The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education Monday night, approved the hiring of a man from Nebraska as the Elementary Principal/Schuler Principal/Curriculum Director position. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said a committee comprised of himself, departing Principal Cam Smith, a teacher and parent from Schuler, interviewed seven candidates for the position. One of the candidates accepted a position with another district. The remaining six individuals came from within and outside of the district, and were equally qualified for job, according to Amstein, but one in particular stood out.

Mr. James Northwick, Elementary Principal at the Emerson-Hubbard, NE School District, approved as the Schuler Principal/Curriculum Director. (photo from the E-H School District website)

Amstein recommended the Board approve the hiring of James Northwick, who is currently the serving his fourth year as Elementary Principal at the Emerson-Hubbard School District in Emerson, NE. Amstein said when he spoke with Dr. Dave Jones, Superintendent of the Emerson-Hubbard District, the first thing Jones told him was “I knew you were going to call.”  Amstein learned since Northwick has been with the E-H District, the test scores in the struggling district have consistently shown gains, and that Northwick was good at disseminating the test score data, and applying it to the classroom.” Amstein said Northwick holds “A lot of promise, and has a strong work ethic.” The man is married, and has a one-year old child. He is also a native of Ankeny, Iowa.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved an increase in the 2013-2014 School Lunch Prices. Food Service Director DeeAnn Schrier told the board the Federal Government is recommending a two-percent increase to reflect the cost of inflation, plus 2.93-percent, for a total increase of 4.93-percent. For Atlantic, that means the cost of lunch at the high school would be going up to $2.40. At the Middle School, lunch will cost $2.35, Schuler $2.35, and at Washington, $2.10. Schrier said the increase is not what she wants, but she was left with no choice because of the Federal Standards. She says if the district doesn’t meet the standard of $2.59 for the cost of lunch over a period of five-years, the General Fund will have to make up for the difference.

The Board Monday also approved the resignation of the following staff: Pat Allen, Ticket Manager (effective June 30th); Steve Blazek, Varsity Boys Basketball Coach (effective at the end of the 2012-13 school year); Taylor Hasting, Cheerleading Sponsor (effective the end of the school year); Sheila Hayden, Nat’l. Honor Society Advisor (effective 8/15/13); Bruce Johnk, High School Ag Teacher (effective the end of the school year); and Michelle McLaren, Jr. High Boys Basketball Coach (also effective at the end of the school year).