2 Teachers, Staff Hired at Cedarville
By Paul Gingras

All open teaching and supportstaff positions have been filled at Les Cheneaux Community Schools. The board of education approved the hiring of two teachers and two support staff at its Monday, September 15, meeting.

Joe Wilmes will fill the vacant special education teacher position, which requires him to work with 20 to 30 students. Mr. Wilmes worked at Sault High School and Ojibwe Charter School in Brimley as a social studies teacher. Although he is not certified in special education, the state allows the district to hire him for the position as long as he is working toward certification by taking at least six credits a year. He needs 18 credits to be fully certified in special education. Mr. Wilmes has a master's degree in educational administration and leadership.

His position is full time, pays $35,795 a year, and includes benefits. Questioned by school board vice president Dave Murray, principal Amy Scott explained that Mr. Wilmes was chosen over two certified candidates, which is legal, as long as the administration feels a non-certified candidate better fits the district's needs.

"He is well versed in assessment curriculum, and he is very techsavvy," she said.

His goal will be to keep special needs students in general education classrooms as much as possible.

"The longer they are in a general education curriculum, the better access they have to that curriculum, and the better chances they have of mastering that curriculum," she said.

The Les Cheneaux district followed a similar path with Scott Barr, also a certified social studies teacher, who taught special education at Cedarville while working toward his special education certification. Eventually, the district needed a social studies teacher and he moved into that position, explained school business manager Kris Hill.

Betty Struble, a retired teacher, was hired to teach kindergartenthrough fourth grade music classes. She is not certified in music instruction, Mrs. Scott said, but she is qualified to teach the subject. Rather than teaching one hour a day, all week, she conducts all classes in one day.

Mrs. Struble will be paid $5,114 a year. She is certified in elementary education. Lorie Thompson has taken on a new position that includes both food service and custodial work. She will work 3.25 hours a day in the food-service position and 3.5 hours a day as a custodian. She is also a substitute bus driver. Ms. Thompson will be paid $9.96 per hour in food service and $9.01 per hour for custodial work. She will receive full benefits.

She will work during the day as much as possible, explained Superintendent Rod Goehmann, however, when needed as a substitute bus driver, she will return in evenings to complete her custodial duties.

She has substituted in the kitchen and as a custodian and understands her responsibilities, Mrs. Hill added.

Todd Lysinger has been hired as a new custodian. Unlike his predecessors, who worked eight hours a day, he will work 6.75 hours a day. Mr. Lysinger will make $9.36 an hour and receive full benefits.

Mrs. Scott announced high school parent night Monday, September 22, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Parents will experience their child's schedule by spending five minutes in each classroom, where they will ask questions and receive information on the Michigan Merit Curriculum. School cheerleaders will help parents get from room, Mrs. Scott added. She encouraged school board members to attend and help coordinate the event.

School improvement teams will focus on literacy for the next two years, Mrs. Scott said. The goal will be for students to learn reading techniques that emphasize reading for deeper meaning rather than reading superficially, and the district will be examining reading instruction in all classrooms.

Mr. Goehmann initiated a discussion

about having student representatives on the school board. Although they would not have a vote o the board, they would have a voice in discussions and may be invited to serve on committees.

Whether to solicit representatives, respond to students eager to be a part of the process, or make it a requirement for student leaders, such as the student council president or National Honor Society president, were discussed.

No action was taken on the proposal.

The district adopted an anti-bullying policy developed by the Michigan State Board of Education. It will be distributed to faculty and parents.