Perkins County back to school on Aug. 15

As hard as it may be to believe, Perkins County School students will head back to school two weeks from today.

School for grades K-12 will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15 with a 1:30 dismissal. 

A drug policy informational meeting will be held Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. at the high school. This is not mandatory, but incoming freshmen are encouraged to attend. 

Laptop check out for middle school and high school students and a parent informational meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in Pritchett Gym. 

An open house for elementary students and their parents will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Regular school hours begin at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. K-6 grades dismiss at 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7-12 grades dismiss two minutes later. On Fridays, K-6 dismisses at 2:30 p.m. and 7-12 dismisses at 2:32 p.m. 

Staff changes

Several changes will be taking place with the addition of seven new teachers. 

• Shelly Pollard is replacing Katie Steffen in high school special education.

• Dana Freiberg is replacing Pollard in Title I.

• Taren Hendricks is replacing Freiberg as a new fourth grade teacher. 

• Les Reinke is replacing Ashley Vlasin as a second grade teacher. 

• Tanner Collins is replacing Dustin Stodola as high school physical education teacher and head wrestling coach. 

• Troy Kemling moved to half-time math. 

• Alex Linnerson was hired as full-time math and replacing Penny Hite as assistant speech coach.

• Hite is replacing Diana Tate as speech coach. 

• Jeremy Struckman is replacing Tate as the Spanish teacher and Lance Steffan as the activities director. 

• Jonathan Hunt is replacing Steffan as social studies teacher and head football coach and replaces Katie Geitz as the assistant basketball coach.

• Katie Geitz is replacing Steffan as the head basketball coach.

• Alyssa Yapp is replacing Conrad Gachne as vocal music instructor. 

• Monica Cole is replacing Erica Turner as head volleyball coach. 

Registration

Student registration and activity forms can be completed on the school’s website at www.perkinscountyschools.org.

New students should register at their attendance sites Aug. 8 and 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Elementary students can be registered at 418 Logan Ave. and 7-12 students can register at 740 Sherman Ave. 

All students who are new to the district should have their records forwarded. Parents can do this with a written request to the previous school. 

Transportation

Students needing bus service who did not ride last year are asked to contact Laurie Summers at 308-352-4313 or laurie.summers@perkinscountyschools.org.

The bus drivers will contact each family directly about specific pick-up times.

Breakfast will be served 7:30-8 a.m. Students not eating breakfast are asked not to be dropped off until 7:45 a.m. 

According to Picquet, the district is looking for substitute bus route drivers and activity drivers. Those interested are asked to call him at the high school, 308-352-4735.

Lunch fees

Breakfast prices were increased by 10 cents and lunch prices by 15 cents this year, making elementary and secondary breakfast $1.80; elementary lunch $2.80; secondary lunch $3.10; and adult lunch $3.70. Extra milk is 35 cents and a second entree is $1.  

The district has a pay-ahead lunch program, meaning parents must pay for lunches in advance.