As we move through the spring semester, things are moving along at a rapid pace, so I wanted to take a moment to update you on the work the School Board has been involved with over recent months. This time of year is especially defined by planning for the future, and we have been heavily focused on staffing transitions and ensuring our operations are ready for the years ahead. It is always bittersweet to say goodbye to valued team members, and we have accepted resignations from Ms. Hornbacher in our English-Language Arts department, Mr. Dunker in our Science department, and Mrs. Hicks our Agriculture education teacher. We wish them nothing but the best as they move on to the next chapters of their lives. We also have the upcoming retirement in June of Kevin Weichel, our Facilities & Transportation Director. We are incredibly grateful for his dedicated years of service to our buildings, grounds, and transportation operations.
While goodbyes are not fun, they also open doors for new talent, and we feel very fortunate in our recent hiring search. We are excited to welcome Ms. Ava King to our English-Language Arts department. She will bring great energy as a first-year teacher, and she is eager also to help coach One Act and Speech. We are also warmly welcoming to the district Mrs. Paula Heinz. Paula, a Tri County graduate and district resident, has accepted the open jr. high Science position. Paula comes to us with extensive experience in natural science and greenhouse management, most recently at Beatrice Public Schools. This aligns nicely with our goals for the Science and Agriculture programs. Additionally, after an extensive interview process, we have hired Mr. Derick Damrow as our new Facilities & Transportation Director. Derick’s management experience, and his insights as a Board member where he has served for more than a decade, make him an excellent fit. He will be joining us in mid-March to shadow Kevin, ensuring a smooth hand-off and allowing him to dive right into the planning details of our construction project.
Speaking of construction, we’ve had very exciting conversations regarding the Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing of the school. The upgrades and expansions there are geared at capitalizing on the strong agrarian and industrial backbone of our community. As part of that construction, our existing greenhouse must be removed and is scheduled to be replaced. The Board selected a new DeCloet greenhouse based on both high manufacturing quality and cost effectiveness. With her greenhouse experience at Beatrice Public School, Paula Heinz will assist Tri County with the greenhouse, along with the CTE teaching team, to take full advantage of the new structure.
Ultimately, we want to ensure that we are maximizing the learning potential and opportunities these new CTE facilities provide. Therefore, alongside these facility upgrades, we are rethinking how we staff the department to ensure long-term success. Recognizing that the time commitment required to run an effective Ag and FFA program is overwhelming for a single person, and learning that the administration had received and interviewed several quality applicants for the Ag position, the Board authorized hiring of two Agriculture education teachers to replace the current single position. These two positions could also potentially offer expanded coursework in Ag-related Industrial Arts subjects. Overall, this expansion will allow us to spread the workload and ensure we have the appropriate team to take full advantage of the new expanded CTE facilities. Two applicants have been offered these positions and have verbally accepted. One is Mr. Dusten Bruss, who is currently teaching at York High School, and previously taught Ag and FFA for a decade at Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools. Dusten brings a strong background in animals, livestock, and meat processing. The other new Ag teacher that will be joining us is Mr. Seth Wert. Seth concluded his student teaching this past fall, and took his first job as an interim Ag teacher at High Plains Public Schools during the current spring semester. Seth is currently teaching courses in horticulture, floral design, and woodworking.
In addition to our academic and facilities planning, the Board has been listening closely to community feedback regarding our extracurricular offerings. During the last two meetings, we were joined by community members who expressed their support for adding boys’ golf as an extracurricular sport at Tri County in conjunction with the board considering the possibility. We want you to know that we are actively evaluating the feasibility of this opportunity. Currently, the administration is analyzing what steps would be appropriate for adding the sport, and also how best to ensure we remain consistent with Title IX equal-opportunity guidelines. The Board is committed to providing the absolute best learning and extracurricular experiences possible for our students, and for this reason, it is vital that we take time to consider all variables involved. We want to ensure that any decision we make is well-informed, sustainable, and equitable for our students.
Finally, just a few housekeeping items to keep everyone in the loop. You might spot a new mini-bus driving around the district soon, as our order has just arrived. Our Safety and Crisis Committee has been meeting recently with great attendance and feedback, continuing our commitment to keeping our school safe. Looking way ahead, the Board has approved the 2026-2027 master calendar, which will see students returning on August 13, 2026, and finishing up on May 19, 2027. We are working hard to keep Tri County a wonderful place to learn and grow, and we remain ever grateful for your continued support of our schools. As always, if you ever have questions or things you’d like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I can be contacted in my office in person, by phone at (402) 683-2015, or by email at brian.rottinghaus@tricountyschools.org.