Published on May 13, 2025 10:06 am
Last Updated on May 13, 2025 10:06 am
Dieterich school board members Monday held the changing of the guard following the April school board election.
Doug Baxter and Charity Bohnhoff were recognized as outgoing board members for the past 12 years. Incoming board members Jon Engelbart and Nick Niemerg were seated on the board. There is still a vacancy on the board. A special meeting was scheduled for June 5 to interview applicants for the vacant board spot. Anyone interested in serving on the board should submit a letter of interest to Dieterich Superintendent Cary Jackson by no later than May 30.
The Board named Cory Niebrugge as President Pro-Tem and Devin Aherin as Secretary Pro-Tem.
Board members reviewed the tentative amended budget. Jackson reported that expenditures were reduced by $264,000, meaning the district will end the fiscal year in the black. A budget hearing is set for June 16.
The fee schedule was set for the coming fiscal year. The only changes are a 10-cent increase in lunch prices, a nickel increase in breakfast prices, and a dollar increase in skating fees. The Board also approved a purchase agreement with Wabash Communications for an Internet phone system to replace the current system that officials say is outdated.
The Board also:
–purchased new high school Science textbooks for $7,173.68
–renewed the district’s property casualty insurance with Prairie State Insurance Cooperative for $95,117.45
–approved the purchase of new uniforms for high school cross country, junior high and high school scholar bowl, and junior high baseball
In personnel moves, the Dieterich board accepted a resignation from Justin Funneman as assistant high school baseball coach; hired Carol Bohnhoff and Jayme Martin as full time bus drivers and Charles Copeland and Emily Pontious as substitute bus drivers; approved volunteer coaches Luke Wente for junior high boys basketball and Sean McQueen for junior high baseball; and approved interns Claire Beckman for speech language pathology and Maggie Harmeier for school counselor. The Board also approved a memorandum of understanding with the Dieterich Education Association to establish a stipend for a newly-created head golf coach position for Dieterich High School.
The Dieterich board also discussed repairs to the elementary gym roof. Jackson reported that parts of the roof experienced some wind damage during spring storms causing the membrane to become loose and allowing wind to get underneath. The roof remains waterproof, but will need repaired.
The board also discussed the upcoming state school board convention in November in Chicago, and discussed copier options.
