SCHOOL NEWS: School board OKs interim leader, staff changes

The Brown County Schools Board of Trustees approved the following May 6:
<ul>
<li>Hiring Jim Halik as the interim superintendent for Brown County Schools beginning June 1 and ending at the conclusion of the superintendent search process (about Aug. 2) or at a time determined by the school board. The interim superintendent will maintain all legal protection afforded to the superintendent of schools for the duration of the interim service period.</li>
<li>A first reading of the Brown County Schools wellness policy.</li>
<li>Adding 15 minutes per work day for Brown County Middle School paraprofessional Sharon Snodgress for the 2021-2022 school year to allow for her to have extra prep time for a lab.</li>
<li>Closing Brown County Intermediate School on June 1.</li>
<li>Using BCIS as the Brown County Education Service Center serving the Career Resource Center of Brown County and the Brown County Early Childhood Center beginning in school year 2021-2022.</li>
<li>Reconfiguring the following buildings from serving preschool through grade four students to preschool through grade five students for the 2021-2022 school year: Helmsburg Elementary School, Sprunica Elementary School and Van Buren Elementary School.</li>
<li>Renaming Brown County Junior High School to Brown County Middle School for the 2021-2022 school year.</li>
<li>Reconfiguring BCMS from serving grades seven and eight to serving grades six, seven and eight for the 2021-2022 school year.</li>
<li>Separating BCJHS eighth-grade volleyball coach Ashley Hawley, effective April 23. This was not a termination.</li>
<li>Separating BCJHS football coach Sean Cassiday, effective April 7. This was not a termination.</li>
<li>Separating SES student services advisor Paige Wetzel at the conclusion of the school year. This was not a termination.</li>
<li>Separating SES preschool teacher Elizabeth Zeigler at the end of the school year. This was not a termination.</li>
<li>Separating BCS bus driver Gena Wagler, effective April 23. This was not a termination.</li>
<li>Separating BCIS preschool teacher Samantha Prather at the end of the school year. This was not a termination.</li>
<li>Separating BCJHS teacher Sarah Hale at the end of the school year. This was not a termination. HES science teacher Chris Miller was transferred to replace her, effective Aug. 2.</li>
<li>Separating BCIS teacher Dawn Faust at the end of the school year. This was not a termination.</li>
<li>Appointing HES special education teacher Kortney Lemieux, bachelor’s degree, Level A, $38,000 per year with zero years of experience, full-time with benefits, effective Aug. 2. She is a replacement for Staci Harden.</li>
<li>Appointing VBE elementary teacher Abigail Magner, bachelor’s degree, Level F, $42,375 a year with five years of experience, full-time with benefits, effective Aug. 2. She is a replacement for Madeline Lucas.</li>
<li>Transferring BCIS special education teacher Kera Hayworth to BCMS special education teacher. She is a replacement for Debbie Sumner.</li>
<li>Transferring BCHS teacher Jay Myers to BCHS Career Connected Learning master teacher, effective Aug. 2. This is a new position.</li>
<li>Transferring BCMS paraprofessional Felicia Branson to SES paraprofessional, effective Aug. 2. She is a replacement for Kimmy Clayton.</li>
<li>Transferring HES vocal music teacher Rachel Martin to BCMS vocal music teacher, effective Aug. 2. She is a replacement for Daniel Lyng.</li>
<li>Transferring SES paraprofessional Kimmy Clayton to BCMS paraprofessional, effective Aug. 2. She is a replacement for Kimberley Hathaway.</li>
<li>Transferring HES/SES split physical education teacher Josh Sparks to HES full physical education teacher, effective Aug. 2.</li>
</ul>