Additional preschool class added for '25-'26

by Mary Le Arneal
Published 3/19/25

The North Bend Central Board of Education finished its open meeting with 41 minutes discussing how to handle the increased number of students who want to come to the NBC preschool. The board voted to hire an additional teacher for preschool. It will look into two options for space: remodeling the classroom across the hall from the present preschool classroom, changing room assignments or purchasing portable classrooms to make room for the the additional preschool class. Superintendent Patrick Ningen will look into the cost of each.
Preschool teacher Madison Davis contributed to the conversation. This year the two classes have 16 and 14 students in them. The 44 expected next year would give classes of 22 or so, which is too many 4-year-olds for one teacher to teach, Davis said.

“It’s not about me, it’s about the kids,” she said.

“We don’t want you to burn out,” board member Amy Williams said.

The meeting started with the board commending wrestlers Pyper Daughterty, Cash Stanek and Philip Streff for their success at state wrestling and recognizing others who also went to state.

Wrestling coach Ken Streff spoke to the board about adding junior high girls wrestling. Streff said many schools are adding junior high girls wrestling and there are 12 girls in MatCats so the potential is there. It was discussed to have the season October to December so the girls can do basketball as well after Christmas. The board voted to add junior high girls wrestling. A coach will be added as part of a new hire contract or someone already on staff.

The board approved purchase of new devices, new iPads for kindergarten students, Chromebooks for sixth grade students, laptops for freshmen and some new devices for teaching staff. This is part of the normal annual purchase of student devices. The staff devices are replaced every five years or so.

The board was informed that the elementary school will have a tornado drill March 24 and another drill with bus evacuation at the end of March.

The “Week of the Young Child” will be commemorated with kindergarten roundup April 7 followed by a organized fun time for preschoolers and their family in the gym that evening.

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