Lake Holcombe School Board - District wants to continue spring co-ops with Cornell

Lisa Leasum, social emotional learning teacher at Lake Holcombe School, shared with the board of education, Nov. 18, what her job entails and the strides that have been made with the creation of the position. Leasum was hired after the district received a Stronger Connections Grant. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Now that the time has come to renew the spring sports co-op contracts, Lake Holcombe School is all in, but concerned that the contracts may be allowed to expire on Cornell’s side. If that happens, it could be detrimental to both district athletes, as low numbers could prevent fielding baseball and softball teams, while Lake Holcombe does not have a track facility.

Lake Holcombe district administrator Kurt Lindau has seen this coming, as Cornell superintendent Paul Schley has intimated the co-ops may come to an end.

“I’ve been very transparent with him and reiterated our interest in maintaining those co-ops for another two years,” said Lindau.

The matter was discussed at the last Cornell School Board meeting, with the members wanting to have more information and to deliberate the matter. If the contracts are not approved, even though they were at Lake Holcombe’s School Board meeting Nov. 18, the co-ops will still expire, as both parties must agree.

“We’ve talked about some contingencies,” said Lindau. Also approved by Lake Holcombe, was around $4,000 in fall grants that were funded by the Lake Holcombe Education Foundation, to purchase sewing machines for the consumer science class, pay for a field trip to Crystal Cave, and to help purchase a sawmill for the ag and tech departments.

Members also approved the resignation of head volleyball coach Beth Meddaugh; and assistant volleyball coach Amanda Gudis, as well as the hire of Allison Golat-Hattamer, assistant boys basketball coach; and Amy Lorenzen, assistant girls basketball coach.

It has been my honor to serve in various coaching capacities in the volleyball program, over the last 21 years, wrote Meddaugh. Thank you for the opportunity.

It’s been a privilege to work with our dedicated athletes and other coaching staff, wrote Gudis. I am grateful for the experiences and growth I’ve gained during my time here, and I will greatly miss it.

They also accepted $20, from Carol Bell, to the high school Student Council; $300, from 5 Star Travel Agency, to the special projects activity account; $325, from Northwestern Bank, to the archery program; $1,615, from The Sand Trap, to the boys basketball program; and $1,615, from The Sand Trap, to the technical education program.

Also approved, was social emotional learning curriculum, an evidenced-based program, where the lessons are short and concise.

“The kids should relate,” said social emotional learning teacher Lisa Leasum. “That was important.”

Lake Holcombe is feeling the impact of a Stonger Connections Grant the district received, which resulted in the hire of Leasum.

“Basically, my role is to support character building, social awareness with the students, build relations, help with conflict resolution,” she said. “I build on those character traits they have.”

Leasum provides extra academic help to get skills up, works on behavior charts, gives kids “breaks” when needed and has set up a regulation room, to help with students’ moods, to get them back to a learning state.

“It’s just a very, very helpful role,” said Lindau.