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CoUNTDoWN To SUMMERSeniors Everyone

9 school days 20 school days

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TIGERcubEDITORIAL There are budget cuts for schools in the news and some of them will take place regardless of how important a specific program may be. One of the potential cuts on the chopping block is trips for foreign language classes. The Tiger Cub staff strongly supports these trips. Even though they did not go the way of budget cuts this year, there will likely be more cuts made next year, and foreign travel will still be at risk. One of the main things that foreign languages have going for them is the practical use. By traveling to a country that speaks the language, students who have been learning for four years of high school get practical use of it. One can take four years of math, or learn about participles throughout high school, but unless their major is math or English heavy, students don’t get much real world use out of it. Traveling to the foreign countries gives experience and creates opportunities to live in other coun-tries or study abroad in college. Most of the students who decide to apply for the Rotary program do so after traveling with the school for a foreign language trip. Often those students go into career fields such as international business where they can use their knowledge of the country and language. Not only are the trips good for getting practical experience in speaking a language, but they also teach students about foreign cultures. Students who went on foreign trips will say they learned more in the ten days they were in a country then they did in the past three or four years of education in the class room. A check from the real world where students are forced to communicate in a different language is going to teach kids a lot faster than the safety of the classroom where they can still ask to go to the bathroom in English. Learning about life outside of the United States will help make students better rounded and possibly more appre-ciative of the life they have here. It is hard as high school students to fathom life in another country half way across the world.

There are so many benefits to the foreign language trips they should not even be con-sidered as something that could be cut from the budget. The Tiger Cub hopes that the foreign language trips will be allowed to continue.

Now that Hastings Public Schools is struggling to meet minimum state requirements for testing this does not seem like the best time to reduce teaching staff. However, due to the poor economy nationwide, Hastings Public Schools is about to experience its “most extreme situation in 21 years” according to Superintendent Craig Kautz. At the April 5 Hastings Public School District school board meeting, Kautz present-ed the unfortunate news to the public. The 2012 budget outlook is grim. Early on, there was an estimated $4 million shortfall due to increase in district costs and a reduc-tion in state aid. In order to balance it, the school board had to create a new budget for the district. The new budget plan would call for spending reduction in areas like supplies for schools, reduced staff, and reduced funding for building maintenance. Hastings Education Association President Dave Witt spoke out against the initial plan for budget adjustments. “We must make cuts as far away from the classroom as possible,” Mr. Witt said. Kautz, who was in charge of making the planned cuts, presented them in two differ-ent proposals. The first, on March 17, had three levels of cuts. The second, presented on April 5, narrowed those levels to two. By this time, the district estimated the shortfall at $1.8 million instead of $4 million. This new information eliminated many cuts on the original budget plan. The job cuts that remained on the final plan were the German para-educator position at HHS, the 5th grade para-educator position at Watson elementary, and a reduction in the math staff, also at HHS. Ultimately, Sharon Witt’s math position will be eliminated,

but she will be reassigned to the business department to teach in place of Phyllis Hobbs, who is retiring. At the fourth and final meeting, math teachers Mrs. Witt and Ben Welsch voiced their

opinions to the board along with support from Mr. Witt. The teachers said the math student interventions implemented this year must be supported. In order to do so, they need the entire staff of teachers available. Another conflict that Mrs. Witt brought up to the board was the administration’s plan to have the entire

math department carpeted, while at the same time letting go of a member of the math staff. “We must make the school as attractive as possible for learning,” Kautz said. Kautz emphasized that in letting the building deteriorate, the district is sending a message that it doesn’t care about the students’ education. Kautz also added that the funding for maintenance is already reduced to $350,000 for the entire district and that the building and sites fund, which handles building improvements. Due to current law, these funds cannot be moved from one area to another, so the monies must be used for their pur-pose. Original cuts included on the first budget plan included 11 para-educator positions, teachers of English as a second language and counselor positions in schools across the district. Teachers, parents, students and even building principals made their opinions known as to what should be cut and what should not.The budget shortfall is estimated to last for two years before regaining stability. At the final meeting, the board’s vote was 9-0 in favor of the final plan.

