Bid deadline extended for Orchard building demo

Summerland School will be searching for a new speech pathologist for the 2022-2023 school year. Board members accepted the resignation of Sheila Kropp, who has worked in education for 44 years.

In her resignation letter, Kropp wrote, “After much deliberation, I have decided to retire at the end of the current school year. I have enjoyed working with Ewing, Clearwater, Orchard and Summerland in my 44 years as a speech pathologist.”

Finke told board members, “You don’t find many people lasting 44 years anymore.”

A motion by Steve Thiele, seconded by Nate Schwager, to accept Kropp’s resignation was approved unanimously.

Progress stalled, temporarily, on demolition bids for the Orchard site.

Superintendent Kyle Finke said bids were due Nov. 16.

“Jacob (Sertich) made some amendments and he’s pushed those back for one week.”

According to the superintendent, several agencies had questions about bid specs.

“He had some groups contact him about whether or not we could take the HVAC units and put them in storage for now. He didn’t feel comfortable where we were at, so he asked if we could move it back one week.”

The board tabled further discussion on the bid process until going into executive session. No further discussion was held and no decisions were made after exiting executive session.

In other business, the board:

• approved the purchase of ride-on scrubber and burnisher. Both items will be purchased from Eakes Office Equipment.

• amended the school calendar, making Jan. 14 a no-school day for staff development. Faculty will receive training on new smartboards, which arrived after the school year started.

• hired Brittnie Hoffman for a paraprofessional position, contingent on verification of employment advertising procedures. She has been substituting as a para and previously interviewed with the district.