Vandalism, theft, reported at school

Whitehall School officials are looking into recent reports of vandalism in the weight room.

At the School Board of Trustees meeting last week, High School/Middle School Principal Hannah Nieskens reported there has been recent vandalism, thefts, and other mysterious happenings taking place in the weight room area.

She said someone stole a medicine ball from the cheerleaders room, holes have been punched in the bathroom, people are getting out weight belts that have been locked up and someone scattered papers around.

Nieskens said while they have narrowed it down to this happening during non-school hours, the camera system they have is not very sophisticated and it is hard to narrow down the exact time this is happening. Nieskens told the board they have asked coach/athletic director/gym teacher Dan Lacey, and students and athletes using the room to report anything that happens right away.

“It’s unfortunate this is happening. We will do our best to keep on top of it,” Nieskens said.

Whitehall Superintendent John Sullivan said they allow the community to use the room, but if it continues to be problematic they will have to shut down public use.

Nieskens also discussed the possibility of the middle and high schools moving to an eight period schedule.

She said that at a recent regional principal conference, Belgrade and Manhattan officials said they would be moving to this schedule. Nieskens told the board this would allow for smaller class sizes and it is something to look at, especially with one sixth grade English class currently having 31 students and some other really big middle school classes.

Nieskens also presented the board with the idea of awarding teachers with a financial incentive for not using their sick days. She said Manhattan gives a $500 bonus to teachers and it comes out of the money used for substitutes. Nieskens said their union presented the idea to the administration after having problems finding substitutes.

“If they don’t use their days, they don’t use their sub budget,” she said