Lake Holcombe School Board; Buses keep rolling, but for how long?

Beth Meddaugh (right) and Shaylae Szotkowski talked to the Lake Holcombe School Board Feb. 23, about what they learned at a recent teachers summit. The summit information will be used to help improve reaching students academically and to provide social/emotional needs. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Lake Holcombe’s buses are running through the end of the school year, but after July 30, a new provider will need to be in place for 2022-23. Gilbertson Transit, LLC, informed the district they will not pursue a contract extension or a new contract to provide busing services.

Therefore, after discussing the matter in a closed session at the regular board meeting Feb. 23, the Lake Holcombe School Board directed administrator Kurt Lindau to move forward with contract negotiations to obtain busing services.

District parent Andrew Burgraff wanted to know who the negotiations are with, but was informed he was out of order.

“That’s public knowledge,” said Burgraff. Brian Guthman, board chairman, said that is not public information, because it was in closed session.

“We’re not saying who, because that’s why we went into closed session,” said Guthman.

Bus driver and district parent Janelle Jones asked why bids aren’t opened in a public forum, like what takes place on her town board.

“We’re not to that point yet,” said Guthman. “We haven’t decided yet.”

Guthman said while they are trying to negotiate for new services, looking at options and looking at proposals, they cannot divulge to the public what is discussed.

“When you do get the bids, you will tell who and how much?” asked Jones.

Guthman said yes, at that time, it is public knowledge, but until then, the board follows the proper procedure.

“You don’t negotiate with someone in open session, because then they hold all the cards,” he said.

Talking about the end of semester achievement gap reduction (AGR), measured through FastBridge assessments in math and reading, principal Chris Stahlheim shared results of the AGR. Scores for the district did go up, as the testing is matched with students around the country.

“But there are more learning flags, even though the scores went up,” said Stahlheim. “Yes, we see student growth, but is it enough?”

Some of that is what the North Region Every Teacher Summit, held at Paradise Shores 4, wants to address. Two teams from the district attended, hoping to gain more insight into making the Plan to Win initiative a success.

“It was a great opportunity,” said district educator Todd Senoraske. “I find that it helps you develop a comprehensive and intentional plan base.”

In Lake Holcombe, social/emotional needs have been identified, with a need to reduce D’s and F’s, academically. Senoraske said they found that assigned work and assessments are put off, resulting in mediocre work.

“But the real thing that’s missing, is the learning,” he said. Beth Meddaugh, district educator, said it was reassuring to hear at the summit, that Lake Holcombe is not alone in dealing with such matters.

“These are not issues that are just for us here to deal with at Lake Holcombe,” said Meddaugh.

The next step forward is identifying issues the district is experiencing, with a restructuring of 30 minutes of lunch to re-frame that time to learning.

“I think the greatest thing about that structuring, is that every secondary teacher will be available to help students,” said district educator Shaylae Szotkowski.

Morgan Milas, district educator, said it’s also about asking staff to be active participants in data collected. Senoraske says everyone involved has shown such dedication.

“This is the stepping stone,” said Senoraske. In order to help provide needed social/emotional support, school psychologist Marissa Warren has agreed to go fulltime, instead of her services shared with another district (Winter). Esser III funds will be used for a few years, to pay her salary, to which the board agreed.

Lindau said this is the first time for a couple years, for quite some time, that the district has had the same psychologist multiple years in a row.

“And that’s important,” said Guthman. The board also approved an annual contract with CESA 10 for instructional services and technology, in the amount of $115,508.

Members also approved the hire of Dwight Green, as the middle school track coach, and accepted $50.55, from Eastbay, to the music department.

It was also agreed to change the meeting time of the March 21 regular meeting, to 5 p.m.

The district implemented WiFi changes in January, with increased network security.

“Some high school students were initially upset, but they have adapted and I commend them for that,” said Lindau.

Lindau says he has heard from many students and teachers that there is better engagement in the classroom, while some students said they didn’t realize they were so addicted to their phone.

“I thought that was pretty telling.”