Welcome Back from Mr. Meyerle

Welcome back students and staff!  It will be a great 2018-19 school year, and I hope you are ready to get to work.

It has been a busy summer, and I am anxious to get everyone back in a routine.

This year we welcome several new staff members.  Reba Hestermann will teach fifth grade and be assistant volleyball coach; Dylan Hinrichs will teach sixth grade and be the head boys basketball coach and JH football coach; Devin Garcia will teach 7-12 science and coach JH and HS track; and Kaylie Snyder will be a new HS para.  I am excited that they all joined us.  Please make them feel welcome.

Other changes also include Eric McMurray becoming Activities Director, Justin Larsen moving from the elementary to teach JH English and monitor Spanish classes, and Abigail Kostal moving from teaching sixth grade to PK.

I look forward to a great year and helping our young people be the best individuals they can while striving for success of the team.  Individual successes can be somewhat fulfilling, but nothing is better than being part of a cohesive team that has goals set, and then meets them.  Anyone that is on a team that worries more about their individual success than the team’s success becomes a negative influence.  It is better to gain the trust and respect of your teammates than any amount of personal attention or notoriety.  TEAM, TEAM, TEAM!

Just as in daily life in school, staff members have different roles, but all are important.  Students, bus drivers, custodians, cooks, volunteers, teachers, coaches, paras, the nurse, Board members, ESU staff, counselors, tech support, administrative assistants, Principals, and even the Superintendent are important. 

We have done a number of facility improvements again this summer and will soon begin construction on a new competitive gym.  All improvements come with a cost.  However, to not improve our district could prove to come with a much higher cost.  For example, in 2017-18 the total levy in the Diller-Odell District was .6396.  Even with a slight increase with some facility improvements, it is far better than neighboring districts levies which were 1.0949, 1.0871 and 1.0266 last year.  To not improve our own district and run the risk of someday not having a school and being absorbed, would see a huge levy increase and possibly no school in either Diller or Odell. 

I grew up in Holbrook, NE and graduated high school in 1984.  I loved growing up in Holbrook, and it will always be home.  However, when the school closed in 1992, it was not good for the community.  I don’t ever want that to happen here and believe in being aggressive and investing in ourselves.  I want the Diller-Odell School District to be a destination for people to come to, not leave.

Thanks to everyone for what you do.  Have a great school year!