Staff writer
It doesn’t have a name yet but, like a baby in the womb, a new activities league is taking shape, and Centre USD 397 has opted to be a part of it.
Approval came Monday at the board of education’s regular monthly meeting. A March 26 meeting of activities directors from the schools involved will determine whether the league will be born.
According to activities director Greg Wyatt, schools interested in participating in the new league are current Eisenhower League members — Hope, White City, Peabody, St. Xavier, Elyria, Solomon, Centre, and Wakefield — plus Peabody, Goessel, and Little River, which now are in the Heart of America League. Canton-Galva and Flint Hills of Rosalia also have expressed interest.
If enough schools vote in favor of forming the new league, it will become a reality and will be in place in the fall of 2010. It will incorporate junior high as well as high school.
With that formation, the Eisenhower League will be dissolved.
“It has been dwindling for some time,” Wyatt said. “This will definitely make the league stronger. I see the upside. I don’t see any downside.”
He said David Johnson of Burdick, the current Eisenhower League commissioner, most likely would be appointed commissioner of the new league. Governing bodies will include principals and activities directors.
In addition to current sports, league activities will include music, art, industrial arts, scholars’ bowl, forensics, FFA, and FBLA. Industrial arts will include competitions in metals, woods, and drafting.
Personnel issues top agenda of meetings
At a special meeting March 2, the Centre USD 397 board of education accepted the resignation of physical education instructor Stan Wiles. He has been a teacher at Centre for more than 25 years.
Several other actions regarding personnel were taken at Monday’s regular meeting.
The board met in executive session for more than 1½ hours to discuss non-elected personnel. Superintendent Jerri Kemble was included. Principal Nadine Smith participated for most of the session, and transportation director Bob Mueller was called in for a few minutes.
After returning to open session, the board voted to hire Tyler Weinbrenner of Hillsboro as physical education instructor. He will be graduating from Tabor College in May.
Nadine Smith, 5-12 principal, received a contract extension through the 2010-11 school year.
The board accepted the resignation of Alan Stahlecker as junior high girls’ basketball coach. They employed Deb Wiles to coach junior high girls’ volleyball, basketball, and track.
They also accepted the resignation of Gaea Wimmer as agriculture education instructor. She has accepted a teaching position at Texas Tech University, where she plans to pursue a doctorate in agriculture education. She has been at Centre for more than six years.
Smith announced the FBLA state conference was moved from March 26 and 27 to March 24 and 25 in Topeka, FFA livestock/floriculture contest moved from April 8 to April 1 in Hutchinson, and FFA ag mechanics contest moved from April 15 to April 8 in Pratt.
The variety show on April 24 will begin at 7:30 p.m., following the 5:30 p.m. senior project presentations and fifth/sixth art show.
In other business, the board:
- approved an engine overhaul for a 23-passenger mini-bus at a cost not to exceed $6,000.
- approved a Blue Cross/Blue Shield group health plan for the year beginning May 1 and ending April 30, 2010.
- approved an audit contract with Clubine & Rettele for a fee of $4,300.