Beecher School District 200U officials are considering implementing a second self-contained classroom at the elementary school.
Currently, there is a classroom being used for students with special needs from third through fifth grade.
Beecher Elementary School Principal Kelly Toppen is requesting another classroom for students from kindergarten through second grade. She gave a presentation at the Oct. 14 school board meeting.
The current classroom, in which students can study and learn at their own pace, has five students and a classroom for the younger students would serve five or six more. She said the numbers could grow in the coming years.
While special-needs students and their families have the option of going outside the district for education, Toppen said it is important to keep as many students as possible in the Beecher system.
“Being able to keep some of our students in our building and in our walls and being able to educate them in our building gives us much more flexibility,” she said.
Toppen added that the goal is to get the students ready to place them in general education courses with the rest of the students.
The board will put it on the agenda for the Nov. 18 meeting. If it passes, work will be done to get the new classroom and a teacher in place for the 2027-28 school year.
Wellness walkers
Superintendent Jack Gaham said the school’s wellness initiative is in full swing. Earlier in October, some staff members took a half-hour walk after school at the Goodenow Nature Center.
“We did a little nature walk and had some hot cocoa and berry cider,” he said. He added that some chose to roll down a hill, but he did not partake.
In November, there will be a chili and soup cookoff. December’s event has not been determined but in January there will be CPR training offered, according to Gaham.
Comings and goings
The board approved Janette Fankhauser as the high school’ Scholastic Bowl sponsor for 2026-27.
It also approved Cido Killis as an elementary school aide, Katie Zivkovich as an elementary school student council sponsor, Rhiannon Hanft and Amanda Alderfer as junior high volleyball coaches and Alexandra Gagnon as volunteer high school girls basketball coach.
It acknowledged the resignations of Hanft and Alderfer as junior high track and field coaches following their approval as volleyball coaches and acknowledged the resignations of Carly Patkus and Jessica Schroeder as junior high volleyball coaches.
Change of venue
The next board meeting will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at the junior high because the high school will be hosting a math contest.