Callaway High School student Taylor Ross is looking ahead, and has some concerns about the scheduled date of next year’s Homecoming dance. She shared her thoughts on behalf of the student body with the Callaway Board of Education at the monthly meeting on May 9.

“We know that you spent a lot of time working on the school calendar for next year, and we appreciate you doing that, but we would just like to ask if you would consider switching our Homecoming dance to the Saturday after the Homecoming game so then the schedule remains as it is set up so the dance can still be in Callaway,” Taylor said. “We realize that with the referees it is a really big issue that the date and the formation needs to stay in Arnold, but we were just wondering if you would consider switching the date of the dance. The junior class just thought it would make it easier to come in and decorate, and we would come back on Sunday to clean up.”

Junior class members Eva Pandorff and Joey Sallach were also present for the meeting and shared in Taylor’s request to have the date of the dance changed.

Superintendent Bryon Hanson told the students that while he appreciated them sharing their thoughts, there is a pretty big conflict on the date they are requesting for the dance. That happens to be the same day as the annual Harvest of Harmony parade in Grand Island, in which the CHS band participates. “We are trying to figure out the time we would get back from there, as they are expecting it to be more of an all-day event this year,” said Hanson.

Taylor responded to that by reminding the board and administration that a couple of years ago the dance was held the Friday night before Harvest of Harmony. “And we had to get up at 5:30 that next morning to go, and I would rather not have that stress,” she said.

Hanson and the board said they will continue to research whether the timeline would work to move the dance; however, the football game is a 3 p.m. kickoff which would allow the students more time between the game and the dance.

“We appreciate you guys coming in and talking to us,” said Board president Liana Hrupek.

The five FCCLA students who qualified for Nationals being held this summer in San Diego, California, also made a presentation to the board. Each of the girls explained their projects that earned them that trip, and talked about the organization and the benefits they feel they are gaining from their involvement.

Katy Cooksley, IPM coordinator for the district, reported on the results of this year’s student testing, and was pleased to report that scores at each grade level improved from the fall to the spring testing. In many cases Callaway’s students tested above the national average. “Don’t get me wrong, we still have work to do. But this is good stuff,” said Hanson. “Each year we have grown and grown. We’re doing good things and it is positively impacting our students.”

The board heard the first reading of several policy revisions, much of which has to do with the budgeting process if a district wishes to go above the 2% lid. Hanson also reported that the curriculum committee will meet on May 17, and at that time the committee will give input on the proposed draft of the school’s standards. “We should have it ready for reading at the June board meeting. It’s a lot of what we have already been doing, we are just formalizing it,” Hanson said.

The school has been able to purchase some new equipment for the weight room, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation. As a result the school has some old equipment to get rid of, and Hanson requested the board declare those items surplus to be disposed of by the superintendent.

“The first thing I would like to do is call the Village to see if there is anything they can use in the fitness center, so people in the village can get some use from it,” Hanson said.

Finally, Hanson gave an update on the construction project of installing a new boiler system. The project includes asbestos abatement, which will be paid for by ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Funds.

The next meeting of the Callaway School Board will be June 13.