The 2012-13 contracts for three new teachers were approved at the Manawa School Board meeting, Monday, July 16.
The three teachers include Daniel Koehler, who will be the technology education teacher, Patrick Collins, who will be the high school math teacher and Molly Suehs, who will be the music teacher.
The district still needs to fill the physical education teacher opening. Duane Braun, high school principal, said the first candidate the district chose declined the district’s offer, as did the second candidate chosen. Braun said the opening will be reposted.
The board also accepted the resignations of Ellen Celske, who was the Spanish teacher, and Sandy Porter, who was the librarian.
Braun said the district has received about 24 applications for the Spanish teacher opening and the interview process is about to start.
The board agenda included approving hiring a librarian through CESA #6 for 18 hours a month for the 2012-13 school year, but no action was taken on that item.
The approval of the fall sports and extra-curricular appointments for 2012-13 was discussed. These included the head coach and all assistants for football, including seventh and eighth grade. It also included the head coach, and all assistants for volleyball including seventh and eighth grade. Also included were several advisor appointments for extra-curricular clubs.
Board member Stephanie Flynn asked if coaches were required to follow a code of ethics. District Administrator Ed Dombrowski said that falls under the Code of Ethics that school employees must follow. Flynn recommended that in the future, coaches should have to read the code of ethics and sign the agreement.
The board defeated the approval of the fall sports and extra-curricular appointments for 2012-13 by a 4-2 vote. Paul Sturm and David Strebe voted for the approval.
During the public comments portion of the meeting, Dave Augustine, who coached the Manawa varsity boys’ baseball team in 2011-12, addressed the board about the letter he received that stated he was not asked to come back as baseball coach.
In other business, the board also took no action on giving the district office clerk an hourly increase of $1. Board member Corinne Zielke said she was not happy that this item didn’t go to the committee level first for discussion.
The board did approve, depending on insurance considerations, to approve the request of the new Manawa Booster Club to have fireworks after the first home football game on Sept. 14. There will be no cost to the district for the fireworks.