Board approves athletic cooperatives, new courses, personnel actions; policies cleared for first reading

The Superior School District Board of Education’s committee of the whole approved a set of administrative recommendations including long-standing athletic cooperative agreements, addition of four new high‑school courses, acceptance of September gifts and grants, personnel actions and first readings of three policy updates. A teacher‑led overnight AP Biology field trip to Chicago was advanced to next Monday’s regular board meeting for final approval.

The board voted to approve administration’s recommendation to continue athletic cooperative agreements for gymnastics, girls hockey and boys swim and dive. President Steve Olsen called for the vote; members signified assent and the motion carried.

Administration recommended adding four 1‑credit courses to the Superior High School course catalog beginning with the 2026 registration cycle: Algebra 2 Mathematical Modeling, Mathematical Modeling (course requirement), Data Science (new course) and AP Precalculus. The board approved the recommendation during the committee meeting; the curriculum will be added to the catalog and used during December registration planning.

Other actions the board carried included accepting gifts, grants and requests received in September 2025 and approving October personnel items (new hires and separations). The board also accepted the resignation of high school health teacher Zachary Roth from his 2025–26 contract effective Oct. 3, 2025, with the liquidated damages provision enforced.

Policy changes recommended by Neola were approved for first reading. The three first‑reading approvals were revised Policy 4124 (notice of reasonable assurance of employment), revised Policy 55.12 (use of tobacco and nicotine by students, clarified to allow limited Native American ceremonial use), and revised Policy 8395 (student mental and physical health services), which clarifies options for on‑site services from outside agencies.

The board received additional informational reports on special education progress monitoring, third‑Friday enrollment and preliminary budget/levy timing. The board scheduled its budget hearing for Oct. 27, 2025, at 5 p.m.; the district indicated preliminary revenue estimates will be published prior to that hearing.

Votes at a glance

- Athletic cooperative agreements (gymnastics, girls hockey, boys swim and dive): motion to approve carried (mover/second not specified in transcript). - Overnight field trip: AP Biology Evolution to Chicago, Feb. 25–Mar. 1, 2026 — motion to advance to next Monday’s regular meeting for final approval; motion carried. - New high school courses (Algebra 2 Mathematical Modeling; Mathematical Modeling requirement; Data Science; AP Precalculus): motion to approve carried. - Gifts, grants and requests (September 2025): motion to accept carried. - Personnel: October new hires and separations — motion carried. Resignation of Zachary Roth (high school health teacher) accepted effective 10/03/2025 with liquidated damages enforced — motion carried. - Policy first readings: 4124, 55.12, 8395 — motions to approve first readings carried.

What the board did not decide today

- The board did not take final action on the AP Biology overnight field trip; that item was advanced to the next regular meeting for final approval.

Why it matters

These approvals affect course offerings and staffing for the coming school year, maintain athletic opportunities through cooperative agreements, and begin required policy updates tied to federal and state guidance. The curriculum additions are timed to influence December registration and staffing for the 2026 school year.

Sources and provenance

Key transcript evidence for the motions appears where administration presents the cooperative agreements and the board votes (excerpt: “Motion is second to approve the administration's recommendation of athletic cooperatives for gymnastics, girls hockey, boys swim and dive. Are there any comments, questions?”) and where new courses are presented (“Administration recommends the addition of new courses at the Superior High School, algebra 2 mathematical modeling, mathematical modeling, new course requirement, data science, new course request, AP precalculus new course request, all 1 credit.”). The overnight field trip discussion and the vote to advance it are recorded in the transcript under the AP Biology field trip item. Final administrative recommendations and personnel items are recorded in the committee minutes portion of the transcript.