The Lennox School Board met March 10 and decided to cut two teaching positions after an hour and 13-minute executive session.
Three teachers - Wendy Resichl, Mike Fodness and Katie Lee - spoke on the subject during public comment. Reischl expressed her concern if the board decided to cut a junior high ELA position. She said that would mean 28-32 students per room with one teacher trying to use 45 minutes to teach both reading and language arts. Lee said cutting an ELA position would negatively affect students and test scores if the board went that direction.
After executive session, the board decided to end the teaching contracts for fifth-grade teacher Cynthia Stone and junior high math teacher Matthew Luze.
During discussion items toward the end of the meeting, the board discussed budget cuts for the 2025-26 school year. President Scott Sandal said the biggest issue with the budget is the enrollment decline over the last year with a large number of students being homeschooled.
The main budget cut proposal includes the cutting of the two teaching positions that were approved. Other parts of the proposal include eliminating one assistant coach for each of these sports: girls basketball, wrestling, track, tennis and golf;Â
eliminating academic bowl and junior high oral interp; eliminating fall and spring strength coaches and the pep band position. It also includes cutting the prevention services from Carroll Institute and Cognia with total cuts coming in at $182,575.66.Â
Some suggestions included having tryouts for tennis and golf. Board member Jennifer Slack asked about possibly reducing the number of football coaches and Clayton Wulf asked business manager Angela Arlt to provide budgets with high and low enrollment numbers. Sandal would like the new superintendent and activities director to look at Slack’s question. The board will hold a special meeting March 18 at 7 p.m. to further discuss budget cuts.
The board approved the resignation of Joyce Simon as half-time EL teacher effective at the end of the year.
They approved the new contracts for Casey Shade as activities director with teaching duties and Mariah Jones as intermediate school and junior high guidance counselor. They also approved new substitutes for worker’s compensation for Marissa Dobbs, Rachel Mattson, Russ Nelson and Michael Sanchez.
They noted Laurie Buchanan as special education educational assistant’s retirement and the new work agreement for Erin Kirschenman as special education educational assistant.
The board appointed Marlene Sweeter, Corliss Wiebers and Orville Wiebers as school board election workers for the election on April 8 at the intermediate school gym lobby.
The board approved the RFP for banking services with Security Bank for the next five years. Arlt said the selection criteria was based on the scope of services offered, online banking, past performance, etc. They also had a floor and the highest interest rate.
They appointed board members Wulf to Lennox, Renae Buehner to Worthing and Melissa Daugherty to Chancellor for equalization meetings.
They also approved the RFPs for the high addition to upgrade the popcorn machine circuit for $968 and changes to the makeup counter in the performing arts center for $1,423.
Junior high/high school principal Chad Allison updated the board on the high school addition. The gym paint was complete, basketball hoops have been installed and the catwalks in the performing arts center have been installed. He expects the gym and weight room to be ready by June 1 and the performing arts center by Sept. 1.
The board adjourned at 8:04 p.m.