Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Current principal resigns, contract offered at May meeting
H-M-S Middle School Principal Corey Ramsey served one year as head of the 5-8 grade building in Sanborn.
The resignation of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn's middle school principal was accepted and a new administrator for the 5-8 building was named during the school board meeting on Monday.
Corey Ramsey resigned after one year with the district. He came to H-M-S from the Davenport Community School District, where he was special education department chair at Williams Intermediate School. He is leaving to relocate closer to family. His wife Lindsey, who is a literacy specialist at H-M-S Elementary, also resigned.
The board also named Matt Van Voorst as middle school principal. Van Voorst is currently dean of students at West Sioux Community School, a position he has held since 2019.
A lengthy list of other contract offers was also on the agenda. Filling certified positions are Patricia Zimmermann, elementary teacher; Kirsten Taylor, ESSER teacher; and Kayla Stofferan, full-time PK teacher. Also approved were the 2022-23 Teacher Leadership and Compensation positions, including instructional coaches, professional development anchors and mentor teachers for each building.
Contracts were approved for several coaching positions: Mark Fisher, HS speech; Kirsten Taylor, HS head cross country; Jenni Van Otterloo, HS girls' head basketball; Jay Eilers, HS head boys' track; Ashley Tessum, HS girls' assistant basketball; Tom Lidiak, HS boys' assistant basketball; Patricia Zimmermann, HS assistant track; Janet Prins, MS cross country; Nikki Schupan, MS girls' basketball; Dawson Schiphoff, HS baseball volunteer (2022), HS assistant baseball (2023), MS boys' basketball and assistant football.
Other resignations were accepted from Tom Lidiak, MS boys' basketball; Jenni Van Otterloo, HS assistant girls' basketball; and Jay Eilers, HS boys' assistant track.
According to Superintendent Patrick Carlin, the district still needs to hire a math teacher for grades 7-8 and there are two coaching vacancies to fill.
Language changes to two board policies reflect current hiring practices for certified staff and substitute teachers. Carlin said revisions to the licensed staff policy allow the district to move more quickly with hires.
In other business, Emily Widvey was appointed board secretary and was added to the list of bank account users.
The 2022 renewal for equipment maintenance insurance with SU Insurance Company was accepted. The "break/fix" insurance covers identified items such as computers and office and classroom equipment. Coverage was added for maintenance coverage of environmental controls at the middle school and high school, and a walk-in freezer. Coverage on nearly 400 laptops was deleted. The annual renewal premium is $95,271.
The board approved the form setting the guidelines for renting school-owned musical instruments and the maintenance fee to help cover repair costs.
A resolution adopting the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for Sioux, O'Brien and Osceola counties was also approved. According to discussion, adoption will allow H-M-S to apply for federal grant funds in the event of incidents covered under the plan.
H-M-S will continue sharing a school nurse with Clay Central/Everly and renewed the agreement for high school athletes to participate in Spencer's swimming program.
