Wolfgram discusses schools, work ethic

By Holly Neumann

During the Manawa School Board meeting, Little Wolf High School Principal Dan Wolfgram gave a presentation on teaching students life skills.

“We have improved opportunities for our students to take a larger variety of courses throughout the eight-hour day,” he said. “We have also improved professional development and 1-to-1 technology on its way for next year.”

He noted that they will be using Positive Behavior Interaction and Support as well.

“When students don’t know how to do math, we teach them; if they don’t know how to do science, we teach them,” he said. “When students don’t know how to behave, we just expect they know what to do. No, we need to teach them.”

Wolfgram later referenced Career Cruising software that the district will begin using.

“It’s a complete assessment tool that provides users individual feedback on what careers do or do not suit them,” he said. “Students can research what these careers are and even do live interviews.”

He said the district is preparing students for their future.

“It’s about academics, it’s about their careers and it is also life skills,” he said.

He hopes to see the Manawa School District be in the top 10 percent of small schools in the state, within five years.

“We want our students to be community-involved people, with good hearts, good morals and good work ethic,” he said. “I am very optimistic about our future at Manawa. I think we have a lot to look forward to here.”

In other business, the board approved a preliminary budget for the 2016-17 year.

Helene Pohl made a motion to give authorization to reclassify $423,141 of general fund dollars for fund equity account for the purpose of payment of the approved energy efficiency projects.

“As you recall we passed an energy efficiency levy and we have not completed that levy, so we are going to carry that over to next year,” said Kathryn Burr, business manager for the district. “We have already received that money through the taxes this year, so we need to take that money and to be able to commit it somewhere in the fund balance so it is earmarked for expenditures moving into 2016-17. It’s a committed fund that can only be used for the purpose of the energy efficiency levy.”

The motion carried.

The board accepted the resignations of Tammi Mitchell, food service, and Dana Dean, volleyball coach.

On the recommendation of Nate Ziemer, athletic director, the board approved Paul Millard and Steve Kaczorowski, for middle school football coaches.

The board also recognized the FFA for chapter and individual awards. Receiving recognition were Andrew Scheller, Megan Pethke, Matayah Pethke, Ethan Michalowski, Saharra Lane, Kellyn Kaczorowski, Meghan Hetzel and Jared Zielke.

Also receiving recognition was Barb Hansen.

Hansen made a Manawa Wolves quilt for the music department that was raffled off. The quilt brought in $1,300, which was used to purchase an alto flute for the band.

The district will have two foreign exchange students for the 2016-17 school year.

Maria do Rosario Soares, of Carcavelos, Portugal, will stay with the Paula and Tamara Olk family, while Alice Vitali, of Bergamo, Italy, will stay with the Brandon and Brittany Penkalsi family while in Manawa.

Joining the staff at the Manawa School District will be Sarah Highlander, Grade 5, and Alicia Dean, Grade 2, for a one year position for the 2016-17 school year.