Waitsburg School Board update

WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg School Board held its regular meeting on December 15. Board members and attendees heard updates from Carol Clarke, who was nominated and approved by the board to serve as the Board Chair for the 2023 year. Stephanie Cole was selected and agreed to serve as the vice chair. The organizational vote is held every year and confirmed by a roll-call vote.

School Counselor Rosy Nechodom and high school students gave a presentation on the Sources of Strength program, which is new to the district this year. Sources of Strength is a youth suicide prevention program that focuses on the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms to prevent youth suicide, bullying, and substance abuse.

Nechodom said the evidence-based program is based on suicide prevention. However, the Waitsburg School District's program will focus on broader support and suicide prevention. The program is grant-funded.

In the secondary principal's report, Stephanie Wooderchak reminded attendees about the upcoming job and career fair scheduled for March 9. Wooderchak said the fair would be open to all organizations, colleges, and businesses interested in attending. Surrounding schools, including Burbank and Pomeroy, will bring students to the event.

Board Chair Clarke shared that ESD 123 could not extend a search if the new superintendent leaves in less than two years due to staffing issues. ESD 123 was selected for the original search at the November 2022 meeting. They can assist the board with hiring an interim superintendent and continue to work with the district in the next year as needed. The board decided to continue forward with ESD 123.

The Board has since scheduled a special meeting to reconsider and define the Superintendent role now that both Pickel and Wooderchak are leaving their administrative positions. The meeting will be held at the elementary school library on January 22 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Superintendent Mark Pickel announced that Secondary Principal Stephanie Wooderchak would begin a new position as the English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at Waitsburg High School starting the next school year. Long-time ELA teacher Roseann Groom recently announced her retirement, and Pickel said that position was announced in-house, as is custom for the district to do.

Other new hires included Karen Huwe as the girls' middle school basketball coach and Dirk Hansen as the district's athletic director.

The Waitsburg School Board meets on the third Thursday of every month unless otherwise announced.