Cornell School Board; Students motivated for the process of state testing
Ashley Carothers, Cornell School District parent, was on hand for the regular board meeting Feb. 28, speaking highly of high school social studies teacher Brett Dekan, who is leaving the district for a position closer to his spouse’s employment. Photo by Ginna Young
By Ginna Young
It’s a time every teacher dreads – state testing. But, in the Cornell School District, educators are working with students to make the process a little less scary and a little less stressful. The students have already been walked through a practice test, from start to finish.
“We do that, because part of the process of the ACT… is the confidence of how to take a test,” said middle/high school principal Dave Elliott, at a regular school board meeting Feb. 28.
Elliott said they’re also working on motivation, trying to impress upon the students that it’s like an escalator that stops moving. Do you stand still and think the progress is over, or do you walk on and reach the destination?
“You have to take that first step,” said Elliott. “You have to be the ones to lift yourselves up.”
Elliott also mentioned that the Student Council is planning for another blood drive, after the previous one was canceled by the Red Cross, because there were not enough workers to run the event. Elliott said the council really wants to host a drive, as blood supply is greatly needed and they always exceed their donation goal.
“Our kids really take pride in that,” said Elliott. Ashley Carothers, district parent and local Red Cross ambassador, said she will help the school coordinate a drive.
In his report, superintendent Paul Schley said the Cornell-Lake Holcombe Knights will not have a baseball team this year, as there are only three interested athletes between the schools.
“Not a lot of baseball interest,” said Schley. However, softball and track numbers look good, with a lot of success the last few years, with the softball program.
As part of business, the board approved the 2022-23 support staff wages and teacher salaries. Members also approved the resignation of social studies teacher Brett Dekan; the hire of assistant high school softball coach Karlie Antczak; and fifth-grade teacher Tammy Raether.
Dekan wrote in his resignation letter, that he would like to teach at a district closer to his spouse’s place of employment.
