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Leadership Class Attends Education Session

FILLMORE COUNTY - The Odegeo…Leadership for Fillmore County class attended an “ABC’s of Education” session December 20, 2016.

The day began with the members meeting at the Fillmore Central High School.  Mark Norvell, Superintendent at the Fillmore Central Schools, gave the class on overview of the Fillmore Central School Systems. Jim Rose, Fillmore Central Principal, then took the class on a tour of the High

School.  The class enjoyed a morning break compliments of the Fillmore Central Schools.

Next the class traveled to the Fillmore Central Elementary School where Michele Rayburn the SUCCESS administrator took the class on a tour of the Elementary School.  She told about programs for students with special needs.  Following the tour and discussions, the class traveled to Fairmont where Principal, Steve Adkisson, gave the class a tour of the Fillmore Central Middle School. 

Traveling to Milligan the class toured and heard about the 3^rd through 6th grade classes from Exeter-Milligan Superintendent Paul Sheffield. Then the group traveled to the Exeter site and enjoyed lunch compliments of the Exeter-Milligan Public Schools. Paul Sheffield, Superintendent gave a tour of school and explained about the updates and improvements that had been done on the school facility and how it was funded.  The fitness room at the school is available to the public as well as the students. The  TYKE program through ESU 6 is now available at the Exeter site.

The next stop was Shickley Public school where Superintendent, Bryce Jorgenson and Principal Derek Epperson talked about the Early Child Learning Center and the updates done on the building during the past summer. The class enjoyed cookies and drinks compliments of the Shickley Public School.

The last stop of the day was at Head Start facility in Geneva and how they have programs to  help parents and children from  pre-birth through pre-school.

During this stop Brandy VanDeWalle did a leadership skills session about asking about asking questions and responding to questions.

The January session of the Odegeo class will focus on Health and Human Services. Person interested in learning more about Odegeo…leadership for Fillmore County may contact the Development Corporation at 759-4910,  email lentfer.fcdc@genevamail.com or go to www.fillmorecountydevelopment.org.

New Massage Business in Exeter

Exeter Chamber members attended a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, January 13 at the new office of Devin Waldron.  Pictured from the left are Dr. Brett Speece, Nancy Waldron, Christina Hartmann, Devin Waldron, Matt Rathjen and Alan Emshoff.  Waldron, a licensed massage therapist, is the owner of Massage It Away which is open on Friday’s and Saturday’s inside the Waldron Law Office in downtown Exeter.  She can be reached for an appointment at 402-807-3647 or on Facebook.

Exeter-Milligan School Board Installs New Members

Above - New Exeter-Milligan School Board Member Kendra Oldehoeft signs the oath of office at the January school board meeting.

Below– Exeter-Milligan School Board back row from the left are Adam Erdkamp, Tim Pribyl and Eric Milton.  Front row from the left are Kendra Jansky, Sharon Kuska and Kendra Oldehoeft.

The Exeter-Milligan School Board met Wednesday night in the new community classroom on campus with an audience that included most of the junior class, school board members and administration from two other school districts along with parents and Exeter-Milligan faculty members.

Two newly elected school board members were installed on the board.  Kendra Oldehoeft, of Exeter and Eric Milton of Milligan were welcomed to the board.  After the oath of office was administered for the entire board, new officers were elected. Sharon Kuska retained the position of president of the school board and Tim Pribyl was re-elected as vice president of the school board. Adam Erdkamp was nominated and elected as secretary with  Kendra Jansky confirmed as treasurer.

All board members completed a conflict of interest declaration before Jansky gave the treasurer’s report and the board approved the minutes from the December meeting.

President Kuska introduced the agenda item in regards to a decision on the future of Exeter-Milligan volleyball and opened it up for audience comment.

Christin Lovegrove spoke representing the Fillmore Central school board.  She noted the current relationship the two schools share in cooping softball and expressed that Fillmore Central is “More than happy and willing to have a discussion with you. We are extremely happy with the relationship we have with softball. . .because of that relationship we would like to continue that relationship with these communities.”

Fillmore Central School Board president Randy Kleinschmidt spoke briefly concurring with Lovegrove, “Our door is open.  If you are open to do something for volleyball or not.”

Audience member and parent Cantrell Harrison asked the board if Darcy  White would be coaching next year and President Kuska directed the question to Dean Filipi, Exeter-Milligan Athletic Director who responded that she would be coaching as far as he knew.

Milton asked Exeter-Milligan Superintendent Paul Sheffield if there had been any comments from the students.  Sheffield responded that “If they could stay on their own they would like to do that.”

Kuska asked volleyball parent Jane Beethe for her opinion on the situation.  “I think it puts the students in a tough position.  They just want to play.  My opinion is to stay E-M and recruit."

Filipi commented, “My take on the situation is if we think we have enough players to play then I think the feeling is that we try to go one more year.  As far as the Athletic Director part of it the longer we wait for what we want to do it was affect scheduling as to who we want to go with.  Schools make decisions late but those are some other considerations.”

Coach Darcy White added her two cents to the conversation pointing out that it is not just the volleyball program that is suffering.  “We had 80 percent of the girls participating in three fall sports while only 30 percent are participating in winter with just one sport.”

“It’s not just a volleyball issue – you can’t have teams with five volleyball players and six basketball players.  Our numbers are not getting better. . .I don’t know what the projection is.  I am not going to go out and beg girls to play volleyball because those aren’t the girls I want to play for me."

