By Crystal Hayduk
At their regular meeting on June 8, the Chelsea School District Board of Education approved the hiring of two new South Meadows Elementary School teachers due to the retirements of Karen Henry and Crystal Heydlauff.
Katie Spisich, a graduate of Western Michigan University who has taught in Indiana for three years, will teach third grade in the fall. Julie Deppner, assistant superintendent, said that Spisich’s current principal stated, “…she is creative, a strong teacher leader, is committed and will be a loss for our school and community.”
Jordan Miller will teach fifth grade. He is a graduate of Goshen College in Indiana, taught for one year in Costa Rica, and three years in the Fort Wayne area. Deppner said that his current principal stated that Miller is “committed, loves kids, works hard and is a kind person.”
Both teachers were selected from an initial pool of more than 250 applicants and underwent three rounds of interviews as well as teaching samples.
A group of SRSLY students presented a short slide show about their trip to Washington, DC in February. They attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America National Conference under sponsorship from SRSLY.
While there, they presented what SRSLY is doing in Chelsea in the fight against drug abuse. (See related story here.)
At the close of the presentation, SRSLY Coalition Director Reiley Curran thanked Superintendent Andy Ingall for his “vision, leadership, and support” for the last seven years.
Administrators updated the board on progress toward district goals. Highlights included the following:
Middle school students in Kathryn McCalla’s leadership class earned service hours as “Bus Buddies,” working with younger students on school-related tasks during the bus ride home.
The use of walkie-talkies in the preschool setting and surveillance cameras at the high school have proven to be of value for enhancing a safe school climate.
Under the heading of fiscal responsibility, Beach Middle School Principal Nick Angel reported that over the last year $5,000 was raised by grants and donations; $3,000 was raised by students for charity; and $7,000 was raised for programs through fundraising.
Lisa Nickel said that the preschool and the district library have a new partnership, and the relationship with the Chelsea Senior Center continues strong.
In other board news:
- The board accepted the official resignation of Superintendent Andy Ingall, effective June 30. Board members were slow to vote. Board President Steve Olsen announced the final tally as “reluctantly approved, seven to zero.”
- The board commended Bert Kruse for his 53 years of service to the district, both as a teacher and a high school track coach. The board also commended Amy Wagoner and Jill Albert for providing leadership as Beach Middle School yearbook advisors. The program was named a 2015 Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence. (Full story here.)
- Ingall previewed issues that the board are expected to vote on at their next regular meeting. These included updates to board policies, board meeting dates for the 2015-16 school year, non-affiliated staff pay, replacement of window blinds at the high school, and purchase of wireless microphones for Chelsea House Orchestra.
- With the state budget in place, Ingall reported that the district should net a $68 per student gain in funding for the 2015-16 school year.
Upcoming dates:
- The next school board meeting will be June 22 immediately following the Budget Hearing scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Washington Street Education Center.
