Superintendent's May 2009 Update
by Mark Schweer
May 05, 2009
It is hard to believe that we have less one month remaining in
this school year. The month of May is a whirlwind of activities
culminating with Graduation for the seniors on May 24 and the last
day of school for the other students on May 27.
We have several district employees who are retiring at the end of
this school year. Pat Campbell has taught at the High School for 25
years; Dennis Maddux has taught at the Middle School for 33 years;
Bonny Wheeldon has been an Associate with the district for 37
years; Bud Ferrel has been a bus driver for 38 years; Rita Hermsen
has worked in Food Service for 29 years, and Jennet Hiles has
worked in Maintenance for 10 years. We wish these folks the best of
luck in their retirement and future endeavors.
All public school districts will be receiving federal stimulus
dollars. These dollars will largely fall within the parameters
established for IDEA (Special Education) and Title 1. We are just
now learning of the parameters and will be putting together a plan
for using these dollars. I think it is safe to say that we will be
providing a "summer school" opportunity for at-risk students at
both the elementary and secondary levels this summer. More
information will be forthcoming. This is one-time money but we have
27 months to spend the money so we should be able to provide a
number of extended learning opportunities for students over this
period of time. That might take the form of before and after school
programs, tutoring, and hopefully summer school again the following
summer. We just don't know yet.
The LC Foundation Golf Classic is June 19 beginning with a shotgun
start at 12:30 p.m. at the Fox Run Golf Course here in Council
Bluffs. The cost is $70 per golfer or $280.00 per team for a team
of four. Entry fee includes 18 holes of golf and a cart – prizes –
and lunch. We welcome sponsorship of golf holes. You can sponsor
one hole for $100 or two for $175.00. Check out the LC District
website or contact Kim Jones for additional information.
Last month marked the 10 year anniversary of the tragedy at
Columbine High School in Colorado. That event truly changed the
practices/procedures that schools across the country are now doing
to help ensure the safety of students and employees. You may have
wondered what we are doing here at Lewis Central. Employees are
required to wear ID badges so that we can easily recognize who
should/shouldn't be walking around in our buildings. Visitors are
expected to check in at the office and wear a Visitor's sticker
while in the building. Parents are required to come into the
building at Kreft and actually sign out their child. Doors are
locked after the school day begins. We have security cameras and a
campus security officer at the High School. Several of our
buildings have practiced lock-down procedures. We have a crisis
plan. One of the main components of the recent district phone
system purchase was that we will now have phones in classrooms at
the High School. The renovation of the Kreft building calls for
phones in classrooms there as well. The Middle School and Titan
Hill already have phones in classrooms.
Mark A. Schweer
Superintendent of Schools
