Hume school offers two teachers contracts

Brad Steuck swears in as a newly elected board member of Hume Board of Education on Wednesday. Board president Steve Yarick sits on right. Gloria Tucker/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

The Hume Board of Education voted, 6-0, to offer teaching contracts to Rodney Blackman as a special education teacher and Hannah Elliot as an elementary teacher at its meeting Wednesday. The board also accepted a letter of retirement from David Brooks and a letter of resignation from Heather Klingaman.

In other business, three new board members were sworn in -- Greg Fillpot, Mark Byrd and Brad Steuck. Steve Yarick was elected board president; Josh Rogers vice-president; Mark Byrd became secretary; and Gail Yarick became treasurer.

Mark Byrd, left, and Greg Fillpot swear in as newly elected board members for the Hume Board of Education on Wednesday. Gloria Tucker/Daily Mail

Board member Sean Allen resigned from the board, leaving one spot open. Superintendent David Quick told the board they could leave the spot open or put up notice of the vacancy and then, appoint a seventh member to serve until the next election. The board moved to begin the search for another member.

"I suggest you look at former board members who have already been through training," Quick added.

Previous board president Stacey Swickhammer gave a farewell address to the board. He thanked the board members for serving and gave advice for new members.

"I just can't stress enough, we are super fortunate to have the administration that we have," he said. "You are sitting in a good position. You're going to find out small schools struggle financially, but you have a man and woman who are going to get you through it. Help them make the decisions that you think are best for the school. Thanks for letting me say my piece, and thank you all for what you're doing."

In the principal's report, assistant principal Scott Morrison told the board members he had further negotiated down the price for a new reading series for the elementary level.

"We started at $40,000 and took it down to $10,167," Morrison said. "I think that's about as good we're going to get."

Principal Kirk Hart said the school is applying for a $25,000 grant to build a greenhouse.

"We want to show kids about horticulture and agriculture," he said.

In other business, the board approved to continue the A+ program (college scholarship program for qualifying students), the graduation list, a $1,000 offer for an old trailer and joining Missouri Educator Trust (self-funded health insurance).

"I recommend we raise our minimum to 30 hours before we pay $350 per employee toward insurance," Quick said. "We may have to grandfather some people in."

Board member Gail Yarick asked if the payment could be increased, since the cost of insurance would increase 11 percent.

"This is all we can afford," Quick said. "If the budget looks better, we can always come back and amend what we pay."