OSMOND — The District 42R Board of Education met Monday, March 10, with a number of patrons in attendance. Paige Parsons, who has been hired to serve as K-6 principal beginning next school term, was in attendance and introduced herself to the board. She told a little about herself and, in tern, board members introduced themselves to her.
Celebration of Excellence
Joe Ortmeier, who is retiring after many years as teacher and coach at Osmond Community School, was recognized in a Celebration of Excellence. Joe said he appreciated the board for inviting him that evening, and all those he’s been associated with in the community. He mentioned that Chick Reed, who most in the community knew, would occasionally send him a letter or a poem, and he still has them. Chick would end by saying Joe was “his second favorite track coach” (Chick’s son was also a coach.)
Joe commented that Osmond has a good reputation around the state, something that made him proud to be a coach here. He said he has a picture of some of the kids and on the back it says “A coach is someone who makes you do what you don’t want to do to get you where you want to be.”
Joe told the board he will miss the people — the kids, the teachers and the coaches. He thanked the board again, and said "We're going to be just fine."
Girls’ Wrestling Requested
A number of people were present to speak to the board about adding girls’ wrestling.
Zach Buol said he has two younger girls. His boys and girls all wrestle and love it. He wanted to know what the board will do about a girls’ wrestling program. He said he doesn’t want to just put them in wrestling from kindergarten through eighth grade and then not be able to do it in high school.
Terin Vinson, whose husband and son coach the WWO and whose whole family is involved in the sport, reminded the board that she had asked a couple years ago about adding girls’ wrestling, and asked them to reconsider the answer they gave then. There are 12 girls in K-6 right now, she said, and a couple girls in high school also want to be in wrestling.
“It’s heartbreaking that they do well, but once they get to high school, they don’t have the opportunity,” she told them, and added that there are no schools around there that don’t have girls’ high school wrestling except Wausa.
Briana Olson informed the board that her daughter is in wrestling, and she wanted to move so that she can wrestle in high school.
Several others spoke about the issue, including Walt Aschoff, who said he thinks the girls are owed the opportunity. He said there are other kids who are going elsewhere for some sports, and “we don’t want to have more kids going elsewhere.”
Board President Mark Moes told the group that the board couldn’t give an answer that night, but they will take it into consideration.
Activities Director Report Brian Guenther gave a report on the gym floor and showed two designs for the center circle. Jeff Heimes of Court Floors will be here for an onsite visit sometime this week and several board members need to be there with him to discuss the work to be done.
Guenther advised that the Plainview coach as asked about joining Osmond for Unified Bowling, and having Osmond join them for regular bowling. The board discussed how it will work with a Unified Bowling co-op, and when the regular bowling season starts, which is after Unified Bowling ends. Guenther said he will let the board know the deadline for making the decision.
Principal’s Report
Principal Kurt Polt reported that March 13 is the end of the third quarter, with report cards to be sent home by SCHOOL BOARD HEARS REQUEST: GIRLS WRESTLING
March 21. The third quarter honor breakfast for seniors will be April 9.
Kindergarten round-up is scheduled for April 10, Polt said, with an ad- dition of a Moving On Up Day. He explained that kindergarten teacher Amber Harrison had suggested bringing prospective kindergartners in to do projects. At that time, they can also be assessed and evaluated for the next year.
Polt announced that all graduation diplomas, caps, gowns and stoles are in his office, and said to plan on singing diplomas at the April board meeting.
Pre-ACT testing will be on March 12 and ACT test date is March 25.
The choir and band concert has been moved to March 20, the first track meet will be the indoor meet at Wayne State on March 22, and state speech is at Kearney on March 28.
Polt advised that Class D All-State Band will be March 29 at UNK, with Osmond to be represented by eight students.
Easter break will be from April 17 to 21, with school to resume on Tuesday, April 22.
Polt reported on football coaches for the 2025 season: the junior high coaches will be the same, and Dante Schmit will be assistant coach for the high school.
Principal Polt reported on the Nebraska Computer Science and Technology Act: the Nebraska De partment of Education has mandated that all schools teach a five credit hour course to all students in grades 9-12, starting with the Class of 2029, which would be next year’s freshman class. The completion of this class sometime during their high school career will be required to graduate from high school. Business class instructor Kaylen Tunink will have a coding class which will fulfill this requirement.
Polt advised that the elementary curriculum team has requested to continue to use the Wonders program as the English Language Arts curriculum. The current program is Wonders 2017; the K-5 classrooms will upgrade to Wonders 2023, and the sixth grade will upgrade to 2020. They will both be purchased with online supports for the next six school years.
The principal reported on Legislative Bill 140, which is about cell phones in school. The governor is in support of the bill, and it has gone through the second round of debate.
Next year, all schools will have to come up with a policy regarding cell phone usage. The board discussed how to get parents’ and kids’ input on the matter, and talked about doing a survey.
Mr. Polt reported that he had heard some people asking about using motorized bleachers because of liability with using the old ones. So he found out who put in the ones the school has to get a quote for adding motors. The person he talked to recommended putting in all new bleachers, so Polt was asked to get a quote on prices for new motorized bleachers versus adding motors to the old ones.
Polt was asked about the status of coaches for all sports. He said he still needs a head volleyball coach, but does have one person interested.
Superintendent Report
Superintendent Skip Bremer briefly reviewed board policies 4054, 405661 and 4063, with no chances to any of them.
Bremer gave a co-op report, saying a committee meeting was set for March 11 with Wausa board member Mike Kumm and Superintendent Brad Hoesing. The co-op is going well so far, but the Wausa board said it is not willing to co-op basketball next year, and it is not looking possible in the “foreseeable future.” Bremer said we need to move forward, and need to ask them their feelings, to form a strategic plan.
Board Member Michelle Reikofski said the big issue is boys’ basketball.
“If they’re not willing to do that, why should we commit to consolidation.
They have put a lot of work into their facility, but so have we.”
Board Member Justin Koehler said Osmond needs a long-term commitment, a co-op of all sports. If boys’ basketball is the issue, they should give Osmond a date when that issue is over, so Osmond isn’t in limbo, he said.
Bremer said they need to find out what each wants out of either cooping or consolidation. Krohn said the two need to stress helping each other where it’s needed, and not just “when it’s convenient for me.”
For next year, Bremer said Mr.
Polt has talked with a couple other boys who are considering going out for basketball next year. There would possibly be six total. Bremer said, if Osmond has enough junior high boys, he recommends ending the co-op with Wausa for junior high basketball and just do Osmond Tigers.
Bremer also shared results of a survey of students for all school activities — including sports, oneacts, etc., including St. Mary’s sixth through eighth grade.
Bremer advised that the C4K for Pierce County met March 3 in Osmond. Next steps are to see what gaps still exist for early childhood education, and Osmond Community School will continue to see how it can help. Little Tigers will be maxed out by the fall of the 2025-26 school year, he said. The Early Childhood Education Committee will meet on March 24 to discuss use of the yellow building and transportation assistance.
Board Comments
Board Member Tyler Gansebom reported that the contract has been signed with the City of Osmond and Love Signs has been paid.
Krohn gave a shoutout to social studies instructor Dale Krause. The Legion Auxiliary has an annual Americanism essay contest, and there has not been much participation of public school students in the past.
Mr. Krause had it as an assignment this year, and a lot of the essays were very good.
The board then went into closed session regarding approval of Mr.
Polt’s 7-12 principal contract.
