Beatrice School Board acts on agreements, honors student member

BEATRICE – The Beatrice Board of Education approved agreements Monday night for the upcoming school year. The district has renewed agreements with Educational Service Unit Number Five for a technology coordinator. Superintendent Jason Alexander says the past several years, the district has partnered with the ESU through interlocal agreements.

A separate agreement will have the ESU again provide an alternative education program for District 15.
The Beatrice School Board approved the bid of Bimbo Bakery-Sare Lee for bread supplies in the district for this coming year, and the big of Hiland Dairy for providing milk.

The purchase of a Kettle pot at Beatrice High School to replace worn-out equipment was approved….at a cost of $35,400 with Buller Fixture Company. The acquisition will be funded from the school district’s cafeteria budget.

Monday night, the Beatrice School Board recognized graduating senior Annie Gleason, who attended her final meeting as a student board of education member. Each year, a senior is selected to serve on the board in a non-voting capacity….providing updates on student activities at all grade levels of the district. Gleason was one of seven co-valedictorians graduating from BHS during commencement, Sunday.

Beatrice Public Schools will be losing several decades of service in its teacher and staffing ranks at the end of this school year, because of retirements. That experience totals 135 years of service to Beatrice Public Schools.

Among those attending Monday night’s school board meeting was Joanne Doyle-Workman, who has served the district for 35 years…Ron Kassmeier….who has served 28 years in the district and High School Activities Director Gus Brown, who has served four years.

The Beatrice School Board also honored agriculture teacher and leader of the FFA Chapter at B-H-S, Colton Husa….as the district’s Employee of the Month, and recognized FFA Chapter members.

Husa says the agriculture program had over 110 students the past year in animal science, plant science and ag business. There are eight different classes. Husa says students also participate in competitions, hands-on activities and visit ag-related businesses, among other activities. The FFA chapter had 48 student members.

Also Monday night…Beatrice Public Schools honored as its Business Friend of the Month, Black Hills Energy. The utility company recently donated 45 new trees for the new Beatrice Elementary School site…helping to organize an Earth Day celebration event…involving classes of students in the planting of the trees.