yet to decide on final details. High School principal Angela Hazelett said plans do call for a parade and coronation and drill team and drill team performance on Sept. 23, a powder puff game on Thursday, Sept. 24 (weather permitting), and possibly a modified dance under the lights on the football field.

A report on the fall sports showed that sports team participating were down except for varsity volleyball with 37 athletes compared to 24 last year and cross country with 18, up from eight. Football has 24, (down six), junior high football 17, (down seven); junior high volleyball, 27 (down three); junior high cross county, 2 (down two). There are 7 girls out for cheerleading.