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Fransman rejoins H-BC School Board

Lead Summary
By
Mavis Fodness

Former board member Harley Fransman rejoined the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board Monday night replacing Dan LaRock who resigned in April.
Fransman was appointed to the vacant position in May and after a 30-day comment period he was formally sworn into the position by School Board Chairman Arlyn Gehrke. Gehrke was vice chairman when then Board Chairman Fransman retired in 2018. Fransman served on the board for 13 years.
He said he was happy to serve on the board again, this time as a grandfather of two students in the H-BC district. Fransman is also happy that the district is on solid financial footings, a different position from when the district operated in statutory debt almost 10 years ago.
Fransman saw the H-BC district out of debt.
“That was the biggest feel-good moment,” he said.
In his first action as a board member, Fransman and the rest of the board unanimously accepted the hiring of replacement staff at Monday night’s meeting. The board also accepted another teacher resignation.
Superintendent Todd Holthaus said the candidate pool has been strong.
“We had some real good candidates,” he said. “Sadly, we only need one person per position.”
A few of the new hires, who begin the 2021-22 school year, are familiar with the district including:
•Steve Wiertzema was rehired as secondary business/accounting teacher and athletic director. Wiertzema retired from the same positions at the end of last school year.
(A story about Wiertzema’s retirement as long-time basketball coach appears in this issue.)
•Kale Wiertzema replaces his father, Steve Wiertzema, as head basketball coach.
•Tyler Johnson was rehired as the K-12 art teacher. Johnson had tenured his resignation at the end of the 2020-21 school year.
•Kerri Baker, secondary math teacher.
•Erika Bierman, K-12 vocal music teacher.
•Max Wolgen, secondary science teacher.
•Amy Comp, grades 5-12 band teacher. Comp previously taught K-12 vocal music.
The board also made advisory assignments to existing staff including:
•Dan Ellingson as knowledge bowl coach.
•Steph Bass and Caitlin Slaba as co-secondary student council advisers.
•Samantha McGaffee and Alison Ceynowa-Breuer as secondary advisory co-leaders.
At Monday’s meeting, the board also accepted the resignation from secondary social studies/Spanish teacher Teri Richards.

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