(Above) School employee Glenda Kuehl hands her co-worker, Starla Scholten, a file of student information. Both ladies successfully made it past the morning rush typical for the first day of classes at Hills-Beaver Creek. Scholten said the first day of school is "a real killer."
By Jolene Farley
Preparation for a new school year at Hills-Beaver Creek begins days before classes start.
People ask what employees do at the school during the summer, according to librarian Marilyn Nelson. Nelson said, "It is really a hectic time."
For example, high school secretary Starla Scholten has a long list of tasks to complete before students arrive in the fall.
She compiles new student packets and handbooks, finalizes student and teacher schedules, assigns locker numbers to students, compiles class lists and puts together packets for teachers' workshops. Scholten also prepares the school lunch program for the year.
With 18 new students in the elementary school and three new students in the high school this year, there is plenty of paperwork to bring up to date.
Nelson has worked at the school for 15 years, as secretary until this year when she changed positions and reduced her hours to part-time.
To catch up after summer break, Nelson catalogs and files magazines received over the summer. She also updates student grade levels.
Nelson organizes "transportation," as she calls it, more commonly known as the bus routes for the district. She also fills in making copies for teachers who need them.
Of everyone at the school Nelson said, "Teachers are great, students are great, parents are great; it is a great job."
Superintendent secretary and finance manager Glenda Kuehl begins working full time every year at the beginning of August. She orders textbooks for the year and makes sure they are received.
"That's probably the most hectic," said Kuehl, "making sure everything is here."
During the summer, auditors come and go and state reports are due, according to Kuehl.
Kuehl also organizes staff workshops, making sure all speakers, supplies and food are ready for the event.
Kuehl claims she is a jack-of- all-trades, and none of her co-workers argues with that title. "I fix copy machines, computers or whatever," she said.
Office employees try to keep expenses down for the district, according to Nelson.
To prove the point, Nelson turned to Kuehl and asked, "How many times have we been to Office Max?"
"We do a lot of price checking to see where we can get the best deal," said Nelson.
Kuehl adds, "If we do our job well, it benefits the district, which ultimately benefits the students."
Wilma Bengtson is also employed by the district as payroll clerk. Bengtson tracks all salary and benefit changes and updates records for new employees.
Nobody is ever really ready for a new school year, according to the office staff. There is always a list of things to do. "You never go home feeling like everything is done," said Kuehl.
All the office staff agreed they don't mind. "We love it," they said. "We are gluttons for punishment."
Not only are the office staff close to each other, they also become attached to students, according to Nelson.
"The seventh-graders are so little; we watch them grow up. The kids change so much. Seniors come back (to Hills) and say hi," said Nelson. Nelson hates graduation because that means good-bye.