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The Sidney Board of Education honored music teachers Jen and Dave Mead in the Nov. 8 school board meeting.

The award is presented by Dairy Queen, the French Door and Sidney Floral to a nominated staff member. The Meads are vocal and instrumental music teachers at Sidney High School. District Superintendent Jay Ehler said the Meads often recognized for their successes for school music groups and ensambles. However, this commendation is for the day-to-day, how students experience learning in the classroom.

“Kids of all different skill levels, personalities — they find a home,” Ehler said. “I think what they (Meads) do is develop confidence.”

In accepting the award, the Meads added that they and their students added two more awards to their collection. Sidney State of Mind won their division at the Old West Choir Fest, and the top award, “The Best of the Fest.” The contest was held at Scottsbluff High School.

The board also reviewed and approved the Mid-Term Graduation policy. The policy reads that “graduation at the end of the first semester of the senior year may be recommended by a graduation committee composed of the superintendent of schools, the high school principal, the high school guidance counselor and a member of the school board.” Requests are only considered for military service, medical hardship, financial hardship, early college entrance or a unique circumstance.

New to the policy is the statement “The committee will make a recommendation to the school board to approve or deny the mid-term graduation request.” Board member Mike Palmer agreed with the amendment to the policy.

“If we're going to have a committee, we should have a decision from the committee,” he said.

The board also approved the resignation of Matt Wallace from the board of education. Ehler said Wallace submitted a letter stating in his new job he doesn't know week to week if he will be available for the board meeting. The board then discussed how to fill the vacancy. The board decided to solicit for applications with a Nov. 30 deadline and filling Wallace's seat within 45 days, the first meeting in January.

The board also reviewed and approved the Reading Instruction and Intervention Services policy. The updated policy states that the first assessment for kindergarten students must be within the first 45 days school is in session. All other grades are to have their first assessment within 30 calendar days of each school year.

The supplemental reading intervention program may also include evidence-based practices and diagnostic assessments to identify specific skills-based strenghs and weaknesses of a student. Any student identified to have a reading deficiency will receive an individualized reading improvement plan that shall include a supplemental reading intervention program, according to the policy statement.

The board also approved the comprehensive agreement for 2022-2023. The agreement defines the base salary increasing from $36,600 to $37,350. The agreement also defines the extra-duty salary schedule, based on percentages of the base salary. A teacher can be eligible for the professional increment by earning six graduate semester hours in his or her field after reaching the BA + 36 column. The maximum movement is step 17 after the teacher has reached MA + 27.