The Salem Community High School Board Monday night set graduation for Sunday afternoon, May 17th.
Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering doesn’t expect the date to move unless there is a tremendous amount of snow days.
Teacher Scott Burmeister approached the board about organizing a student trip to Costa Rica in the summer of 2027. He is starting early to make sure there is the minimum 10 students needed to make the trip possible. Burmeister says the cost will be $4,000, which he understands would be an issue for many. Parents will also be allowed to come along. A company that specializes in student trips would put the package together. Those on the trip would be able to view Costa Rica’s agriculture and tourism industries, visit a school and the cloud forest and be able to do zip lining. Burmeister who has done trips in the past wanted to do one more before he retires.
Detering reported the district’s expenses are seven percent below budget for the first half of the school year. He says a large part of that is the $450 daily attendance for a special education student to attend a specialized school in Carbondale. Detering says the school district turn in its paperwork to the state, so the state set its daily rate at $1 a day retroactive to last school year. He says it is unclear if the school will fight the state’s action which could result in the expense returning to the SCHS budget.
The board approved a number of resignations. Science teacher Race Collins is resigning at the end of the school year. Connie Oswald resigned as kitchen helper effective January 5th. Head soccer coach Cory Puritan and volunteer assistant Joe Shuber have resigned. Puritan says he wanted to be able to attend more of his children’s games. Shuber cited a change in his work schedule. The resignation of volunteer track coach Tyson Mann was also accepted.
