RIVERSIDE

Highland Community Schools’ Boom Night, a homecoming event that is usually held in Ainsworth or Riverside, is headed for Highland High School this year.

The newly combined Highland-Lone Tree football team has just two home games this season at Highland High School, meaning Homecoming Week will be the first week of September when it is normally later in the fall.

Due to a time squeeze for events to be held at Hall Park in Riverside, Boom Night will instead be held at the high school.

Highland-Lone Tree will host Wapello in a football game at 7 p.m. Sept. 4, the first of two home games this coming season. A homecoming dance for students will be held Sept. 5.

Plans are still being finalized for other homecoming events, including possibly a parade.

Boom Night in 2027 will return to Riverside, High School Principal Angela Hazelett told the Highland School Board during its meeting Monday.

“Next year, I think we really need to be going to Riverside,” Hazelett said.

Day Care Program

The Board approved moving before school and after school programming, and Friday school programming to the school district.

Courtney Dietze, who oversaw the Summer Adventures program, will be the program coordinator for the school year programs.

Before school hours are 6:30 to 7:40 a.m., after school hours are 3:50 to 5:30 p.m., and Friday hours (on no-school days) are 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The program will take place at the Highland Elementary School gymnasium in Riverside. Programming begins August 24, the first day of school.

“I think this is a good plan,” Elementary School Principal Jane O’Leary said.

Pricing includes: $150 a week for before school, after school and Friday care; $115 a week for before school and after school care; $45 a week for Friday care; $80 a week for after school care; $40 a week for before school care.

For more information, email: cdietze@highlandhuskies.org.

Student Admission

The Board approved waiving athletic admission fees for all students at Highland home games.

The free admission does not apply to away games or any state tournament games.

“I really feel like this is a positive thing,” said Spencer Lueders, Superintendent of Schools.

Board members agreed to look at the monetary side of the admissions at the end of the year.

Baseball Question

Board member Jarrod Longbine, who is also an assistant varsity baseball coach, questioned why the board did not have the opportunity to review evaluations of district staff and coaches following a decision by athletics director Jody Fink to not renew the contract of head baseball coach Allen Rath.

“It’s a bad policy,” Longbine said.

The superintendent position is the only one actively reviewed by the school board, president Nate Robinson said.

While the board votes on all appointments and resignations, district administrators make hiring decisions on teachers and other staff, including coaches.

Rath’s status was not included in personnel changes on Monday’s agenda and Jody Fink declined comment to The News.

Board Action

The Board approved a resolution directing the advertisement for sale, electronic bidding procedures and official statement for $15 million on bonds that will be used for facility improvements and additions.

The Board approved the appointments of April Stumpf as co-head volleyball coach, and Jacquelyn Gile and Makayla Vicary as Elementary School associates.

Next Meeting

The Board will hold its next formal meeting at 5 p.m. September 14. A special meeting and work session is scheduled for 5 p.m. August 24.