Bus driver positions remain open in public school district

Bus drivers are still needed for the Dickinson Public School District although several part-time drivers are doing routes at this time.

There are seven total routes. In August, there were three needed, but the Early Childhood Center filled their own route and now two remain vacant.

"Most of our subs are retired drivers," district business manager Vince Reep said Monday. "We have three current applications for the positions. Right now the applicants are working on getting their credentials and licenses."

Two of the applicants are starting from scratch and one is getting a North Dakota license from having only driven out of state, he added.

"The bus (driver) dispatcher Tom Schaefer is doing the Lefor route right now," Reep said. "While he does it we also have someone being dispatcher."

There are still several para-professional and Regional After School Program (RASP) vacancies and the district continues to interview applicants for the technology specialist position.

Taylor Seibel was the district's technology specialist for half a year until he moved onto another job. The position would include general technology work such as setting up the lap tops for board meetings.

The school board talked with administrators about how the new school year has been going, especially for the newest changes of full-day everyday kindergarten and the sixth-grade only P.S. Berg Elementary School.

"The full-day everyday kindergarten transition has gone well and the schools who had to work on new students going through the lunch line have done so," Superintendent Dr. Paul Stremick said.

Berg Principal Tammy Praus agreed with Stremick the transition has gone well for her students and staff.

Board President Dean Rummel asked if the district lost any students due to changes and neither Praus nor Stremick were aware of students leaving to other districts for those reasons.

"No parents have had any complaints since the school year started," Praus said.

Also Monday evening the board listened to a presentation by new district auditor James Wosepka, CPA.

Originally from Golva, Wospeka talked about his experience working with other school districts in the area and his background. He is finishing out the last year of a 3-year contract by previous district auditor Linda Steve.

The board also discussed the topics for the two board workshops to follow the October and November meetings.

Topics for the October workshop include mentoring students, vocational education and block schedule changes. The November workshop will tackle student safety, student achievement and citizenship and use of facilities.