Two-hour early outs approved for rest of the school year at NVS

FONTANELLE — The Nodaway Valley school board adjusted the current school year calendar as part of their meeting last Thursday night in the middle school media center to include two-hour early releases for the rest of the school year’s Wednesdays.

Recently, the school district has had one-hour early releases for professional development each Wednesday, however this school year at one point, they were moved to two-hour early releases to allow students and staff more time to connect for academic purposes.

“This is just another way to dedicate some time to some kids who need it and dedicate it to the staff so they can work with the kids,” said superintendent Paul Croghan.

A small number of students have elected to learn virtually this year and Croghan said the increased implementation of technology to the classroom is something he’d like to continue to see expand.

“It’s the world we work in,” Croghan said. “Zoom in meetings and things like that. Superintendents talking about the weather [for snow days], we always used to do that by email. Now we throw out a Zoom invite and have decided we should probably do it that way all the time. We need to be making some shifts to the positives with this, helping kids learn, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

In other action, the school board:

• Heard reports on various testing going on now at all grade levels from the various building principals.

• Passed three measures regarding sharing for the 2021-22 school year and beyond with Orient-Macksburg (see separate story).

• Approved the sale of used equipment by sealed bid that can be submitted to the superintendent’s office.

• Approved an upgrade to the high school girls’ locker room at a cost of $12,950.

• Discussed facilities committee responses, that there were 10 responses and those who have not responded to being part of the process will be contacted.