Ewing board of education accepts teacher's resignation

With regrets, the Ewing Board of Education accepted the resignation of science instructor krista holliday during the Jan. 13 meeting.

Holliday's tenure at Ewing begin in the 1996-1997 school year.

In her letter of resignation, Holliday wrote, "It is with remorse and excitement I submit this letter of resignation. Remorse because I am leaving a great institution and workplace behind and excitement because to retire at an early age in the career of my choice marks a personal goal complete."

She cited the ability to share her passion of science with several generations of students.

"I hope I've helped them understand the natural world around them and to make good decisions as citizens," Holliday wrote.

After a pause, Pete Funk made the motion to accept Holliday's resignation. Mark Ramold seconded the motion, which passed on a 6-0 vote.

Her resignation is effective July 12, after she turns 55.

Holliday said she is willing to help in the transition and orientation of her replacement.

In other business, Principal Greg Appleby updated the board about progress of the new Summerland school project.

Administrators were scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss staffing for the 2020-2021 school year.

Appleby reported that several instructors who had contemplated retirement have agreed to stay for an additional year, including counseling, math, industrial tech and resource/speech pathology educators.

"The science deal is obviously a huge void to fill, but we're going to start working on that right away," he said.

Appleby said meetings with the Summerland architects and construction team are underway. The meetings are broken down by categories or areas of instruction.

"We've hit every aspect of the classrooms," he said.

The architectural team presents drawings of how rooms will look.

"Then we take a look at it and listen to the teachers, things they talk about. Like a science classroom. They need hooks for labs, a place you can put goggles. Every area has a little different need."

Board member Ed Nordby said teachers make reasonable suggestions to what may be needed.

"The architects are taking what they've learned from other projects and from discussing with other people and they're putting it into the plan," Nordby said.

Appleby said one food lab was discussed for the family and consumer science area. With the career pathways option, a commercial kitchen area was added.

In other business, the board:

• Learned an honors and fine arts convocation will be held separate from the athletic banquet, which will be a Summerland event;

• Approved the transfer of $80,000 from the Depreciation Fund to the General Fund.

• Declared old uniforms obsolete and approved the sale of those items.

• Discussed school policy regarding public health concerns. A recent situation was addressed with ESU 8 nursing director Jill Bates. Appleby said in the future, the school would probably send information to all students in the building instead of one specific class.