Board Member Kendra Oldehoeft added that even if you are only losing three girls that is a 15% drop.

Board Member Kendra Jansky asked White what her thoughts were on students not participating in basketball.

White responded, “I think it’s a trend in society not just at E-M but you will have to ask the kids.”

David Kraus, the Friend Public School superintendent offered a coop with his district for volleyball. He noted that the coop Friend has with Exeter-Milligan for junior high football has been successful and the district is “Open to a decision.  We have a strong interest in combining for volleyball.”

Jim Pfeiffer, Friend Public School Athletic Director added his support.

Kuska thanked the neighboring school representatives for attending the meeting.

Board member Adam Erdkamp saw the situation as a two question situation, “We need to look at what we are doing for next year and the future.  The numbers don’t lie. I would hate for us to make a quick decision to change things up without more information.”

Audience member and parent Jill Oldehoeft asked why the board wasn’t looking at more than just volleyball.

Kuska responded, “with respect to the timing, the issue is volleyball.  It’s not just one sport we need to think about and that is one of the reasons I wanted Dean(Filipi) to come tonight.  Maybe provide a suggestion or shed some light for us.”

Filipi responded that the board could go either way, keep the team or choose to coop.  “Convenience wise it’s nice to know ahead of time. We would like to give other towns a chance to do that.  If that means we are hampering ourselves we have to look out for ourselves.”

Eric Milton added, “ I think you have to make this plan in the next three or four months.  This allows the public to know what the plan is.  We need to revisit this conversation sooner than in another year.”

Kuska emphasized that the board needed to make a decision during the meeting and Erdkamp made a motion to continue on as Exeter-Milligan for the 2017 volleyball season.  Vice-President Tim Pribyl seconded the motion.

Coach White added that she thought there should be an exception that if there were less than 6 girls they would forfeit the season. She expressed her concern that there would not be enough.

Milton asked what would be the options if they have to forfeit and Sheffield explained that the team members would not have the option to go anywhere else to play.

Assistant Coach Laura Kroll spoke in support of keeping the team at Exeter-Milligan.  “I want the girls to know that we believe in them, we aren’t giving up on them.  When you talk about a program dissolving it’s an emotional thing for me.  I will put our five girls up against anything.  One thing I know for certain is that we have built a culture here. In the last 10 years we have gone to state 8 times.  It’s been 5 years since we were able to have a 6 on 6 scrimmage.  If the girls are willing to give it all they can. I will give it all I can.  I am devoted to this program and Darcy is, but she is more realistic about the numbers.  You aren’t going to find a better coaching staff.  I believe we can make it another year.”

Beethe questioned the need Erdkamp expressed to have more information to make a decision.

Erdkamp responded, “ I am not comfortable in making a decision to end a program. Long term it looks like to me we will have to look for opportunities.”

Superintendent Paul Sheffield commented ,”No matter what decisions is made it is going to be tough.”

Kuska added, “We have to act in the best interest of the girls and the best interest in the set of activities we have at the school.  We are going to make some people happy and others not, but we have to make a decision so we can go forward.”

The board voted 5-1 to retain the volleyball program at Exeter-Milligan with Kendra Oldehoeft voting against retaining the program.

The board moved on to approve the 2015-2016 audit report.

Next on the agenda was a report on recent negotiations with the teachers.  Erdkamp reviewed the highlights of the changes to the agreement.  The salary schedule included additional salary options for the teachers who pursue additional education and certification.

They also offered to allocate $25,000 for faculty members to use to pursue further education on a first come basis starting with the 2018-2019 school year.

Kuska added, “We thought the establishment of an educational fund might be a good incentive for faculty.”

Sheffield commented that the funds would come out of the general fund and he had seen this program run successfully in another Nebraska district.

The board entered executive session to discuss personnel issues.  After returning they passed a motion made to let the superintendent’s contract automatically renew. 

Next on the agenda was the option to choose an Energy Service Company .  Sheffield explained that it just allows the board to look at grouping some projects together.  

Previously the board had sent out a request to four energy providers asking for their qualifications.  Only Trane responded.

Sheffield emphasized, “This resolution by no means binds the board into anything or paying anything.  We are just looking at utilizing an energy services company.  We would be possibly updating HVAC, lighting, locker rooms and  remodeling bathrooms all under one project.”

The board accepted the resolution to sign a letter of intent with Trane to implement energy and operational savings projects.

Kuska asked the board members to notify her of their preferences for committee positions.

Sheffield gave a brief preview of the legislative session and reported that the state aid check for $42 for the year came.

The board set the next meeting for Feb 15 at 7 p.m. in Milligan.

Ice Storm

No one has traveled the roads in Exeter much since the ice storm hit Sunday morning leaving a thin glaze of ice.  Although rain fell Sunday and Monday the temperatures hovered around freezing which allowed an ice buildup on everything in town.  Some brief power outages were reported and school activities were cancelled for Monday (which was already a day off) and school was cancelled completely for Tuesday.  Ice coating estimates were estimated at .5 inch. Temperatures dipped into the twenties overnight on Monday bringing a solid freeze to any liquids pooling on the roads.

Bloodmobile in Exeter Feb 23

The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be held on Thursday Feb. 23 from 11:30- 5:30 at the Exeter American Legion.  The Red Cross is issuing an emergency call for blood and platelet donations to help save patients lives.  There were 37,000 fewer donations in November and December because of weather and other activities.  Call Barb Jansen at 402-266-5571 or 266-8161 Peg Becker for an appointment or go on redcrossblood.org and register there.