Lake Holcombe School Board - Wireless infrastructure getting an upgrade

It was agreed at the Lake Holcombe School Board April 22, that the offices of board of education members would remain the same, meaning Brian Guthman, who was sworn in (right) by Debbi Readinger (left), would be the board president. Acting as vice president, is Matt Flater, while Jamie Tester-Morfoot is the treasurer and Readinger acts as secretary. Photo by Joy Dain

By Ginna Young

After it was discovered that Lake Holcombe School is in need of a wireless infrastructure update, administration turned their eye toward funding that. The current system is at end-of-life, because it is no longer supported.

With $25,465.37, from e-rate funding to spend, bids were called for and April 22, at a board of education meeting, it was agreed to hire Citizens Telephone Cooperative Inc., to do the upgrade. Citizens is the same one who installed the new digital clocks in the school building.

The installation for the process costs $18,952.50, which came out of the Capital Improvements Fund.

“We should be set for wireless for numerous years to come,” said district administrator Kurt Lindau.

Lindau also reported on a DPI Food Service Equipment Grant he applied for, but was turned down to receive. Lo and behold, the DPI had extra money and requested he reapply.

“It appears we’re going to be awarded $16,000, for a bun roller/divider,” said Lindau.

Board vice president Matt Flater asked if it is a new item to the school kitchen or replacement of a current item. Lindau confirmed the roller will be a replacement, as the piece of equipment used now dates back to 1947, much to the astonishment and amusement of the board.

“We got our money’s worth,” said Lindau.

He also invited anyone who is able to attend, to join him at the Cedar Lake Speedway in Somerset, Saturday night, May 11, for the annual school bus races, with Lake Holcombe’s modified bus driven by their tech ed teacher.

“Andy ‘Ricky Bobby’ Lorenzen will defend my title from 2023,” said Lindau. “If you can make that, it’s quite a spectacle.”

During the meeting, the board accepted the resignation of interventionist Jane Ash; paraprofessional Paige Flater; middle school football coach Chris Clark; and middle school girls basketball coach Rebecca Abbiehl.

They also approved the hire of SEL interventionist Lisa Leasum; and assistant cross country coach Marty Ash.

I have been involved (full or part-time) in the education of our wonderful students here at Lake Holcombe School, for 43 years, wrote J. Ash. At this time, I feel the calling of a more relaxed lifestyle.

Members also accepted $50, from Eastbay Lodge, to the music department; $50, from Eastbay Lodge, to the football program; $10,000, from Cumberland Federal Bank, for wrestling mats; and $100, from Jane and Ken Ash, for an elementary field trip.

Also approved, were out-of-state field trips for archery to Kentucky; Science Club to the Minnesota Museum of Science; tech ed class to the Tri-State Machine Competition in Rochester, Minn.; and the summer school field trip to Como Zoo in Minnesota.

It was also agreed to change the May board meeting from May 20, to May 13, but keep it at 6 p.m.