The New Bremen Board of Education had a meeting on Wednesday in order to discuss various items related to the new school year that started earlier this month, one of which was the Student Wellness and Success Plan.
The board held a brief discussion during the meeting on what they plan on focusing on this year for the Student Wellness and Success Plan, which consists of three items; supporting and expanding mental health services for students, continuing to provide physical health services and support, and continuing to offer educational opportunities to students and staff. There were some action items that were noted to be something the school plans on doing in order to meet these goals for the 2024-2025 school year, which include the following items:
• Provide internal guidance counseling services for students in grades K-6 and 7-12.
• Provide opportunities and resources to connect students and families with external mental health services.
• Explore opportunities to expand partnerships with service providers.
• Support physical wellness programming opportunities for students (BIY, Speed and Strength, Summer Camps, Extra & Co-curricular).
• Provide physical training and health aide services to students.
• Provide students with educational assemblies focused on developing life skills.
• Support the implementation of PBIS for students in grades K-12.
• Provide staff with high-quality professional development.
The board also went over reports given by K-6 Principal Diane Kramer and 7-12 Principal Marcus Overman, who talked a little bit about how the new year has been going so far.
Kramer made sure to note that her teachers and staff went through training and professional development over the summer, which included learning a new science-based curriculum and completing Dyslexia and Science of Reading Training. She stated that the processes involved with starting the school year also went smoothly, with the kindergarten orientation taking place on Aug. 6 and that enrollment has gone up this year, with a total of 445 students within the K-6 program.
Overman gave a similar report, stating that items such as the 7th and 9th-grade orientations were well attended on Aug. 5, which gave students the information they would need in order to start the school year. He also went on to say that he and Mr. Lauterbach discussed various important items with students, some of which included teaching seniors about School Links and the Common App.
It was also noted by Overman that around 17 juniors and 12 seniors would be participating in Tri Star this year, three seniors are involved with the Ag Early Release program and that 10 seniors will be in the CAP Program. While this does almost constitute “half the grade” in his own words, he did state that it was good that the students were going out there and getting ready for their college and professional careers.
The board also discussed and approved the following items during the meeting:
• Approved the meeting minutes of July 17, 2024.
• Approved the General and Lunchroom Fund Paid Bills.
• Approve the commercial paper filing reports.
• Established the Fund 200-938A Greenbelt Class and transferred $1,000 from the General Fund to aid in start-up expenses.
• Approved supplemental contracts for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
• Approved bus stops and times, as well as special education transportation.
• Appointed delegates for the OSBA Conference in November.
The board, after discussing all relevant matters of discussion, moved to adjourn to meeting with plans to meet next month.
