The Ord Board of Education met on Monday night. Among the items on the agenda, Superintendent Jason Alexander addressed the potential implementation of a Mandatory Random Drug Testing Policy for all students participating in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. The Board approved the first reading of this policy.
Also, there was a discussion about the future of Vinton school. Alexander explained that a decision about the school would be based on several criteria, including budget issues, retirements, and fiscal resourcefulness for the community. The Ord district receives only $323,000 in state aid, down from a high of $2.1 million about 10 years ago.
The superintendent said that it costs about $260,000 to pay for staffing and building expenses at Vinton, where 30 students are currently enrolled in the K-8 school. If the Board decides to close the school, teachers will likely be offered the option of working in the Ord district.
And the entire Ord community was recognized as the recipients of the first ever Sportsmanship Trophy presented by the Nebraska School Activities Association. The award was bestowed based on the demeanor of Ord supporters during the recent Girls State Basketball Tournament in Lincoln. Superintendent Alexander singled out retiring Athletic Director Ron Bauer as being instrumental in the development of sportsmanship in Ord.
