New music, art positions approved; foreign language teacher hired

    Supt. Adam Lambert checked more off his wish list for new staff members when the CCS board of education hired additional music and art teachers for 2021-22.
    Action came at the March 9 board meeting, when resignations from two first-year teachers—Mikaela Stephenson and Hannah Ash—were also accepted.
    The third music teacher, David Rushing, was formally hired last week to join Agnes Strand and Jodie Liess in the music department.
    The board didn’t hire anyone for the third art position last week, but board members approved Lambert’s agenda item for the added position.
    The votes were not unanimous, however.
    In December, Lambert first asked for approval of additional full-time PE, music and art positions, after four new elementary teaching positions were added.
    Board members voted down the P.E. request, 5-4, and the music and art teachers did not yield motions in December.
    In February, the additional art and music positions, and classes they would teach, appeared on a master schedule Lambert presented to the board for approval.
    The board did not approve the schedule last month, or the additional staff.
    In February, board president Karl Meeske stated he liked Lambert’s vision, but felt his proposals for additional staff warranted more discussion, possibly at a board retreat.
    The board did hold a retreat March 4 in Holyoke, Colorado. There was no action on additional staffing at that retreat, however.
    Last week, the agenda again included the new positions, when the third music and third art  teachers gained approval on split votes.
    The third art position was approved 6-3.  
    Voting yes were Laura Maddox, Willy O’Neil, Carrie Terryberry, Josh Fries, Steve Wallin and Dan Reeves.
    Voting against were Meeske, Jeff Olsen and Cindy Arterburn.
     In discussion on the art teacher, Supt. Lambert noted 2021-22 registrations from students indicate 184 want to take art classes in grades 9-12 next year.
    The listing of ‘21-22 classes included several that would be offered if a third art teacher was hired, including pottery, graphic design and sculpture.
    He said the reason administration suggested a third art teacher is because, currently, students who want to take art are being turned away. He said K-4 students now get art once a week for 30 minutes, which will double next year.
    The vote to hire Rushing as the school’s third music teacher passed 8-1, with Olsen voting no.
    Even though the third music position hadn’t been approved until last week, Rushing sent a letter of interest to the school Feb. 12, applying for the open position.
    Supt. Lambert said he didn’t advertise the position, but reached out to his contacts and to UNL, and after learning of Rushing, invited him out for an interview, and he signed a contract.
    That didn’t set well with board member Olsen.
    “I’m sure this guy will be a great hire, but I’m disappointed with the process on how we got here,” he said.
    “This thing was put to the committee and it never came out of the committee to hire another music teacher,” he said.
    Olsen said it was brought to the board in December as a recommendation, with no motion made to hire this position.
    “And now this is the last of the discussion. I guess I’m pretty disappointed,” Olsen said.
    Lambert said, based on preliminary registrations for classes, there will be 308 grade 7-12 students next year signed up for band and choir. Ninety-four of them are in grades 9-12.
    Board member Terryberry believes there was a need for a third music teacher, adding it’s been a strain on Liess and Strand.
    Board members also hired a foreign language teacher at the meeting, which will move current part-time Spanish teacher Randy Longoria to full-time P.E. classes in 2021-22. Longoria now teaches four P.E. classes.
    Supt. Lambert said that change will amount to the same P.E. staffing as this year at 2.5 full-time equivalency (FTE). Other P.E. teachers are Nathan Gaswick (fulltime) and Kristen Gaswick (halftime).
    Troy Hauxwell and Denise Smith both teach two P.E. classes this year, and will not be assigned to P.E. in 2021-22.
    The new foreign language hiring will increase that department from a halftime position to fulltime.

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