www.newbuffalotimes.com
10 THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
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SCHOLASTICS
New Buffalo school board accepts resignations of band director, Spanish teacher
embers of the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education accepted the resignations, with regret, of two employees who will be heading to Lakeshore Public Schools at their Monday, June 13, meeting. Board members accepted the resignation of bands director Christina Baumann and high school Spanish teacher Luis Sanchez. Baumann, who has been at New Buffalo since 2008, has accepted a position teaching fifth through eighth grade band at Lakeshore Middle School. Sanchez, who has been with the district since 2011, will be teaching high school Spanish at Lakeshore High School. Regarding the open middle school principal position, New Buffalo Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Leslie said that there have been six applicants and he’ll have a recommendation for the board at their June 27 meeting. Board members approved granting tenure status to Angela Robertson as well as Melissa Forker. The employment of Jamie Bartelheim in the position of recreational aid for weekday afternoon/evenings and every other weekend was approved. Leslie said she’ll be working at the fitness center every other weekend and Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 9 p.m. Board members approved Frank Rowley in the position of morning recreational aid, pending background approval. The employment of Julie Williams in the position of recreational aid every other weekend, pending background approval, was approved. Board members approved employing Morgan Motycka as administrative
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
assistant to the athletic director. Leslie said Motycka has been studying athletic administration and coached the girls’ softball team this past spring. Board members heard updates from the district’s counselors as well as the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Angela Robertson, the elementary school counselor, said that, regarding Tier 1 & 2 support, this year, the 250 students received whole group lessons (29 for kindergarten through fifth grades and seven for prekindergarten); 56 students participated in small group lessons; eight participated in small groups (approximately 40 lessons), two of which were provided by a RESA consultant and Lory’s Place; 91 students received individual counseling sessions; 38 students received ongoing trauma/ behavioral intervention services; and there were 51 parent consultations. New Buffalo Elementary School is a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school, and Robertson said that PBIS Tier 1 was finally completed. Community support for staff, students and families continued to be received from organizations such as Toys for Tots, Harbor Country Rotary and Lions Club. Student successes are highlighted throughout the year with events such as February Kindness Month Challenge and the Good Citizenship Trait monthly winners’ donut breakfast. Middle and high school social worker Hilary Cunningham said that this year, she focused on Covid response and student mental health. A monthly parent newsletter was added to the principal’s mailer, with this year’s focus being on “Building a Resilient Family.” With grant funding from United Way of SW Michigan, each student and staff
members (including virtual) were given a Calming Kit that included a calm strip fidget for their devices. Through The Pokagon Fund, the New Buffalo Pandemic Response for Student Wellbeing Initiative Project was awarded to the district, which included a partnership with Willow Tree Counseling that can offer one to one counseling services to students in need of additional mental health support funded through the at no cost to students/families. High school counselor Lisa Price said the Class of 2021 had earned a total of 436 college credits, which included Southwest Michigan College credits for Spanish and music; Purdue Northwest credits, and AP and CLEP exams that students passed. Students take the PSAT/NMSQT, the CLEP three times a year, Michigan Merit Examination (SAT, Workkeys, MSTEP), the AP (English Language, English Literature, Spanish Language and Culture, Biology, Calculus AB, US History, Government, Economics) exam.
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ichelle Pliske said that the PTO holds its Bison Stampede (which is all online and doesn’t include selling items) every fall and that the net profit for 2021 was $11,540.75. In April, a recurring grant application was submitted to The Pokagon Fund for the two book vending machines and, if awarded, the PTO and the Rotary have committed to $2,083.33 toward them. Another project included providing clothes to students with accidents during the day. The four-year lease of computer equipment from Apple, Inc., was approved.
Board members approved the purchase of Qubit Networks (which is the Firewall) in the amount of $30,370.32. Board members approved the purchase of Steam building security cameras from Communication Company in the amount of $32,172.91. The purchase to Upgrade District Communication Equipment, in the amount of $62,897.17 from Millennia Technologies was approved as well as the purchase of Promethean Boards from Corporate Image Services, LLC. in the amount of $26,140.00. The purchase of elementary playground equipment from Gametime/Sinclair Recreation for $62,897.17 was approved (Leslie said they’re going with the second option, which has more pieces of equipment). Board members approved the elementary, middle school and high school handbooks for the 2022-2023 school year. Board members amended the 20212022 Budget, as presented per resolution (General Fund, Bison Educational Trust Fund, Food Service Fund, Activity Fund, 2014 Debt Retirement Fund, Public Improvement Fund). Business manager Pano Arvanitis said that 70% of expenses are payroll and benefits, with the other 30% being what the district uses to fund everything else (such as operations as well as any classroom and technology needs). For this year, total revenues were $17,963,427, which includes all the Covid money. Expenditures were approximately $18,523,847, which leads to about a $560,000 deficit for the year. The fund balance as of June 30 will be $4,470,278. Board members approved Crystal Flash as the supplier of fuel products for 20222023.
