Superintendent Press Release March 8, 2024
Dear Cedar Bluffs Families,
Next year, all schools in Nebraska will be required to install a Shot Clock for high school basketball. The NSAA voted 7-1 in favor of adding Classes C1, C2, D1 & D2 to Class A & B who already have the shot clock. We currently have someone in charge of keeping the official book, running the game clock and now we will need someone just in charge of the shot clock, if you are interested.
All Junior High and High School Winter sports have completed, as we move into Spring sports of Track and Boys Golf. Many students continue competing in Club sports through our Platte River Select Teams. We had 5 junior high and one elementary wrestler who qualified for the Nebraska USA State Wrestling Tournament in Grand Island on March 16 and 17th. This is equivalent to qualifying for State Wrestling, as athletes had to grind through numerous wrestlers and finish in the top 4 at Districts last week in Fremont.
I have been to countless teacher job fairs recruiting teachers this year, my farthest away have been Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Cedar Rapids Iowa on the campus of UNI. In the State of Nebraska, it is law, that schools can NOT require a teacher to accept a contract renewal until March 15th but if no offer is extended by April 15th, the contract automatically rolls over. We begin handing out contracts at the first of March and ask that they be returned by March 15th. And while it’s not quite March 15th many teachers have already turned in their continuing contracts and it appears we will retain all our elementary staff. We are losing a few in the middle/high school and I will provide more details about the new hires as we get closer to next year. Furthermore, as you know we are also re-organizing. Mr. Ben Hansen will be our new Director of Learning next year and Mrs. Kate Chrisman will be elevated to the Elementary Principal position. Mrs. Shannon Lubker will be our new career academy director employed by the Federal JAG program. We have also added an additional fulltime substitute teacher having just signed Mr. Matt Murren, who just recently was coaching the Clarkson-Leigh girls into the State semi-finals. Plus, with the increase in Special Education reimbursement funding and the increase in need at our school, we are adding a new Special Education teacher. We are still interviewing for that position.
Quick reminder, if you haven’t seen the new cafeteria, kitchen, and auxiliary gym; it will be open on Parent Teachers Conference nights for short tours. Parent Teacher Conferences are next week, March 13th & 14th from 4-7pm. There will be a book fair in the old cafeteria. Please come and enjoy some refreshments and speak to your child’s teachers.
Have a great weekend!
GO WILDCATS!