H-BC Music Department plans trip

By Lexi MooreHills Beaver-Creek band instructor Josh Hogberg gave a presentation at Monday’s School Board meeting.Hogberg presented an itinerary for the spring music trip to Chicago. He and Jodi Ackerman, along with nine chaperones, will accompany 34 choir and band students to the city for both musical and non-musical experiences.A chartered motorcoach will depart for Chicago from the H-BC High School on Thursday, April 7, at 7:15 a.m. Students will visit the Museum of Science and Industry, the John G. Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium, the Lincoln Zoo and attend a production of "Les Miserables."Choir and band students will attend a master class at a Chicago university. A university instructor will conduct the classes and offer suggestions on how the students can improve.Students, teachers and chaperones return to Hills Sunday, April 10. Selected band students will participate in a solo contest on April 11.Hogberg thanked the board for sending him to the Minnesota Music Association of Educators conference in Minneapolis in February. During the conference he attended a round table discussion on rural school music education. "In talking with other educators, I realized how blessed I am to have a school administration and board that support the band," Hogberg said.School to rent its vehicles in communityBoard members discussed the rental of school district vehicles to community organizations.Superintendent David Deragisch explained that a recent rental by the New Life Celebration Church on Easter Sunday had "caused a stir in the community."The rental had been arranged through Deragisch six weeks prior to the event.It has been a standing H-BC policy to rent school-owned vehicles, including buses, to local organizations without prejudice for years."We have always tried to accommodate all groups that have asked about renting equipment," Deragisch said.Following a discussion, the board agreed to continue to rent school-owned vehicles to community organizations as long as the school is not liable for accidents and that drivers are insured and licensed."Our community is small enough that it is good to help out community organizations," said board member Matt Larson.District policiesBoard members heard the first reading of three district policies. The policies will be voted on at the next board meeting April 11. Policy No. 101 examines the legal status of the school district. The proposed change will reword an item to state "school board" instead of the current wording "school district." Changing the wording will avoid misunderstandings with the definition "school district".Policy No. 104 requires board members and school administrators to review the school district’s mission statement and make changes, if necessary.Deragisch read the current H-BC mission statement to board members and encouraged them to think about any possible changes to be made at the next board meeting.A change to Policy #204 states that the school has a legal responsibility to give the minutes of all board meetings to any individual who asks for them. This must be done free of charge.In other school news:
All paraprofessionals working with Title I students have passed the test required by new No Child Left Behind policies.
H-BC had four students selected for the Academic All-state Basketball roster. Cassi Tilstra, Kelly Mulder, Melinda Feucht and Kale Wiertzema all met the high academic and athletic standards required to make the team.
Deragisch and Larson gave a brief summary of their meeting with the Rock County Liaison Group."We have a good collaborative effort, with good communication," said Larson.Deragisch reported that the arrangement with school social worker, Bonnie Burkett, is working well.oBoard members will participate in the Alliance for Student Achievement virtual rally on Thursday. The rally encourages individuals to contact government officials between the hours of 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. to experience the importance of school funding in the state budget.