School year starts off smooth

CRESCO - Supt. Kris Einck told school board members, “The first four weeks of school are going smoothly. Ms. Dursky and Mr. Coulter are running a tight ship as well as Mr. Sickles in the elementary. Mrs. Lentz is also doing a great job as Special Education Director.”
He went on to commend Kim Kerian and Jess Hillers. “Our instructional coaches are doing great things with professional learning and the teacher leadership program.” 
He added, the district office staff of Robyn Lane, Wendy Twait and Tanor Vorwald are steady like a rock as well as administrative assistants, Linda Middlebrook, Sharon Ollendieck, Denise Sheehy and Kim Lehmkuhl. “I would like to thank each of them for their hard work and dedication.”
The Cadet Capital Campaign was to kick off at the Homecoming game. “There’s lots of great things going on. I’m happy to be part of it,” he said.
Look for more information on the capital campaign in a future issue of the Times Plain Dealer.
• Doug Sickles, preschool-sixth principal, reported, “Jon Pritkin came and spoke to grades 3-6th grade on self-empowerment and developing personal strength.”
He was happy and pleased with how the Crestwood Elementary PTO group hosted a back-to-school party the night of the first home football game.
Fourth graders visited Hayden Prairie and Lidtke Mill, and sixth graders went to Prairie’s Edge Nature Center recently.
He added science classes have changed over the past few years to be more interesting and fun for students.
• Secondary Principal Lisa Dursky noted she was happy to see all the hall decorations for Homecoming. They had not been done for a few years.
She also noted some new furniture for the media center was being tried out. The old furniture has lasted a long time . . . since the high school was built in 1969!
Dursky mentioned her goal of having better attendance. “I’m proud of the students who are trying to get to school.” 
• Einck gave Activities Director Todd Coulter’s update. He mentioned it was Homecoming week, with a game against New Hampton.
“At the Waverly-Shell Rock game, P.J. Fleck, who is the head football coach at the University of Minnesota, was here to watch a WSR player. When I talked with him, he was very complimentary of our field and overall facilities. In his role, he visits a lot of high school football stadiums and said ours was top notch for the size of school we have!”
Coulter was pleased with the number of athletes competing this summer/fall. Football has 62 total players; cross country has 34; volleyball has 37; high school cheerleading has 10 and junior high has six.
• Director of Buildings & Grounds, Larry Trende reported State Auditor Rob Sand announced the 2022 Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) Winners.  Howard-Winneshiek CSD was named the Best Performing 3A Community School District.
• Resignations included Taylor Vrieze-Burke, Paraprofessional; Luke Jansen, Spring/Summer Cadet Zone Coordinator; Gary Steffen, Head Baseball Coach; and Trish Hartman, 8th and 9th Grade Girls Softball Coach.
• Approved new hires were Jill Dahl, Preschool Paraprofessional; Samantha Munkel, High School Custodian; Caleb Simiele, Kitchen Floater; and Becky Pierce, Keeauna Wilson and Chuck Pierce, Volunteer Cheerleading Support. New coaches are Gary Steffen, Jr. High Girls Track; and Mike Adams, Volunteer High School Wrestling Coach.
• Eighteen open enrollment applications were approved.
• Iroc Web Design Services was approved as the new website vendor. The first year will cost $4,950 and $688 for following years. The previous vendor cost $19,000 the first year and $13,000 the following years.
• The Builder’s Risk Policy with EMC for a total of $10,627 was approved.
• Payment #6 to Cresco Building Service for the Additions and Remodel Project of $1,229,392.15 and  $214,236.40 for Elementary & Jr. High Mechanical Updates and Replacement were approved.
• Emergent Architecture was given the okay for Additions and Remodel Project of $6,413.35.
The Elementary and Jr. High Mechanical Updates Change Order, totaling $6,046, and the Additions and Remodel Change Order totaling $33,072, were approved.
• The 2022-2023 Talented and Gifted (TAG) Plan and 2022-2023 LAU Plan were approved.
 

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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