North Platte High School - Roundup Yearbook (North Platte, NE)

Page 15 text:

THE BIG SEVEN. ln connection with their numerous duties, board of education members Dr. G. F. Waltemath, York Hinman, Jr., J. J. Swanson, Paul Ely, president, E. W. Fisher, vice-president, Dr. L. F. States, secretary, and Otto Oakes, superintendent, analyze the present problem of needed school space and teachers for more pupils. School. Modern additions to Cleveland, Cody, Jefferson, and McKinley are now under way. lf weather conditions per- mit, the construction will be completed and ready for use by the fall of 1953. Members of the board of educa- tion have seen many of their plans and dreams come to realization since I948. Some recent accomplishments include a school for the handicapped, a school- wide safety program, a vocal music program for the Junior High School, parent-teacher conferences in the ele- mentary schools, driver education at Senior High School, a motion picture film library, the federal hotlunch pro- gram for Junior and Senior High Schools, handbooks for teachers, and the redecoration of elementary class- rooms in colors. A major accomplishment of the board this year, and one that Senior High School students appreciate, is the recent purchase of a new 40-passenger bus for school use. The purpose of the bus is to cut down the cost of travel for the school and to provide more oppor- tunity for the students of the school to participate in out-of-town events. Any regular school activity, in- cluding athletics, band, and clubs may use the bus. This year the bus has been very efficiently and economically used. An annual responsibility of the school board is the task of taking a detailed card inventory of all school equipment. The board is also responsi- ble for supervising any census taken in North Platte. Duties of the school board are numerous and incessant. A few func- tions and duties include the responsi- bility of setting salaries and of hiring school employees. It also serves as a court of appeals for employees. The North Platte School system has many sound policies, improvements, and valuable additions to show from the work of the board of education. lt is an organization which is continu- ously working for the good of students. One of its main objectives is to see that all students receive a modern, demo- cratic, and complete education. School board members are Paul Ely, president, Ezra Fisher, vice-pres- ident, Dr. L. F. States, secretary, Dr. Glen Waltemath, J. J. Swanson, York Hinman, Jr., and Otto Oakes, super- intendent. ..-11-

Page 14 text:

Master Group Plans Ahead Another school year, 1952-1953, finds the North Platte board of education busy making important decisions and determining school policies. The biggest job of the school board this year has been that of ex- panding schools to meet the ever-in- creasing number of elementary school children. This need for space will con- stitute a very serious problem for many years to come. In connection with the problem also goes a demand for more teachers. ln a study conducted last year, figures showed that enrollment in el- ementary schools would almost double by 1955. However, according to the count of grade school pupils enrolled this year, the number is increasing even more rapidly than was expected. For this reason, it will be necessary to build more new schools, and this also means that when these students reach high school age, they must be provided with ample high school space. Under the S886,000 bond issue, an elementary school building is now being built at the corner of Buffalo avenue and Fifteenth street. This new building will be called the Longfellow PARENT PROBLEMS. North Platte school board members assist PTA council members in solving problems regarding students and ex- panding schools for more children. DRYER DELUXE. Inspecting the clothing dryers in the Junior High School home econ- omics room are school board members, York Hinman, E. W. Fisher, and Otto Oakes. COOKBOOK PLEASE! Dr. G. F. Waltemath, J. J. Swanson, Dr. L. F. States, and Paul Ely experiment with the stoves in the home eco- nomics room at Junior High School.

Page 16 text:

Superintendent Otto Oakes NOW HERE'S ONE! Otto Oakes, superinten- dent of schools, and his secretary, Mrs. Fern Peterson, discuss and observe pictures of var- ious modern school buildings. TOP DECISION. Superintendent of schools, Otto Oakes, and Principal Roy W. Mayer dis- cuss with one another and reach decisions concerning the faculty and student problems. His Supervision Guides s Otto Oakes, superintendent of the North Plate School system, is now see- ing his bond issue proposal for a new elementary school and other improve- ments turned into reality. Supervising the building of the new Longfellow school and the many modern additions to other elementary schools requires a good deal of his time. The school board delegates cer- tain responsibilities to Mr. Oakes. He supervises all school employees, sug- gests needed changes, sees that school buildings and grounds are properly maintained, renders advice and attends -1 21 all school board meetings. All the superintendent's duties and responsibilities are fully and am- bitiously carried out by Mr. Oakes. He is well acquainted with his ,responsibili- ties and eagerly strives to satisfy and please anyone with whom he may come in contact. Mr. Oakes received a bachelor of arts degree from the Peru State Teach- ers College and his master of arts degree from Denver University. He be- came principal of North Platte High School in I944 and superintendent of schools in l948.