Twice a month the USD 416 school board meets to discuss the issues and business matters that concern the Louisburg school district. The meeting on Feb. 11 was most significantly over employment statuses among other financial matters.
New employment included Kyle Littrell as head football coach and Troy Stout as junior class sponsor. This year was Gary Griffin’s last year as head football coach, and now the football team will be led by Littrell and the rest of the assistant coaching staff.
“I think coach Littrell will do a good job,” Griffin said. “He has a lot of experience both as a head coach and as an assistant…I wish them continued success and more state championships.”
The coaching staff will all remain the same with the exceptions of Larry Aylor’s resignation and a switch with Littrell’s and Griffin’s positions. Some little changes will be made to the coaching method as well.
“Coach Griffin has taught me so much and has been the best mentor I have had in my coaching career,” Littrell said. “I look forward to continue working with him and the rest of the coaching staff. We have such a tight bond and I hope that continues for a long time.”
Other employment changes regarding LHS included the resignation of Jenna Jones, history teacher, and the change of Mary Quinn from English, debate and forensics teacher to language arts instructor.
The meeting continued with the board deciding to change the cost of transportation services to $165 if paid before July 1 and $175 if paid after for individuals. Family maximum was raised to $240 if paid before July and $250 if paid after. This motion passed with a 7-0 vote. Rising transportation costs has some families worried.
“After last year’s bus prices went up, they were just too expensive,” Shannon Carl, sophomore, said. “The bus prices went up so much that it is just smarter to buy a car.”
The final matter on the agenda was the renewal of the administrative contracts. A 7-0 vote passed the extension on the contracts of the assistant superintendent, directors and building-level administrators. As for Superintendent Sharon Zoellner, given the uncertain circumstances of school funding, her contract was converted from three to two years.