by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Wellington USD 353 and Futures Unlimited Inc. have entered into an agreement to start a preschool at Kennedy Elementary starting next fall. The Wellington school board approved the agreement at its regular meeting held last week.

The new preschool will be for children ages 3 through 5 and there will be full and half-day options. The school district agrees to provide the facility, utilities and custodian services. Futures will provide staff, supplies, material and curriculum.

Click on the Futures ad to the left or here for applications to the preschool.

Math Intervention curriculum

Using data presented by Heath Peine, Wellington Special Education Director, the board approved a math intervention curriculum for USD 353 students, who appear to be falling behind in the subject. 

The intervention program, to be implemented this fall, will target K-12 students, who have a math level proficiency at least one grade lower than what they should be achieving on the state assessment scores. The school received a $8,000 federal grant through the Technical Assistance System Network to fund the program. Students who are struggling in math will have targeted tutoring programs during school hours.

Whitener estimates that about 20 percent of the students are considered to have math skill deficiencies, and this intervention program will specifically target them individually in hopes of getting them back on track.

Whitener said a group of teachers previewed the selected interventions earlier in the spring.

Personnel changes

The board approved the following personnel changes:

Resignations:

•Pawandeep Goraya-Special Education Eisenhower;

•Allen Keller, Wellington head high school boys tennis coach;

•Kisten Petersen, WMS 8th grade Math;

•Angela Luna, Special Education Kennedy;

•Mike Wilmoth, high school assistant boys baseball coach;

•David Corrick, school psychologist;

•Tammy Dillon, special education Kennedy;

•Tayler Pattrick, para at Roosevelt.

Hirings:
•Michelle Partridge, assistant occupation therapist;

•Taylor Becker, Wellington Middle School, assistant volleyball;

•Danielle Rangel, WMS, Eighth grade math;

•Danielle White, WHS business/math;

•Allison Brewster WHS, assistant volleyball;

•Audrey Gill, WHS assistant volleyball;

•April Sanders, WHS Color Guard;

•Kellyn Holt, WHS 9th volleyball;

•Tony Ybarra, WHS PSQ;

•Kevin Hays, School Psychologist;

•Rhiannon Nichols, special education Eisenhower;

•Jessica Coldwell, WHS Drama;

•Shannon Smith, eighth grade English language;

•Amelia Bristow, Student council sponsor;

•Teresa Whitener, special education Kennedy;

•Jeff Frazee, Algebra 1 at WHS summer school.

Approved transfers:

•Holly Rausch, transfer from Wellington Middle School to Wellington High School English- Language Arts.

Whitener said Wellington has a fifth grade opening at Lincoln Elementary. Other than that, USD 353 is fully staffed for the 2017-18 academic school year.

New time for meetings:

Traditionally, the USD 353 board has met on the second Thursday of the month. The board will vote whether or not to meet on the second Monday of the month. The reason for the change is there are less school night time activities on Monday than on Thursday.

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In other news, the board approved:

•the biennial WHS Government class trip to Washington D.C., under the direction of Mike Wilmoth which will occur during spring break;

•a 10 cent increase per meal on the school’s cafeteria plan;

•changing to Blue Cross/Blue Shield as the health insurance provider;

•bids for the high school parking lot lights, replacing those currently in the WHS parking lot;

•and an executive session at 8:20 p.m. to discuss non-elected personnel, coming out of executive session at 9:20 p.m.

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Reports/discussion:

KSDE Innovation application:

Several board members participated in a conference call with Dr. Randy Watson, KSDE Commission of Education, concerning the redesign of public schools. The state board of education will select seven school districts to assist with a redesign model.

Vocal Music Festival – Spring 2018

The area wide vocal music festival is slated at Wellington Middle School on April 25, 2018. The board will dismiss school at WMS for this one day only.

Business Office report

Wellington Assistant Superintendent Brad Morris gave a report on a variety of matters including the track project and new LED lights being installed at WHS gyms and auditorium.

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