Anita Campbell
County Reporter
Summer vacation is over for area students, as the three Benton County School Districts head back to classes this week.
Students in the Warsaw R-9 District were in class on Tuesday, August 22.
New teachers in the district include: Holly Redd, first grade teacher at South Elementary; Carl Austin, WHS Special education teacher; Elizabeth Combs, first grade teachers at North Elementary; Kya Schepker, life skills teacher at John Boise Middle School; Raini Ward, principal at North Elementary; Nina Sprouse, business teacher at John Boise Middle School and WHS; Sandra Stewart, band director for JBMS and WHS; Nathan Copling, social studies teacher at WHS; Jonna Arnett, District Social Worker; Logan Smith, physical education teacher at South Elementary; Levi Ullum, SRO at South and North Elementary; McKynna Lee, ESCE Pre-K teacher at South Elementary; and Brent Shaffer, social studies teacher at JBMS.
According to Warsaw R-9 District Superintendent Scott Gemes, everyone is in place for the opening of the school year.
“We are always accepting applications for substitute staff and bus drivers, but we are ready to go,” Gemes said.
Warsaw R-9 enrollment on opening day was 1,382 preschool through twelfth grade. That is up 106 students from last year.
Changes for the year include the addition of a resource officer at the elementary schools as well as a district social worker.
Levi Ullum will be teaching safety at both elementary schools as well as being in charge of security for the elementary. His office will be at South.
Jonna Arnett will be taking on the position of District Social Worker for the entire R-9 District. Her office will be located in John Boise Middle School. Arnett will also be working with BCYC to get information to students about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and vaping.
“The addition of a social worker will take some of the work load off our counselors,” said Gemes. “Jonna will be working will also be in charge of working with homeless students and their families.”
Policy changes for JBMS and WHS include: no phones in the classroom and book bags in lockers instead of classrooms.
The district is also changing their student data system from Sisk12 to Infinite Campus. Attendance, discipline and grading records are kept on the system and parents are able to check on their students’ grades, attendance and discipline reports at any time.
The first football game of the year for the Wildcats will be Friday against Marceline. Starting time is now 8:00 PM due to the excessive heat across the area.
The Volleyball Jamboree will be held Thursday at Stover. First WHS volleyball game will be at Lincoln on August 29.
The first Cross Country meet will be held September 2 at Bolivar.
The new superintendent of schools at Cole Camp R-1 is Mrs. Christina Hess. Hess is originally from Eldon where she taught English and journalism for 27 years. She later worked for ESE for five years then taught again at Russellville for three years, She went to Jasper for six years as a high school principal and then served as the superintendent at Steelville for two years.
“I am really excited about this school year,” said Hess. “Our motto for the year is ‘Wild about learning’ and our staff is geared up to make this the best year ever. On our first day of school we had 760 students kindergarten through twelfth grade.””
Hess said that the Cole Camp district is still searching for a School Resource Officer.
“We have had some applicants but we haven’t made a final decision yet,” said Hess.
Hess said that the SRO needs to be someone to help students make good choice and learn good behavior.
“This is a different world and we have to prepare our students to deal with the changing society,” said Hess.
New staff members at Cole Camp include: Christina Hess, superintendent; Jessica Arnold, instrumental music, elementary and high school; Teal Bell CCHS English; Emily Callahan, CCHS Science; Bonnie Cano, CCHS Special Education; Tammy Eckhoff, kindergarten; Lizette Gilmore, third grade; Lindy Loganbill, librarian; Kara Metzner, third grade; Nicolette Mistler, sixth grade English; Jacob Moore, CCHS Special Education; Joshua Rodriguez,
CCHS Social Studies; Patricia Ruehter, elementary special education; Nicole Silvery, special education director; Jessica Tucker, second grade, Leila Metzner, bookkeeper.
Students were in class for the first day at Cole Camp on August 21.
The first football game for the Bluebirds will be Friday at Wellington-Napoleon.
Lincoln R-2 School District is in the middle of a construction project, but according to Superintendent Kevin Smith the first day of school on August 22, went off without a hitch.
“We hope to have the preschool in their new room by May, but the rest of the building project won’t be ready until the next school year,” said Smith. “This hot weather has been difficult for laying brick so the workers have had to quit early most days.”
As Smith begins his sixteenth year as the superintendent of Lincoln, he is very optimistic about the school year. “We have several new staff members but everyone seems to be settling in just great. As of the first day we are up 30 students to make our enrollment 518 kindergarten through twelfth grade.”
Changes for Lincoln R-2 include new technology and Smart TV's in the elementary rooms.
New staff members for Lincoln include: Jennifer Smith, Special Education Director; Tasha Rutherford, Elementary Secretary; Brittany Beeman, High School Secretary; Cheyanne Beard, second grade; Aleah Paxton, fifth grade; Caitlin Brandt, Special Education teacher; Toni Parker, para; Alicia Worthley, para; Maddie Mensior, Study Skills Coordinator, Elementary; Mackenzie Weaver, LPN / para; Lane Johnson, JH Math; Brad Drehle, JH Math; Kelsey Smith, JH Social Studies; Elkhannah Carson, Preschool Aide; Dylan Gutierrez, Trip Driver; Nichole Stegink, Route Driver.
The first football game for Lincoln will be Friday night at home against Lone Jack. The first volleyball game will be August 29 at hoe against Warsaw and Appleton City.
