Dumond Elected Hartland Consolidated School Board President

Hartland Consolidated Schools Superintendent Janet Sifferman officially swore in three re-elected board members, Bill Gatewood, Thom Dumond and Kevin Kaszyca during Monday night’s meeting.

The board also elected its officials, voting Dumond as board president, Kaszyca as vice president, Charlie Aberasturi as treasurer and Michelle Hutchinson as secretary.

During the meeting, newly elected president Dumond thanked Kaszyca for his “wisdom, guidance and common sense” during his five and half years of service as board president.

Crediting the “solid” relationship between the district, administration and the school board, Kaszyca thanked everyone for their support.

“And I’m not going anywhere,” Kaszyca said. “I’ll be sitting here right next to you supporting you as best I can in the years to come.”

ASL to be offered at high school level for World Language requirement 

Parts of the 2013-14 Hartland High School curriculum guide was discussed during Monday night’s meeting including the addition of American Sign Language, which is set to be offered at the high school to fulfill a two-year world language requirement. 

ASL is currently offered to eighth grade students at Hartland Middle School, and more than 20 students currently taking the course expressed interest in continuing their education next year.

“This was the first year we did this at the middle school and the students need a second year opportunity for world language," Sifferman said. "Its just been overwhelmingly successful.” 

According to high school principal Ben Mainka, a high school teacher currently on staff will soon be receiving her interpreter’s license and will be “highly qualified” to teach the class next year.

The sign language course has also generated some attention from current high school students who have also expressed an interest in learning the language. 

“We anticipate that we will have at least one section of ASL I and one section of ASL II,” Mainka said. “This is a great alternative for them that still meets the standard … and it’s a great opportunity and I think this gives us another selling point as a district.”

The 2013-14 high school curriculum will be voted on and approved during an upcoming school board meeting.

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