Manning Hired As Football Coach By Culbertson School Board
Culbertson's school officials want to make sure that the school continues on a successful path in the future.
The Culbertson School board voted unanimously during their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, to extend the contract of Culbertson superintendent of schools Larry Crowder for three more years.
Crowder is serving his 22nd year as the school district's superintendent. The contract includes threeyear options of $5,000 each year.
Another highlight of Tuesday's meeting included the hiring of a new high school varsity football coach after DJ Hauge resigned from the position. Trustees noted they felt there were two quality candidates, but voted by a 3-1 margin to hire Brian Manning as the Cowboys' next head coach.
There were also two candidates for the maintenance director trainee position. Trustees voted to hire Austin Oelkers for the position. Trustees agreed to hire Maria Nunez as the Spanish interpreter aide.
Trustees hired elementary basketball assistant coaches Shelly Salvevold and Janelle Ator for this school year.
There was discussion regarding the second and third phases of the school district's boiler replacement project. Crowder recommended bidding out the remaining phases together rather than quoting phase two and bidding phase three. The board agreed to approve advertising phase two and phase three for bids.
A school van had a small collision with a deer south of Culbertson during November. The estimate of repair is within $300 of the vehicle being totaled out. The van was mainly used as a driver's education vehicle.
“We can total it out and walk away from it,” Crowder said.
The board voted to declare the van totaled.
Girls’ basketball coach Val Hauge asked if any other discussion has taken place regarding allowing eighth-grade students to play at the high school level. Last month, trustees approved a motion not to approve eighth-grade participation.
“The ones who voted against it when it failed need to request to put it on the agenda,” board chair Paul Finnicum explained.
The Culbertson Booster Club requested to be allow to ask firstthrough sixth-graders to take part in a Little Shooter program. As part of the program, the younger students will be invited to sit behind the high school team's bench at home games to cheer on the Cowboys and Cowgirls. The younger students will “buddy up” with the high school players. In future years, the program might extend to have the students play during half-time of high school games. Trustees approved the request.
