Laser engraver goes high-tech

Members of the Holyoke School District Board of Education took a little field trip during their meeting Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The group and others at the regular meeting of the board ventured down the hallway to one of the JR/SR high classrooms where the district’s new laser engraving machine is located.

In a matter of minutes, staff member Kody Timm demonstrated how the machine can take an image from a computer and engrave it on wood, glass, acrylic and other materials.

“We’re really excited about the laser engraver,” said Superintendent Kyle Stumpf.

The equipment will be used for a new donor wall as well as other school projects.

The district actually previously had a machine from the same brand, but it was a few decades old and was in much need of an upgrade.

Graduation date changed

At the Sept. 6 meeting, the board approved changing the date of graduation to Sunday, May 14, 2023.

That date is also Mother’s Day.

Increase to substitute pay discussed

Substitutes in the district are currently getting paid $90 a day, which is less than minimum wage, and board members questioned whether or not that wage should increase.

The going rate that the school is competing with is $17 an hour in Holyoke, said board president Dusty Sprague.

Stumpf pointed out that any increase in substitute pay will have a domino effect on the district’s budget. It could also have an effect on the ability to find paraprofessionals, a position that starts off at minimum wage.

No decisions were made at the Sept. 6 meeting.

Stumpf also shared with the board the results of a Colorado staffing survey.

Board hears from visitors

Randy Beal told the board about proposed rulemaking in July by the U.S. Department of Education to rewrite the federal regulations that implement Title IX to expand the law’s scope, without congressional approval, to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He told them that citizens only had until Sept. 12 to make comments.

Beal said that in May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that in order for schools to receive funds for free student lunches and breakfasts, they must comply with its interpretation of Title IX and other food-related programs.

“Biology tells us who we are. There are two sexes,” said Beal, noting his concerns for competitive sports, parental rights and children’s well-being if these federal regulations move forward.

Cherrie Brown asked the board if they knew what Sept. 17 is. She pointed out that it is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and she urged the district to make sure that its students are learning about the Constitution. “[The country] is not practicing the Constitution, in my opinion,” she said.

Brown also handed out materials on the Convention of States.

Other business

In other business at the Sept. 6 meeting, the board:

— Approved a letter of support and a financial match of $1,000 for a Department of Local Affairs affordable housing planning grant.

— Discussed appointments to shared leadership committees and vocational committees.

— Discussed the upcoming board retreat Thursday, Oct. 20.

— Acknowledged a gift from Justin and Ashley Clayton for prizes.

— Approved the resignation of extra duty assignments for Alyssa Metzger, high school volunteer softball coach, and Kyle Carper, high school assistant girls basketball coach, both effective immediately. John Baumgartner was rescinded from approval of high school head girls basketball coach effective immediately from a verbal resignation Aug. 16. A written resignation letter was not received, so the process of rescinding his school board approval from May 17 was finalized as of Sept. 6.

— Approved John Durbin as a full-time route driver and Kathleen Kropp as a part-time K-12 and staff counselor for the 2022-23 school year.

— Noted there will be a site visit at Holyoke School District with other Northeast BOCES districts for the Rural Coaction Grant on Oct. 26.

— Heard about a upcoming drill that will help entities when they need to reunify students with parents after an active shooter, fire, gas leak, etc.

— Discussed policies regarding enrollment for students who live outside the district.