DAKOTA SOUCIE story

Budget gets trimmed

Can you feel the draft?

“We must make cuts as far away from the calssroom as possible.” -Dave Witt

New faculty gather in September, 1976. From left to right: Lynn Cordell, Dan McCarthy, Ladell Stonecipher, Don Johnson, and Kay Payne. On the ground are Ran-dy Lawson and Steve James. Tiger Cub photo

VALERIE FRAZIER storyTeaching in a high school is a very scary occupation. Teenagers are a nightmare and being stuck in a classroom all day would be very boring. Dan McCarthy and Phyllis Hobbs disagree with this infamous stereotype. “I am going to miss the students the most. They always made my day,” long time drafting teacher Dan McCarthy said.McCarthy has taught at Hastings High as the drafting teacher for 35 years and wouldn’t change a single minute of it. “Teaching at Hastings has been far better than I had ever dreamed. I never planned to be here for 35 years,” Mc-Carthy said. McCarthy plans on helping new drafting teacher, Adam Skrdla, adjust to his new job. “The best part of my job was watching the drafting program grow and watching students grow along with it,” Mc-Carthy said. McCarthy isn’t really sure what he is going to do after retirement. “I will probably work on my ‘71 camaro and do some projects around the house,” McCarthy said. McCarthy says that he has really enjoyed watching his students come in as freshmen and strive as juniors and seniors. “I am very sad that Mr. McCarthy is leaving because I don’t want to do my last year of drafting with a new teacher,” three year drafting student junior Alex Olson said. McCarthy enjoys watching high school sporting events and drama events so he plans to attend many of these events for the next couple of years. Along with McCarthy, Phyllis Hobbs, the multi media teacher at HHS, is also retir-ing this year.Hobbs has taught at HHS since 1980. She was the cheerleading sponsor for 15 years. “The best part of my teaching career was helping students develop multi media skills and helping them keep up with the new technology,” Hobbs said. Hobbs has two sons and three grandchildren that she plans to visit more often after she retires. Hobbs also plans on taking a New England/Canadian Cruise next Fall. “I will continue to work with multi media as a hobby,” Hobbs said. Hobbs also enjoys reading and golfing so she will fill a lot of her free time doing that Special education and research teacher, Ann Koozer, is also among those retiring this year. Koozer started teaching at HHS in 1989. “I am going to miss my relationships with students and colleagues,” Koozer said. One of Koozer’s biggest accomplishments while being at HHS was helping students become more successful in the classroom. “After I retire I am going to do some volunteer work in the community and hopefully do some subbing here at HHS,” Koozer said. Students and staff appreciate all the retiring teachers have done and hope that they all have a happy retirement.

New approach to tests

Hands-off in hallways

Wheaties: “Breakfast for Champions.” Posters advertising Wheaties breakfast ce-real have gone up all around the building, causing students to wonder when English teachers Jalaene Choquette and Dave Witt got so buff. These posters, showcasing the junior class, were put up to get students excited for state testing. “Our school improvement team wanted to provide some incentive for and have a little fun with state testing,” Principal Jay Opperman said. “We came up with some things that were fun to get ready for something that is not so fun to encourage the kids to give their best effort.” On the Friday April 1, before the first testing week there was a pep rally for the juniors to get them “pumped up” for the tests. There, the students were informed of what would be taking place the following week: a raffle for prizes, free breakfast on Monday mornings before testing, and the Wheaties posters displayed around the school. In addition, students received raffle tickets for just showing up in the library to take the test. “I though that the raffle made testing a little exciting,” junior Stephen Gnagy said. “But I didn’t really like the pep rally.” Prizes were donated from various places around town such as, Bob Sass, A Perfect Gift, Lochland, Allure Salon and Spa, 5 Points Bank, and Uncle Neal’s. There were also food and gas cards bought by the faculty and prom tickets donated by Mr. Opperman. In addition to the prizes, Russ’s, Walmart, and Hy-Vee donated snacks and water for testing days.

