ELY – Monday night’s meeting of the Ely School board began with Ray Marsnik pointing out the obvious absence of longtime Timberjay Ely editor Keith Vandervort at the meeting. Marsnik spoke highly of Vandervort’s commitment and comprehensive reporting over the previous 10 years covering Ely school board proceedings. Marsnik suggested the board observe a moment of silence remembering Keith. After the rather solemn start to Monday night’s meeting, things took a decidedly more upbeat turn as all administrators in attendance reported a first day of school that went off smoothly, even as parents and students reported to school amidst continuing construction and bare dirt out front.
“Today we started pretty much without any major glitch or hitch,” Superintendent John Klarich said, “I’d like to thank Chad Houde for being here directing traffic in the parent parking. He had to be out there. They didn’t know what to do, we don’t have all the signage up yet. That went well. We had a nice opening with K-12 kids. I was pretty pleased with the way the day went.”
“We had a blast today. It was a really good first day of school,” elementary principal Anne Oelke said.
She highlighted how the morning’s assembly of all students K-12 was meant to drive home the fact “that we’re all under one roof now. It was super fun. We had a great day.”
Oelke also provided the board with an enrollment report that showed positive growth in student enrollment from 512 students as of June 1 to 541 students as of Sept. 8. Oelke pointed out that by meeting time another new kindergartner and a couple of other new students brought the actual enrollment closer to 545.
High school principal Jeff Carey also reported a good day was had by all.
“We had a great opening today. It was a really exciting day. The kids were really fired up,” Carey said. “You should be very proud of all your employees. They pulled off a miracle.”
In other business, the board:
• Welcomed new fifth grade teacher Heidi Omerza.
• Approved posting for a temporary one-year part-time custodian.
Hired Lori Westrick as full-time superintendent’s assistant.
• Hired Kathleen Champa as Health Coordinator.
• Hired for two cafeteria aides and three paraprofessionals.
• Heard from Superintendent Klarich on next steps for the 21st Century Facilities project that include striping parking lots, concrete work, signage, and some indoor electrical work.
The Ely school board will hold a study session on Monday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.