Esko board looks ahead to more normal times

The Esko school board is looking ahead to the 2023 school year, with Covid-19 cases slowing down for the district and the end of the current school year in sight.

As of Friday, March 11, there were only two active Covid-19 cases documented by K-12 students and staff. The low number of cases not only means that masks remain optional for students, but it also allowed Esko school board members — and audience members — to hold their meeting Monday, March 14, without talking about Covid protocols, which have been the focus of many meetings throughout the pandemic.

Instead, board members were able to discuss matters such as the proposed 2022-2023 school year calendar. After discussion with teachers, superintendent Aaron Fischer proposed the new schedule to the board, which includes changes for parent-teacher conference times. The new schedule gives parents two opportunities to sign up for conference times, with the addition of early afternoon conferences which will be held following the early release on a Wednesday. The option of evening conferences will still be available, with the district utilizing two Wednesdays for conferences. According to Fischer, conferences will now be held in 20-minute blocks, up from 10 to 15 minutes, so parents have time to connect with all their children’s teachers. The new conference schedule will be given a one-year trial.

In other business, the district was pre-approved for a solar project grant they have been preparing for over the last few months. Fischer reported to the board that during the grant process they must “pre-apply” to see if they are eligible before actually applying for the grant itself.

The grant would provide funds needed to install solar panels at the football field. According to board chair Jerry Frederick, this project would decrease costs for the district over time, increase the district’s “green footprint,” and serve as an educational tool for students.

Now that the district has passed the first stage of the application process, they will begin estimating costs of the entire project before submitting their final application at the end of May.

Elementary principal Brian Harker shared excitement with the board about the incoming kindergarteners that have begun preparing for their first school year in the fall. With multiple events being held for the class, such as Kindergarten Round-up and Kindercamp, Harker estimated that Esko will have 88 new kindergarteners attending in fall of 2022. Harker also reported that the interview process for the four open teacher positions at the elementary school is beginning this week. Despite not having as many applicants as in past years, he said they are excited about the quality of the applications received.

High school principal Greg Hexum shared with the board that they are putting programs in place to ensure that all seniors are able to graduate this spring. With the help of teacher Thomas Stoll, a temporary remedial program was started to assist any high school students needing extra help during the last few months of the school year.

Hexum ended his report to the board by sharing a letter he received from a 1947 Esko graduate, which was sent out to students. In the letter, the 93-year-old graduate told students, “Remember your Esko grit, perseverance and hard work are the keys to success … Esko has been and always will be a springboard to an amazing life if you make it that way.”

The school board meets on the second Monday of each month.