Board of Education Update for April 10, 2023
Launch the media gallery 1 playerDISTRICT OR-1 BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE
SUMMARY OF APRIL 10, 2023 REGULAR MEETING
Download the Paginated Document HERE
Special thanks to Mr. Matt Smidt ( District Media Specialist), Mrs. Sadie Conn (3rd grade teacher), and Mrs. Lisa Dowding (1st grade teacher) for their board presentations! Mr. Smidt (and students from the high school Quiz Bowl team) gave a presentation and demonstration on Quiz Bowl. Mr. Smidt also presented on the process for screening library books and discussed state literacy standards for the media center. Mrs. Conn and Mrs. Dowding provided information on the integration and usage of technology (Chromebooks) with elementary school students. These presentations were very informative!
The board accepted the resignations of Mr. Tyler Maas (Palmyra High School Math Teacher) and Mr. Michael Jorgensen (High School Industrial Technology Teacher). Special thanks to Mr. Maas and Mr. Jorgensen for their tremendous service and dedication to our students, our district, and our community. We wish Mr. Maas and Mr. Jorgensen the best of luck in their future endeavors!
The board approved teaching contracts for Ms. Taylor Black, Mr. Michael Davidson, Mrs. Kari Lottman. Ms. Caroline Reed, Mr. Travis Reed, and Mrs. Kori Vodicka. More information is listed below regarding each teacher. We also expect to have biographies about each teacher posted on our school website in the coming weeks. We are excited to have these high quality educators join our teaching team beginning with the 2023-2024 school year!
Ms. Taylor Black will be one of our preschool teachers at Bennet Elementary School. (Ms. Black will be filling the position left vacant by Mrs. Casandra Hohensee’s inter-district transfer to the Birth -3 year old transition and early childhood intervention program). Mrs. Black comes to us from Waverly and she will be graduating from UNL in May.
Mr. Michael Davidson will be one of our new math teachers at the high school. Mr. Davidson (filling the position left vacant by Mr. Tyler Maas) comes to us from Nebraska City and he will also be teaching our “dual credit” math classes at the high school.
Mrs. Kari Lottman will be one of our new math teachers at the high school. Mrs. Lottman (filling the position left vacant by Mr. Kim Jensen) comes to us from HTRS.
Ms. Caroline Reed will be one of our third grade teachers at Bennet Elementary School. (This position was left vacant by Mrs. Bri Lahmon accepting an inter-district transfer into our special education position which was left vacant due to Mrs. Jessica Hinrichsen’s resignation. Ms. Reed comes to us from Hickman and she will graduate from UN@K in May.
Mr. Travis Reed will be one of our social studies teachers at the high school. This position was left vacant by Mr. Jeff Panko (who accepted an inter-district transfer to fill the industrial technology position left vacant by the resignation of Mr. Jorgensen). Mr. Reed is currently a full-time sub at Palmyra High School.
Mrs. Kori Vodicka will be our new guidance counselor at the high school. Mrs. Vodicka (filling position left vacant by Mr. Michael Chaffee) comes to us from Nebraska City.
Updated building expansion site plans for Bennet Elementary and Palmyra High School were also reviewed at the meeting. An overview of the current expansion plans are currently posted on our school website at www.districtor1.org and district social media channels. More information about the upcoming schedule for construction will be discussed at our May 8th regular board meeting.
Board members also received information updates on our district continuous improvement process and upcoming external team school accreditation review visit, the 2022 general obligation bond, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Series policy reviews, information regarding education-related legislative bills, student enrollment, staffing and facility updates, option enrollment, student and staff accomplishments, ESU #4 core services and special education agreements, board leadership opportunities, and updates on the Olson Complex and district transportation.
The board also finalized action on the purchase of a 2017 (71 passenger) Blue Bird bus from Midwest Bus Repair. This bus is scheduled to be on site at the high school on Wednesday, April 19th.
The board reviewed board policy #5006 regarding option enrollment and approved the appendix for the 2023-2024 school year. This appendix will continue to be updated as needed.
More information regarding this meeting is available at https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/174
