The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

Students in Fleming’s sports management class have been busy over the past few weeks. Under the direction of teacher Lisa Chintala, the class has developed a new mission statement as well as a list of success core value for the Fleming Wildcat athletic department. In a recent meeting of the local Board of Education, the mission statement and list of important values was approved by board members.

Chintala presented the documents with the information developed by her students to the Board in a late October meeting. She also discussed purchasing an interactive display for the School that could highlight student achievement. Chintala plans to pursue sponsors to help with that purchase.

“The mission of the athletic department at Fleming Schools is to be dedicated to our community and school members while striving to build student athletes to achieve success, sportsmanship and leadership at their highest potential. With this, we encourage them to become great young men and women as a result of their athletic and academic experience,” the newly approved athletic mission statement reads.

Core values specifically outlined in the approved document developed by students focuses on success, community, sportsmanship, leadership and academics. A description of each is below:

• Success: A good competitor aspires to compete at the highest level. Success is built upon an individual giving the best they have to give.

• Community: An athlete’s actions are a reflection of not only themselves but the student body, the faculty, their families and community. Serving and giving back to the community enables the athlete to grow a relationship with members of the town.

• Sportsmanship: Good sportsmanship is just as important as winning and is an act that every student can take pride in. Having good sportsmanship shows respect for yourself, teammates, coaches, officials, opponents and fair play along with following rules and regulations.

• Leadership: An athletic leader has qualities that enable them to inspire and provide guidance to their teammates. A leader possesses a growth mindset with a positive and approachable attitude.

• Academic: In order to become a student athlete, the individual’s first priority is having commitment to their academic success. Academic success can be achieved by giving full effort in the classroom, commitment to studies, active participation in class discussion and being involved in extra curricular activities.

To kick off the meeting, Superintendent Steve McCracken and Principal Kortney Firme gave reports to board members. Firme said parent teacher conferences were held on Oct. 24 with a 74 percent turnout from parents with students in grades seventh through 12th and 95 percent parent turnout from those with students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Firme noted that the student report and Oct. 1 count was recently competed. Fleming certified 220 students enrolled for the 2022-23 school year. That number is up three from the previous year.

In his report, McCracken gave an update on the SAFER grant. The funding for that grant, he said in later follow up, is a source that BOCES secured for a number of their member schools. The grant provides schools with two-way radios that bridge directly to emergency responders and Logan County dispatch.

“The system is unique to schools and their ability to communicate directly with emergency responders,” McCracken said.

In action items, the Board approved a quote from Pro-Vision for bus cameras. The Superintendent said Fleming already has cameras on other busses and the most recent purchase is for camera systems on the final two yellow busses in the District’s fleet.

“When installed, all of our yellow school busses will have cameras on board,” McCracken said.

In other business the Board:

• Approved invoices from Apex Electric and Castle Plumbing for work in the new concession stand. McCracken said the new concession stand/restrooms are nearly complete;

• Granted approval of a quote from Gordon’s Upholstery and Paint to fix paint on a 2011 van;

• Approved adding Madisyn Serrato, Christian Polly, Kamie Lambrecht and Marissa Stull to the District Accountability Committee;

• Voted to opt out of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program;

• Amended the 2022-23 school calendar by scheduling school on March 13 through the 16th and cancelling school on March 17;

• Approved Levi Williamson as the high school boys’ basketball coach;

• Approved the 2022-23 school bus routes;

• Approved an invoice from Lauer, Szabo and Associates to perform the financial audit.