The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
School officials applaud extracurriculars
By Edward Freundl, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008
Extracurricular activities took center stage at the April 14 meeting of the Chelsea School Board, with High School Principal Ron Mead giving the students and faculty advisers their due.
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"Everyone is aware of our athletic programs and our music programs, but we have a variety of extracurricular programs that aren't as visible but still valuable to students," Mead said.
"I want to compliment all the teachers who, in effect, donate their time to lead these activities."
As an example, he presented economics teacher Matt Pedlow, adviser for the Economic Club.
This is a group of dedicated students who meet outside school hours to learn more about economic topics and participate in various academic competitions.
Just a couple of weekends ago, the new club earned high honors at one of these events.
"The Economics Club took two teams to the statewide 'Economics Challenge,' and in our first time ever doing it we came in second in the state," Pedlow told the school board.
"We probably could have done better, but I never expected to make it to the final rounds where they had a Quiz Bowl-type competition. We never worked on that."
Board members congratulated Pedlow and his students on the accomplishment, and asked to be kept apprised on further developments.
Mead noted that extracurricular activities serve a serious purpose and can have lasting effects.
"They are not just fun, all of these have an educational purpose," he said.
"It's been my experience, and research backs it up, that the best indicator of success in adult life is involvement in extracurricular activities in high school," Mead added.
"Not everybody can play a sport or an instrument, but everyone can do something - and we have enough activities to appeal to everybody."
Another popular school activity is the annual prom, and prom adviser Lisa Stebelton reported that there will be a break from tradition in this year's event.
"We're going to move the prom from the high school across the street to (the Washington Street Education Center)," Stebelton told the board.
"It's a good idea but it's a huge change; it has a lot of room for us to work and lots of storage space."
"City Lights" is the prom's theme, which is requiring an almost Broadway-style staging with backdrops, props and decorations.
Another change is in the community walk-through of the decorations, which had always taken place the afternoon of the event.
"This year we want to have it on Friday, because it will give people a better opportunity to see it," Stebelton said.
The walk-through will be from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 2; while the prom will take place 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, May 3.
Organizers are asking for a $1 donation from people at the walk-through to defray some of the expense.
Following the presentations, the board approved bids for Phase 5 of construction at North Creek Elementary School, consisting of painting, flooring and student lockers.
The flooring bid was awarded to Shamrock Floorcovering Services for $172,000; painting will be done by Forest Painting for $22,032; and the lockers will be provided and installed by Lyon Workspace Solutions for $32,628
The total of the work came to just less than a quarter-million dollars.
"It all fit within our original budget," Superintendent David Killips said.
The construction project is on track to provide four classrooms for the all-day, every day kindergarten program that will commence this fall.
"At North Creek, the structural steel is in place, and roof decking should be done by (April 18)," Killips said.
North Creek Principal Marcus Kaemming said the construction was going "really well."
"They are right where they wanted to be, timewise," he said.
"This group has been great at working around our staff and students."
The entire construction process has been well thought out and well planned, Kaemming said.
"Their response to us has been immediate if we had any concerns," he added.
Board Secretary Rob Turner asked if any problems or changes in the work had been encountered.
"There are two things that will require superintendent approval; they are $5,000-plus items," replied Operations Director Ron Livengood.
"There's been $15,000 to $18,000 in requested change orders out there, but (construction management firm) Granger has not blessed them and we have not blessed them."
Change orders can be approved by the superintendent for up to $5,000 and require board approval beyond that, but the board did not take action on those changes at the meeting.
In other business:
The board approved hiring Lynn Bolman of Cadillac as interim Assistant Superintendent on a two-year contract, beginning July 1.
He will fill the vacancy created when Iva Corbett steps down from that post at the end of the school year.
Bolman has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator, including superintendent in Wexford and Pentwater.
He will be paid the same salary of $150,000 per year as Corbett, who also was under contract to the district to bypass benefit costs.
Mead also advised the board of the parental education series that began at the McKune Library on Monday.
The seminars are co-sponsored by the school district, Chelsea Community Hospital and McKune Memorial Library, and will take place on four consecutive Mondays at the library.
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