NEW KNOXVILLE – New Knoxville Board of Education met Monday, Oct. 26, to hear about the success of their fall sports teams as well as how the district is keeping COVID infection rates low. They also heard an overview of a lighting project aimed to reduce electricity costs in the buildings.
Superintendent Kim Waterman said the girl’s volleyball team was headed to District competition Tuesday night, playing against Minster at New Bremen’s gym. Waterman thanked all teachers, coaching staff and student athletes for keeping up the health department’s COVID control requirements such as social distancing and masks, allowing the students to play at all.
“Any day in school is a good day,” said Waterman.
She noted that at this point, only one person has tested positive for COVID in the district, with 10 students under quarantine because of close contact. Another 10 more had been quarantined earlier in the school year due to outside contacts.
Grades 4 to 12 Principal Jenny Fledderjohann said several student athletes were recognized for their athletic achievements. She said first team All MAC went to Carsyn Henschen and Ellie Gabel, second team all MAC went to Morgan Leffel, Haley Fledderjohann and Avery Henschen. Melisa Waterman received Honorable Mention All MAC. Carsyn Henschen was the MAC Volleyball Player of the Year and Meg Lageman was MAC Coach of the Year.
In District 8 Volleyball, Carsyn Henschen and Ellie Gabel received first team honors and District 8 All Star Match was Morgan Leffel. District 8 Coach of the Year was Meg Lageman.
Soccer teams also received honors, with Patrick Covert and Ryland Dyrness getting WOSL firs team honors. Josh Deitsch and Carson Bierlein were named on the second team WOSL and honorable mention honors to Carter Piehl and Luke Stachler.
The board also heard that a single classroom had been selected to research how the district might work in-house to update lighting and reduce electrical costs in school buildings.
In October, the district was presented a report by Energy Optimizers, USA to install LED lighting. The Energy Optimizer project was estimated would cost the district $147,040 for flat panel option while saving the district 14% or $18,084 annually. If choosing the direct wire approach, the cost would be $100,680 and allow an estimated 21% reduction or $18,303 in savings. The Board decided they would try to work with their own staff to replace lighting and reduce electrical costs.
Several staff were approved for employment, including Kay Webb as sports tournament manager, Kimberly Dauch-Behr as a substitute teacher, Laura Gengler as substitute custodian, Terry Halko as boys eighth-grade basketball, Kort Fledderjohann as Elementary boys’ basketball, Liz Barhorst as Girls seventh- and eighth-grade basketball, Rachel Leffel and Kenzie Schroer elementary girls basketball and Myndi Hawkins as seventh- and eighth-grade cheer adviser. Andrea Lammers was hired as a substitute teacher.
The board also thanked Steven Trout for a $350 donation to be used for the athletic department.
