Thursday, April 12, 2007

Susan Grey to be principal of VF elementary

by Clarke Davis

Valley Falls third-grade teacher Susan Grey was offered the contract Monday night to become the elementary and middle school principal.

The school board voted 6-0 to offer Grey the contract after interviewing two candidates at the start of the meeting. Grey has been an elementary teacher at Valley Falls for 18 years. She replaces Richard Koester, who is retiring at the end of this term.

Newly elected board members Bobbi Kearney, Jody Lockhart, and Richard Malm were invited to sit in on the interviews. They will become voting members after July 1.

The district received 22 applicants for the principal’s position, Superintendent David Grove reported. He said that field was narrowed to four and the board interviewed two.

A proposed bond issue to build a gymnasium will soon be back on the agenda. Grove said the issue will be discussed at the May meeting and he believes it’s the consensus of the board to put the matter to a public vote.

The building project was started early last fall, but shelved in December after learning that a decrease in enrollment had caused a budget shortfall. A list of cost-saving cuts has been created to try and stave off a tax increase in the district.

In other business, the board:

—Approved combining high school dance and cheerleading with the district providing uniforms on a rotating basis similar to athletics. The number of sponsors will be reduced from three to two.

—Approved a contract for Brandy Turner, Oskaloosa, to teach middle school language arts. She currently teaches at Indian Hills Elementary, Topeka.

—Accepted the resignation of Ben Dehner, band and instrumental music teacher. Dehner is retiring after 17 years at Valley Falls.

—Board approved a non-renewal resolution for a non-tenured fourth-grade teacher, Ramona Smith.

Board member Beryl Darrah was absent.