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Sheldon R-8 board focuses on facilities
Nevada Daily Mail
While covering many smaller items, Wednesday night's meeting of the Sheldon R-8 school board focused on facilities.
"Ed Fowler, president of the class of 1966 and head of the alumni association, asked me what the school needed and I mentioned it would be great to have a flagpole right behind our front sign," said Jason Irwin, district superintendent.
Right behind the sign, Ed Fowler and brother Kerry poured a concrete pad. On order are a 30-foot flagpole and a solar powered light for the flag. The donation of a flag is anticipated.
Led by Irwin, an end of meeting facilities tour highlighted various summer projects.
"You may not have noticed but for a while, when the floors were stripped, it wasn't done all the way to the edge," began Irwin. "So I mentioned it to our custodian, Troy Leer, and together with Brenda Baxter, our cook, they used scrapers to get all the old wax off, they cleaned the floors and put several coats of wax on them."
Irwin pointed out the freshly painted halls, the polyurethane on the gym floor and vines removed from the exterior of the building's south side.
Devin White, assistant principal and athletic director reported on fall sports.
"The cross-country team has two runners with our first competition being at Marmaduke Park, in Nevada, on Sept. 6," began White. "I have this quote from Coach Mike Galimberto."
"'I have confidence that with [Nic] Pitcock, he will do his best to achieve both personal best times and distance increases in practice. I also believe that when the cross country roster is finalized and practices become more "fluid," we will have a good cross country squad.'"
"The volleyball team has two seniors, one junior and seven freshmen for a total of 10 players," said White. "They have new uniforms and before our first game, here, against Bronaugh on Aug. 25, we will first have a teacher/alumni game on the 22nd. Due to the size of our team, we will be able to participate in varsity and junior varsity games."
White gave a quote from Coach Lisha Lamb. "'Although we do have a majority of our team first year players, they are eager to learn the game and practice with the best of their abilities. Our season this year may start with jitters; however, I can see we have some athletes that will increase our competitiveness as a team.'"
In the principal's report, Carolyn Compton mentioned the "meet the teachers" night set for Aug. 16, from 5-7 p.m., following a hot dog feed.
"The Sheldon FFA consignment auction will be Saturday, Sept. 3 at 10 a.m., at our Ag building," said Compton. "Grandparents Day and our Book Fair will both be on Sept. 9. And the teachers of the GVVC conference will have an in-service day at the Bowman Building featuring a discussion of an active shooter on a school bus scenario."
The superintendent's report reviewed new state laws that will affect schools.
"Beginning in the 2018-19 year, we will have to screen and write plans for students with dyslexia, those at risk of failing or committing suicide," began Irwin. "A year from now we'll have to provide 30 minutes of training in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver as well as make sure all students pass the same 100 question civics test that's given to new citizens. And this year we will be adding cyber-bullying to our policy handbook and reciting the pledge of allegiance each school day."
With the meeting's business complete, most members took up Irwin's invitation to tour the newly scrubbed and painted facilities.
While standing in the cafeteria, first looking down the main hall and then toward the resurfaced gym floor, board member Cody Claflin said, "When the walls and floors look this good, I think it adds to the pride that all of us have in this school!"