Sidney School Board begins New Year with annual appointments, designations

Members of the Sidney school board met on Monday evening for their first meeting of the year. The majority of the agenda dealt with annual appointments and designations.

By unanimous votes, Tom Von Seggern was appointed the board's president, Steve Mattoon the vice president, Deanna Kantor the secretary and Geri Anthony the treasurer.

All the appointments remain the same as last year.

"Thank you everyone for the confidence in our board," Von Seggern said after the votes.

The Sidney Sun-Telegraph and KSID will remain the district's official newspaper and radio station, and superintendent Jay Ehler remains the official district representative for all local, state and federal programs.

Depositories for school district funds for the New Year were also designated. General funds will be kept at American Bank of Sidney and Points West Community Bank; payroll, petty cash and qualified capital purpose undertaking (QCPUF) funds at Security First Bank; and depreciation and bond funds at Points West.

Also at the meeting:

• Central Elementary School Principal Brett Jeffers told the board he intends to retire at the end of the school year.

Jeffers has been with the district for 25 years.

"I appreciate all the great experiences that I have had in this district," he wrote in a letter submitted to the board. "I would like to thank the board, administration and staff for all of the support that I have been given. We truly do have a wonderful school district with many hard-working individuals."

The school board accepted Jeffers' resignation along with those of Danielle Kuchar and Teresa Twite-Crowder – who will also be leaving the district at the end of the school year.

Kuchar teaches Spanish and special education while holding coaching positions, and Twite-Crowder teaches first- through fourth-grade music.

• Sidney students of the month were honored at the meeting. Students honored for December included: Felicity Beyer, seventh grade; Brody Raines, eighth grade; Tiara Ginther, ninth grade; Mitch Rolls, 10th grade; Maddi Porter, 11th grade; and Cassie West, 12th grade.

• The district's policy regarding grade placement of transfer students remains unchanged. An amendment to allow school administrators the discretion to award class credits to students transferring from non-accredited schools was not adopted.

• The next Sidney school board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8, at the district administration building.