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www.newbuffalotimes.com
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022
M
SCHOLASTICS
New Buffalo school board accepts letters of retirement from high school principal, longtime teacher BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
board president Lisa Werner read embers of the New Buffalo Area Schools from the school district’s agreement Board of Education that it has with the city regarding an accepted, with regret, SRO that states that the “district shall letters of retirement be involved in the selection of process from two long-serving members of of this officer who is selected to serve New Buffalo Area Schools at their as a school resource officer; however, Monday, March 28, meeting. the chief of police shall make the final Board members accept the letter of determination of who serves as school retirement from high school principal resource office.” Wayne Butler, effective Friday, Aug. Mike Cluster is being 19, 2022. replaced as school In her letter, In his letter, Butler resource officer at the Hartley, who’s said that the “16 years middle/high school, been a teacher at that I have served New New Buffalo for with New Buffalo Police Buffalo Area Schools 43 years, said her Sgt. Russell Tillery being and community have “road trip” there named to the position. been some of the most began when she Parent Jacqueline enriching and rewarding was in a Title One Odenwald said that one experiences in my position at the of her daughters, who’s elementary school professional career.” been attending school before switching to “Thank you for the here for nine years, has the middle school, opportunity to serve where she educated been bullied every day. as a member of the “in excess of 2,500 She said her sister had Bisonstrong team,” he young minds.” her “feet removed off said. the ground and she was Board members body slammed” and the school “did accepted the letter of retirement from nothing.” Rebecca Hartley, sixth grade teacher, “The middle school principal thinks effective July 29, 2022. I’m supposed to teach my daughter a In her letter, Hartley, who’s been a better way to deal with bullies because teacher at New Buffalo for 43 years, doing his job is too hard,” she said, said her “road trip” there began when adding that the “one person she could she was in a Title One position at the go to that she trusted is gone – that’s elementary school before switching to shameful.” the middle school, where she educated Keith Carlson, director of “in excess of 2,500 young minds.” operations, gave a yearly report. “I’m not sure where this next road He said that NBAS employs eight will lead, but I’m thankful that New Buffalo was a part of my road trip,” the full time custodians and two part time groundskeepers (one full time and letter said. one-part time in summer). Before expressions from the public,
Each day, the custodial staff cleans 204,000 sq. /ft. of floor space, including all restrooms and locker rooms, as well as cleans transportation, fieldhouses and the multiplex press box. The custodians average 25,500 sq/ft cleaned every day. As scientific evidence changed concerning surface contact contamination and contagion of Covid-19 and variants, cleaning protocols have changed in the district. Classrooms are no longer required to be disinfected between changes and specials. Teachers continue to have disinfectant and wipes at their disposal should they wish to disinfect their classrooms.
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rojects for 2022 include completing the new STEAM, Recreation, and Pavilion project. The high school/ middle school courtyard project has been completed, as well as the tennis court lighting. The installation of new high school/middle school skylights will take place next week. Board members also heard an update on the district’s technology from Jacob Stella, technology director. The one-to-one district currently has over 200 iPads, approximately 350 Chromebooks in second through eighth grade, 36 Kindles in the middle school, about 200 MacBook Airs for students, 85 MacBooks for staff, 24 Windows desktops in the SmartLab, 12 Windows laptops throughout the district, and 15 Promethean
SmartBoards. Projects for the 2021-2022 school year have included replacing Chromebooks in second grade and the middle school, adding a set of 30 Chromebooks and laptop cart to the Bison Afterschool Enrichment (BASE) program, replacing older sound systems, implementing a new PowerSchool enrollment system, and adding wireless internet around the back side of the elementary school. Board members approved the proposal from TPC Technologies, Inc. for Performing Arts Center Enhancements in the amount of $244,836.40. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Leslie said that the list of enhancements includes replacing all sound systems and light systems, the curtains and “all the bells and whistles to get this up to the capabilities the kids and staff deserve.” Board members approved the proposal from Custer for furniture for the STEAM building (which Leslie said is “starting to come to completion”) in the amount of $29,184.75. The employment of Rich Knoll as 2022 varsity assistant softball coach was approved. Board members did a first reading of the following board policies: 1616 Staff Dress and Grooming, 3216 - Staff Dress and Grooming, 4160D - Bus Driver Qualifications-Diabetes, 4216 - Support Staff Dress and Grooming, 5511 - Dress and Grooming, 6110 Grant Funds, 6114 - Cost Principles - Spending Federal Funds, 6325 Procurement - Federal Grants/Funds.
