When Tyler Hotz, Mid-Prairie High School assistant principal and activities director, submitted his resignation so he could become superintendent at Lone Tree Community School District this fall, Mid-Prairie elected to assign Middle School assistant principal Nathan Carlson 7-12 activities director duties and eliminate the high school assistant principal position.  The school board approved this action at their April 24 meeting.

The decision did not make middle and high school staff happy.

About 15 staff members attended the public forum on Monday night, and high school English teacher Amy Mercer read a prepared statement on their behalf.

“The high school faculty had no knowledge this reduction was being considered until the staff meeting the following morning.  We were very surprised when we learned of this decision.  The high school faculty and staff are disappointed at the lack of transparency and communication with a decision that will ultimately impact our culture, staff, and the success of our students,” she said.

“We are asking for better and more effective communication so we don’t feel blindsided by a decision that will heavily impact the staff and the students.  We place a lot of value on the assistant principal position, and we are concerned for our building principal and the workload that will be required of him starting next school year,” she continued. 

Mercer then listed the current duties of the high school principal, followed by those that will be added to his workload next year, estimating that his responsibilities will increase by at least 50%.

“One significant way to support and appreciate teachers and staff is to gain feedback before making decisions that will impact their day to day lives and the success of their students,” she concluded.

Action items

Representatives of Michelle Bessman’s fifth grade class presented to the board their plans to sell 25-cent candygrams as part of a Junior Achievement project.  The class will sell Smarties as a fundraiser for PAWS & More animal shelter in Washington; 17-cents from each candygram will be donated.  The board approved the fundraising request.

District Curriculum Leader Kristan Hunter presented to the board a curriculum recommendation for student wellness that requires $6,299 for heart-rate monitoring bands and USB plugins for students in PE classes.  High school PE and health teacher Aaron Coghlan said this would provide a way to objectively evaluate student progress.  Hunter also requested $13,286 for social emotional digital teaching resources, which includes the Character Strong curriculum that she said provides engaging activities that promote character development.  The board approved both 7-year expenditures.

The board passed the second reading of board policy 711.7 on school bus safety, and also the sale of one or two busses to English Valley CSD.

The board approved summer maintenance projects, which include replacement of flooring at West Elementary and gym doors and an air conditioning until at the Home School Education Center.  The total cost of these projects is $70,126.

Finally, before heading into a 3-hour closed session to evaluate superintendent Brian Stone, the board approved raising fees on extra milk (to 50 cents), adult lunches (to $4.85), adult breakfast (to $3.45), band uniform cleaning (to $21), and choir uniform cleaning (to $17).  

The Mid-Prairie Board of Education’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 12 at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room.