By Kacie Svoboda
As the summer draws to a close, many Hill City area students prepare for the first day of the 2015-16 school year on Aug. 31. Preliminary data shows enrollment should remain fairly steady with last year’s numbers at approximately 500 students.
During the summer months, school administration, staff and facilities have undergone changes and additions to ensure a successful year for Hill City area students.
Seven new faculty members will join the school district. This includes Sarah O’Brien, who will teach first grade; Kelley O’Brien, who will teach fourth grade; Jaime Kessler, who will be the kindergarten through 12th grade vocal music instructor; middle school social science and high school alternative school instructor, Jared Noyes; Nathan Bayne, who will teach high school language arts; food service manager, Roxann DuBois; and Dr. Steve Helgeland, who will be the special education and Title Program director.
Noyes will also coach middle school girls basketball and middle school track, Justin Kruse will be the new head wrestling coach and Chris Kuehler will serve as the new assistant varsity football coach.
The school system will expand curriculum offerings by cooperating with faculty from Black Hills State University to enhance mathematics instruction at every level in the district throughout the year and by implementing the Daily 5™ framework on the elementary level for structuring literacy time. The Daily 5™ program encourages students to develop life-long habits of reading, writing and working independently.
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