CCISD Superintendent Stockero’s Contract Renewed

The Copper Country Intermediate School District Board of Education has renewed the contract of Superintendent George Stockero.

At their March meeting, the board presented their annual evaluation of the superintendent and rated Stockero has “Highly Effective”.

The Board stated they were very impressed with how Stockero worked with the community to explain the benefits of Career and Technical Education, which led to a successful CTE millage and many new opportunities for local students.

Here is the full press release from the meeting:

The Copper Country Intermediate School District Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.

The Copper Country ISD Board completed their annual evaluation of Superintendent George Stockero.  The Board rated Stockero as “Highly Effective.”  Every year the Board and Superintendent Stockero create goals for the year.  The Board stated they were very impressed with how Stockero worked with the community to explain the benefits of Career and Technical Education, which led to a successful CTE millage and many new opportunities for local students.

The Board heard a presentation from current Math/Science Director Shawn Oppliger.  Oppliger explained that Math/Science Centers have been around since 2000.  There are currently 33 Math/Science Centers in the State of Michigan.  This will be the last year of funding for Math/Science Centers.  Michigan will now have STEM centers, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The State created 16 STEM centers, that ISDs or universities could apply for.  The Copper Country ISD applied and was awarded a STEM center and will serve the five counties of Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, Gogebic and Ontonagon.  The State is requiring all STEM centers to create a local STEM Council, which is made up of various partners within the region.  The CCISD has reached out to such groups and they all have accepted to be part of the Council. Members of the Council will come from MTU, Finlandia, Gogebic Community College, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College, Gogebic- Ontonagon ISD, Copper Country ISD, REMC, Career and Technical Education, Portage Health Foundation, MTEC Smart Zone, KEDA, MichiganWorks, and WUPPDR.

After her presentation, the Board was informed that current Math/Science Director Shawn Oppliger will be retiring at the end of the school year.  Stockero and the Board had high praise for the work and dedication that Oppliger has given to the CCISD and all students in the five county area. Stockero informed the Board that the ISD will be posting for a STEM Director soon.

In other action, the Board:

• Approved revised Career and Technical Education and REMC budgets for 2017-18.
• Accepted with regret the retirement resignations of Shawn Oppliger, Director of the Western U.P. Math/Science Center, and Tammy Parmentier, Teacher of the Mild Cognitive Impairment Program at Barkell Elementary School.
• Hired Jodi Skoog as a part-time School Nurse and Eric Jarvi as a temporary Helpdesk Technician for REMC1.
• Nominated the following individuals for the annual Copper Country Association of School Boards awards: Mike Richardson, Director of REMC1, for the Outstanding Education Employee Award; Karyn Juntunen, Teacher of the Community Transition Program, for the School Service Award; and Kylie Rauvala, Hancock High School Student Mentor, for the Student Leadership Award.
• Appointed Amanda Wais to a three year term on the Parent Advisory Committee for Special Education, representing the Grant Township School District, as nominated by their Board of Education.
• Approved a contract with Michigan Technological University for provision of a CTE Computer Networking/Cybersecurity course for 2018-19.
• Renewed the Superintendent’s and other administrative contracts.