Three HNS teachers resign; one new teacher is hired
HARTINGTON — The Hartington-Newcastle School Board Monday accepted the resignations of three teachers and agreed to a contract with one new teacher.
The Board accepted the resignations of elementary teacher Leigh Haselhorst, Industrial Technology Instructor Nick Haselhorst, and physical education instructor Kyle Pardun.
The Board also agreed Monday to hire former Wausa High School teacher and football coach Rusty Fuller to replace the retiring Blair Kalin as a physical education instructor and as Activities Director.
Fuller taught and coached football for Wausa for seven years, racking up a 24-35 record and earning playoff bids in 2012 and 2013.
Fuller, who is currently teaching and coaching at St. Paul, will also take over duties as the Wildcat head football coach. He led the St. Paul Wildcats to football playoff wins in three of the past five years.
Current HNS coach, High School Principal Corey Uldrich has decided to tender his resignation after guiding the Wildcats the past six seasons. He has earned a 28-30 record in that timespan.
Supt. Johnson said Fuller wanted to get back to this area to be closer to family.
Supt. Johnson told the Board the bus they approved to purchase in February has been ordered and is expected to arrive in late August or early September.
The school addition project is progressing well, he told the Board. “Even with all the weather we have had, the roof decks are up. Once the ground is dry, they will be able to pour the floors,” he said.
The Board also agreed Monday to put Jessica Wilson on the approved substitute teacher list. She is a student teacher currently working with Susan Anderson’s kindergarten class. Johnson said now that she is on the list, she will be able to step in for Anderson if she ever has a sick day.
Uldrich told the Board that the high school juniors would be taking the ACT test on March 22. Sophomores will take a pre-ACT test on that same day.
Uldrich also noted the high school quiz bowl team has again done well in the 64-team Wayne quiz bowl competition.
The school won the event last year and will finish in the top three or four this year, he said. Team members include: Ky Rice, Lane Heimes, Turner Dendinger and Dayton Sudbeck.
Johnson told Board members on Monday the school will host informational sessions for students at HNS and Cedar Catholic and an evening session for the public.
The sessions will examine opioid abuse and fentanyl poisoning. The program is presented by the Neb. Pharmacists Association and sponsored by the Wolfe family of Coleridge.
Josh Wolfe died last year of fentanyl poisoning and the family wants area residents to be aware of the dangers of this drug.
The next Hartington-Newcastle School Board meeting is set for April 10 at 5:30 p.m.