The Chadron School Board has approved adding 2 more full-time teachers to next year’s budget, one at the middle school and the other in Special Education, but the exact positions to be set in the spring.
Middle School Principal Nick Dressel told the board Monday night that the current 5th grade class has roughly 20 students more than the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade classes, which will create class-size issues next year when they enter block scheduling.
Dressel also said he won’t know until after the deadline for current teachers to accept or reject contracts for next year what subject area or areas will need extra staff.
Something of the same situation exists with the Special Education position. The number of special ed students has roughly doubled and the board gave Special Ed Director Tiffany Brown-Waldron the flexibility to determine where the greatest need lies.
At least one current Chadron Middle School teacher won’t be back next fall. The school board regretfully accepted the retirement resignation of 8th grade reading teacher Barb Waught at the end of the current year.
In her letter, Waugh said “teaching has been a challenging, worthwhile, and rewarding adventure, (but) after 35 years, other adventures are yet to be enjoyed.”
Waugh also wrote that she’s enjoyed the students, staff, and community – and looks forward in the future to hearing about the success of students as they pursue their own adventures.