School board sets levies, hires staff

ODESSA – The Odessa School Board met Nov. 23 in the district office at 5:30 p.m. for a workshop to discuss the search for a new superintendent to replace retiring Dan Read and other staffing issues, then at 6 p.m. moved to the high school library for its regular monthly meeting. Present were board chair Ed Deife, board members Janie Steward, Heather Valverde and Chris Crossley, (absent was Carmen Weishaar); Asst. Business Manager Staci Claassen; Operations Supervisor Justin Parr and Athletic Director Bruce Todd.

The board approved the consent agenda, which included the minutes of the October 27, 2021 regular board meeting; payroll warrant void/reissue #614118 for $33.53; payroll warrants #614119-614136 and direct deposit warrants #900008674-900008696 for $314,103.91; general fund A/P warrants #614137-614174 for $37,998.57 and ASB fund A/P warrants #614175-614186 for $9,157.78.

Superintendent’s report

Read said the latest student count is 217.88 full-time-equivalent students. He also shared the Lincoln County COVID case information and said the Odessa School District does not have any current cases or quarantines. He discussed WASA and WSSDA legislative priorities. Read’s report ended with him informing the school board that no one responded to the advertisements to join the For/Against Committee for the upcoming levies.

Principal’s report

Nelson reported that parent/student/teacher conferences were held at the beginning of November with excellent attendance.

An all school assembly was held in honor of veterans, with tributes given by each class. Due to Covid concerns, veterans were not present at this year’s assembly.

National Honor Society held their annual induction ceremony November 5. The Honor Society students assembled and delivered Thanksgiving baskets the previous week.

The music and band classes will perform at Christmas Fest on December 1, and the annual school Christmas concert will be on December 15 at 6 p.m.

Pep Club is sponsoring the annual door-decorating event for 6th-12th grades on December 6. Christmas parties will be held for all grades on December 17.

AD report

Todd reported the high school girls have begun basketball practice. A parent meeting for the high school boys’ basketball team was held to discuss finding a coach and two stepped up to submit to board approval. The junior-high girls have been practicing and have played their first two basketball games. Todd discussed concerns about a shortage of officials for the basketball season. Non-vaccinated basketball athletes will be tested for Covid twice a week throughout the season.

Resolution #1-2021-22 Educational Programs & Operation Levy

The board adopted this resolution, stating in part:

“Whereas, the funds available for Odessa School District #105-157-166J through presently scheduled programs are insufficient to meet the needs of the district, and - - - - - Now, therefore, be it here by resolved - - - that a special levy be held in the aforesaid district on the 8th day of February, 2022, - - - - - - - Which shall be submitted to the electors of said district for their approval or rejection in the form of the following ballot title: “Shall a replacement excess levy of $550,000 be collected in the year 2023, requiring approximately $1.88 per $1,000 of assessed valuation - - to be placed in the General Fund and used for Educational Programs and Operation” - - - - - The aforesaid resolution was adopted at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the aforesaid district on the 23th day of November, 2021 –“

Resolution #2-2021-22 Capital Levy for School Improvement

The board also adopted this resolution stating in part:

“Whereas, the funds available for Odessa School District #105-157-166J through presently scheduled programs are insufficient to meet the needs of the district, and - - - - Now, therefore, be it here by resolved - - - that a special levy be held in the aforesaid district on the 8th day of February, 2022, - - - - - - - Which shall be submitted to the electors of said district for their approval or rejection in the form of the following ballot title: “be authorized to levy a one-year replacement tax levy be collected in the year 2023, the sum of $100,000, requiring approximately $0.34 per $1,000 of assessed valuation - - - to be placed in the Capital Projects Fund to be used to support the modernization of school facilities - - - of Odessa School District #105, Lincoln County, joint with #157, Adams County and #166J Grant County?” - - The aforesaid resolution was adopted at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the aforesaid district on the 23th day of November, 2021.”

New hires approved

The board approved the hiring of HP Carstensen as the high-school head basketball coach for the boys’ team, of Matt Gorman as the assistant basketball coach for the boys’ team and Alexandra Stanford as the high-school head basketball coach for the girls’ team, all as recommended by Athletic Director Bruce Todd.

The board also approved the hiring of Chelsea Watson as the assistant cook and Mark Sebesta for the custodial/maintenance position at the school as recommended by Superintendent Read.

Also approved were the acceptance of the donation of a Game Ready Ice Machine to the school by the Odessa Athletic Booster Club and the Test to Stay Protocol, both recommended by Read.

Date of next

regular meeting

The next regular board meeting will be held Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 6 p.m. in the high school library, with a workshop in the district office scheduled at 5:30 p.m. before the regular meeting.