(Mark Mahoney, Wausa Gazette and Regina Lorenz, Osmond Republican) A recent board discussion about Wausa Public Schools partnering with Osmond Community Schools on a junior high basketball cooperative agreement turned into a larger conversation about the future of the rural districts.
Members of the Wausa board of education discussed future planning during their regular monthly meeting on May 13, including a formal request from Osmond school officials to form a cooperative agreement with Wausa for junior high boys’ and girls’ basketball for the 2024-25 academic year.
This request has been made because Osmond’s junior high basketball teams will not have adequate numbers to allow Osmond to have junior high teams that can play competitive games or consistently improve skills in practice.
According to a letter from the Osmond school board to the Wausa school board, a recent study of parents and patrons of the Osmond community conducted by the Osmond school administration has shown an overwhelming support for the Osmond school district to work toward a long-term partnership with the Wausa school district.
Osmond school officials believe that “a junior high basketball cooperative agreement will strengthen the partnership between both schools by showing a willingness to work together to ensure both schools can offer quality activities to their students,” according to the letter.
“The Osmond board of education and administration look forward to working with you and your school in regard to a junior high girls’ and boys’ basketball agreement for the 2024-25 school year as we envision both schools working together to development long-term partnerships in academics and activities to maintain stability in both of these great schools,” the letter concluded.
Wausa school board members took no action on the topic, but they likely will consider taking action on Osmond’s proposal for a one-year junior high basketball cooperative agreement during their regular meeting at 8 p.m. June 10.
An informational meeting on the potential cooperative agreement was scheduled for June 2 at Wausa Public Schools for parents of junior high students.
The conversation about another potential cooperative agreement between Wausa and Osmond – they already are partnering on wrestling, football and FFA/agriculture starting in 2024-25 for four years – led to a deeper discussion at the Wausa school board meeting about future planning between the school districts.
Hoesing asked Wausa school board members about potentially having a more in-depth discussion with their Osmond counterparts about future cooperative agreements – and possibly consolidation – between the school districts.
“What I’m kind of hearing is that maybe this conversation needs to be a little more than talking about just sports, for lack of better words,” he said.
School board member Terry Nelson noted the public needs to be kept in the know about the current state of the Wausa school district and its future.
“The more informed the public is, the better,” Clausen said, later adding, “One thing that we all certainly agree on is, we want to keep a high school in this community.”
At the Osmond school board meeting on May 13, the board discussed a number of questions regarding short- and long-term goals and needs, staffing needs, etc.
Short-term needs included upcoming retirements, coaching positions, Spanish, dual credit offerings, auto-diesel tech, robotics and girls wrestling, while long-term, the board considered staff needs, student numbers and teacher burnout.
Regarding staffing needs, the board noted the number of upcoming retirements and the number of teachers with the ability to teach dual credit classes. There is also a shortage of paras and substitute teachers.
In discussing ways to share or co-op staff members, board members had a number of suggestions: better class schedule alignment and willingness to make it work, sharing teachers to offer variety and high-level coursework.
The last topic of discussion regarded the question of consolidation. Whether through state requirements, state funding issues, or other reasons, if the two districts were to go down the path of consolidation, how might that look?
Board members agreed the schools should be pro-active. With Osmond and Wausa numbers, it would be easier if the schools co-oped everything so that, IF Osmond and Wausa would have to consolidate, it would be easier. Also, co-oping everything now might slow down having to consolidate.
The Osmond Board of Education will meet Monday, June 10, and as always, the public is invited to attend.
