At a recent meeting of the Dieterich School Board, members listened to community feedback regarding the boys high school basketball program and its head coach, Brent Bohnhoff.
Community Response to the Basketball Program
While a single critic voiced concerns about the program’s direction, the overwhelming sentiment came from eight parents and supporters who praised Coach Bohnhoff’s leadership and the team’s progress.
Budget Adjustments and Deficit
The board voted to amend the current fiscal year’s budget, reshaping both expenditures and revenues. The revised plan now anticipates a $193,505 shortfall, primarily driven by the roof, solar panel, and tuckpointing projects that are part of the district’s facilities upgrade.
Insurance renewals were approved with modest reductions in workers’ compensation costs, increased health insurance expenses, and a higher cyber‑risk limit, reflecting evolving risk landscapes. To fund the upcoming facility work, the board authorized a $1.5 million transfer from the working cash fund to the operations and maintenance fund, earmarking the money for the roof, solar and tuckpointing endeavors.
Staff will see a 5.75 percent salary increase next year, while elementary principal Josh Benefiel received a 3.5 percent raise, underscoring the board’s commitment to retaining experienced leaders.
Personnel Changes and Curriculum Updates
Two older scoreboards have been declared surplus property and will be sold through sealed bids, a step that could generate modest revenue for the district. The board also approved a revision to the junior high mathematics curriculum, aiming to better align coursework with student needs and state standards.
Personnel actions included the acceptance of resignations from Danielle Dolan and Felicia Swingler, while new hires such as Sara Egan, Tricia Ohnesorge, and Cora Wente were welcomed as aides, alongside student workers Rylee Ruholl and Haezel Niemeyer.
Selena Flach was reassigned from part‑time to full‑time aide, and Kayla Kocher was approved as a student teacher for the elementary school this fall.
Overall, the meeting reflected a balancing act between addressing operational deficits, enhancing staff compensation, and responding to community expectations as the district moves into the new academic year.