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www.johnsonpublications.zenfolio.com Brooke Robertson | Johnson Publications

PCS Teacher Lance Wurst and wife Paula won the chance to kiss the pig during National FFA Week by receiving the most money in their jar. Mrs. Wurst ducked out for the smooching activity. The pair will be retiring at the end of the school year. 

Four PCS teachers submit resignations

The Perkins County School Board accepted four resignations at their monthly board meeting Feb. 18. 

Teaching in Perkins County since 1991, Lance and Paula Wurst have chosen to retire. Lance, the junior and high school art teacher, coaches junior high track and assists high school cross country. Paula teaches junior high English, coaches high school cross country and assists high school track. 

The couple said in their resignation letter that one of the unexpected outcomes of teaching and coaching for this long has been watching a generation of their students and athletes grow up to become parents themselves. 

“It is said that ‘to teach is to touch a life forever.’ We feel rather that it is our lives that have been touched by the hundreds of students with whom we have had the opportunity to work, in the classroom and on the playing field,” they wrote. 

Renee Marquardt, junior high science teacher, is retiring after 42 years. She said she is at a point in her life where it’s time to take on new adventures. 

“The fact that I have been able to teach parents, their siblings and their children has made for a cohesive transition from year to year no matter what my teaching assignment,” she said in her letter.

Fourth-grade teacher, Taren Hendricks, will be relocating with her family as her husband accepted a job in Wyoming. 

She said being a member of the PCS staff has been a positive life experience, and the Plainsmen will always hold a special place in her heart. 

Administrative salaries

Administrative salary increases for Long and Friedel were approved at 1.7 percent. 

Friedel’s salary for the 2019-20 school year will be $105,129.32 and Long will make $83,590.28.

Board member Amy Kroeker, who serves on the negotiations committee, said Superintendent Phillip Picquet submitted salary increase recommendations to the committee. 

The initial proposal was the same increase amount for both administrators, but Kroeker instead proposed a percentage increase to make it more equal. She said this is also in line with the raise the teachers will receive. 

Other members of the negotiation committee are Chris Fryzek and Angie Patrick. 

Fryzek mentioned implementing goals and incentives in the future. He said while years of service are important, “if you do your job better you should get more money.”

Picquet’s salary for next school year was reviewed at $137,295. It will be voted on next month. 

Principal reports

Parent teacher conferences were held Feb. 7 and Elementary Principal Nicole Long said the attendance was excellent. 

During the playground project, the kindergarten through second grade recess time will be shifted 15 minutes so all grades will not be out at the same time. The third through sixth grades and kindergarten through second grades will alternate recess in the gym before school. 

High School Principal Dean Friedel included in his report to the board that attendance continues to be an issue for a few students. The second round of Saturday School took place last week. 

New art teacher

Tristan Stephenson’s contract was approved for the junior high and high school art teaching position. 

Originally from Alliance, he will graduate from Chadron State College this spring.

Picquet said he will make a great addition to the staff. 

High Ability Learners

Jasmine Lehl updated the board on the High Ability Learner (HAL) program. 

PCS currently has 29 HAL students in third through 12th grades, who are identified by meeting three of five criteria. 

Students in grades 3-8 meet once a week for around 50 minutes and participate in activities such as computer coding, strategic games and creative writing prompts. 

ESU hosts a day for seventh and eighth grade HAL students each semester and three days each year for HAL students in grades 3-6. 

While there are no specific HAL activities outlined for high school students, those students are able to take advanced courses and college courses and participate in extracurricular activities such as quiz bowl. 

Textbooks and Technology

Curriculum Coordinator Deanne Bishop updated the board on the textbook purchase schedule. Per the seven-year cycle, the following teachers have the opportunity to purchase new textbooks in the spring for the following five content areas:

Renee Seiler in business law, Ryan Boldt in criminal law, Geraldean Walker and Alex Johnson in public safety (guidance), Ronda Baumfalk in speech and Jeremy Struckman in Spanish. 

Technology Director Renee Seiler spoke about the big screen and Striv advertising. They currently have three advertisers and more committed for next year. 

The goal is for those advertising dollars to pay the annual fee for Striv. 

Strive provides high schools in Nebraska with the tools to live video stream school events.

Seiler gave a demonstration on the Promethean ActivPanel interactive display. She said the current Promethean boards are becoming outdated and the board will soon need to look at updating the boards to keep current. She recommended the Promethean ActivPanels over the Epson BrightLink projectors. 

Three BrightLinks were purchased last fall and found to be difficult to calibrate to the whiteboards.

Phone system

Great Plains Communications spoke about the district’s current phone system and presented new options. The school is having issues with their current long distance provider, often unable to receive or make calls. 

This new system phone systems can operate using an internet connection instead of a traditional phone line.

 

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

308-352-4311 (Phone)

PO Box 67
327 Central Ave in Grant
Grant NE 69140