Callaway Public School is committed to providing a quality education for all students, and this year’s crop of seniors is proof of that commitment. These Callaway and Arnold seniors have been awarded college scholarships from the Custer County Community Foundation: Front row, from left: Lauryn Johnson, Jocelyn Bailey, Abby Stallbaumer, Nadeema Haidle, Devin Peterson, Halie Recoy; back row: Silas Cool, Grant Hrupek, Lance Jones, Taylor Ross, Clay Witthuhn and Kaden Paulsen. (Photo courtesy Donnis Hueftle-Bullock, Custer County Chief)

While the issue of expanding the existing preschool program from a half day to full day at Callaway Public Schools has been laid to rest for the time being, at least one community member is not ready to give up on the idea quite yet.

The Callaway Board of Education met on Tuesday, April 11, and in a time on the agenda set aside for public comments Rebecca Eggleston took the opportunity to address the board on the issue.

“After your last school board meeting I made a survey asking the community about their opinions on the preschool, and the community was more in favor of it than against it,” Eggleston shared as she handed a copy of the survey results to each school board member. “I have talked with five of the six school board members, and I appreciate you guys all taking the time to talk with me and hear my concerns, and tell me more of the facts. One of the bigger things on the survey that people seemed to be more concerned about was the tax issue. I believe you guys all see the educational benefits of the program, and I believe the staff at the school all see that as well. I think a lot of the problem with the community is they just don’t understand what’s going on. There wasn’t enough information given to them, or they believed the rumors that it was a daycare, which it’s not. So this is the information I gathered and I hope you guys will consider revisiting the issue.”

Because it was presented during public comments and not an agenda item, the board took no action. However, they thanked Eggleston for taking the time and effort to compile the survey.

The board then moved into discussion of the 2023-24 school calendar. Superintendent Bryon Hanson presented options for next year’s calendar with a recommendation for approval of option 3.

“The calendar was really tight this year just because of the way things fell. We start after SORC and try to get out before state track, then we kind of look at where Christmas and everything falls,” Hanson explained. “We need to get to 182 teacher contract days. What I am proposing is that we have 181 contract days on site, and do one flex day with the teachers to get to that 182. Our teachers put in a ton of time outside of school and usually that is not compensated. This gives us a little flexibility on the calendar.”

Hanson explained that the flex day was added on the back side of Christmas break, meaning the teachers would come back from break on Jan. 3 and the students on Jan. 4. The other adjustment is for parent teacher conferences. Typically teachers get a comp day the next day for having to work the night of conferences. However, next year there are multiple events throughout the weekend following the conference which will not allow time off for those teachers who are coaching and assisting with those activities on Friday and Saturday.

Hanson proposed a comp day for parent teacher conferences on Sept. 29 instead of on the 15th, which is the day after conferences. There are no activities that weekend which would allow the teachers a full 3-day weekend. “It also happens that we are playing football in Hyannis that Thursday night with an 8 p.m. CT kick time, which would put our kids back here about 1 a.m. We also have volleyball in Sargent, so we will have students and teachers getting back late that night and then trying to get to school the next day, so I suggest the calendar with that flex day,” Hanson said.

After some discussion and questions from the board, they agreed with the recommendation and approved the proposed 2023-24 school calendar.

There was also discussion on the recent building and ground committee tour of the campus and plans for addressing some of the issues that were found. Board member Jim Phelps presented a detailed list of what he observed as issues needing addressed while on the tour. Board president Mike Reiff added that the majority of these issues are “easily fixable and can be completed in a summer”.

In the final action item, the board approved a teacher contract for Pat Recoy as business teacher/technology coordinator for the 2023-24 school year.

The board then adjourned into executive session to discuss the building and grounds findings and personnel issues. No action was taken when the board came out of executive session. The next meeting of the Callaway school board will be May 8 at 8 p.m.