Wamego’s USD 320 Board of Education has reason to be proud. At Monday’s meeting, Board President Amy Schwein recognized Central’s 1st grade teacher, Trisha Spears, who was awarded the Kansas Horizon Award by KSDE (Kansas State Department of Education) and the Kansas Cable Telecommunication Association. The Horizon Award program’ s mission is to recognize exemplary first-year teachers who perform in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding. . She was nominated by Central’s Principal Teri Dow.
Coach Rick Patton was recognized as 2013 4A Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year by the Kansas Cross Country Track and Field Coaches Association. This isn’ t Coach Patton’s first honor, having won many awards in the past. He was asked how many years he’s been at Wamego, and he thought it was over 30. He said the honors belong to everyone involved in sports; the athletes, parents and other coaches.
Also, Wamego High’s Bank Instructor, Chris Richmond , Wamego Middle School’s Vocal Instructor, Josh Wilden and the students who made All-State High School Band and Choir and All-State Middle Level Choir were honored for their achievement and hard work.
The Board recognized President Amy Schwein for achieving Honor Roll Level 1 Certification at the Kansas Association of School Board’s Boardsmanship Academy training program.
Wamego’s newly formed Community-Wide Facilities Committee made recommendations on several issues. At Monday’s USD 320 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Denise O’Dea reviewed the committee’s recommendations on the Catholic Church proposal to extend their occupancy from May of 2014 to December of 2014. The committee recommended the extension to December 31, 2014, thereafter on a month-to-month basis with a 60-day notice to vacate. A motion was made to go to a month-to-month lease with 60-day notice to vacate after the May 31, 2014 date. The motion was approved 6 to 1, with Board Member Richie Chrest opposed.
The Facilities Committee voted 29 to 1 to wait on construction of the Bus Bay Facility and incorporate it into the overall facilities plan for Wamego. The overall facilities plan is expected to be presented at the April board meeting.
The board approved a new course offering. High School Principal Tim Winter introduced the proposal for offering Advanced Chemistry for senior students. Instructor Carl Behrens said there are currently 15 students that will be underserved because as seniors there will be no appropriate Physical Science class available. He added there have been as many as 30 students needing Advanced Chemistry.
According to Behrens, Chemistry II is a rigorous course designed for students that have completed the Chemistry I curriculum and need more advanced curriculum for their future area of study. This course study will introduce students to thermochemistry, more detailed bonding theory, organic chemistry, more detailed reaction kinetics, more detailed solution chemistry, and colligative properties. This course will feature the depth of a college course, but at a slower pace. The Board approved the proposal by a vote of 7 to 0.
In other business, the Board approved the early graduation request of Tristan Curtis, who is currently a Wamego High Junior, seeking permission to graduate from WHS in December of 2014. The Board approved the request by a vote of 7 to 0.