“The way I see it students like to be appreciated,” Opperman said. “If they realize that it is something worthwhile, they’ll work that much harder.” Though results of the tests are unknown as of now, there is hope for an improve-ment in results. “I think that for the most part, students did their best,” reading specialist Nikki Gengenbach said. “From what we have seen of results it seems that there was a direct correlation between the time spent taking the test and the performance on the test.” Earlier in the year, a poll was taken to see how much effort the junior class of last year gave on their state tests. The results of the poll showed that out of 160 students less than 65 percent gave their best effort. This year, the administration wanted to emphasize the importance of the tests. “We use this feedback to make academic decisions for the next year,” Opperman said. “It’s important that students give their best, honest effort so we can get an ac-curate picture of where the students are at and what needs to be changed.” Though students may not realize it, the results not only affect individual students but also have an impact on the school and community. “It seems to me like there isn’t much at stake for a student sitting at the com-puter taking the test, but what students need to realize is that it comes back on the school,” Gengenbach said. “Our reputation is greatly affected by test scores. It all comes down to pride for our school and community.”

HAILEY HEMENWAY story

Is PDA (personal/public display of affection) getting better or worse at Hastings High? “It’s much improved,” Assistant Principal Tracy Douglas said. At the beginning of the year administration and teachers announced the way PDA would be addressed. Instead of “personal/public display of affection,” PDA would now be known as “proper distance alignment.” “We are trying to keep it positive, not negative and have acceptable behavior at the same time,” Douglas said. But students aren’t sure if they agree there is really a difference. “At the beginning of the year teachers cracked down on it, but now they are more laid back. They just got used to it, I guess,” sophomore Meghan Heinz said. According to the school handbook, “Students are expected to conduct them-selves with decorum and respect for themselves and others in personal relation-ships.” When teachers see two students showing affection to one other or with hands on each other in the school hallway, they are to call it to the students’ attention and ask them to stop.

Likewise, other students do not like seeing students kissing in the hallways or in classrooms before class starts, either or blocking hallways by messing around traffic jams, or creates a distraction or safety issue. “I’m glad that we’re not allowed to have PDA. You can do that stuff on week-ends or outside of school, none of us want to see that. But no one follows it, I see at least five to six couples a day kissing in the hallway and I think it’s gross,” senior Claire Phillips said. Other students don’t mind seeing PDA because they are more worried about getting to class on time. “When I see students standing in front of lockers hugging, and kissing I don’t usually pay attention, I just pass by and keep going,” sophomore Sandra Chandler said. The expectation of appropriate behavior is still there, regardless of what it is called. “The PDA rule has not changed, we are just calling it a different name. The students feel more respected in the way it is addressed.” Douglas said.

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NICHOLE SHARP story

Students work for balance

Fast rising gas prices become pain in walletFour dollar a gallon gas is on the way. The prices have been rising considerably within the last couple of months. Prices have not been this high since 2008. The rising prices are due to multiple issues, one of which is the unrest in the Middle East. The revolts in Egypt and Bahrain did not affect oil prices, but Libya is another story. Libya exports large amounts of crude oil to Europe, and 40% of oil imported to the USA is from Europe; What affects European oil prices affects America’s also. With many of the oil refineries in Libya not producing, this lack of Libyan oil causes the oil prices to rise. Another factor in rising oil prices is Americans themselves. The first quarter of 2011 unemployment rates were lower than expected with only 8.8 percent of Americans out of work, while 8.8 percent is still a lot of Americans out of work, it is better than what we thought it would be as 216,000 jobs were added in March alone. With more Americans having jobs, this means more Americans have money. When more Americans have money, then more will spend it on products such as gas. Thus the demand for gas increases. With the supply of gas already falling due to the revolts in the Middle east, and the demand rising due to more Americans being able to spend, the results is swiftly rising gas prices. Also, there is a growing number of the people in emerging economies such as India and China whose consumer need for oil is constantly rising. By 2015, it is estimated by Bloomberg, that China will have a middle class population of 400 million, which is greater than the entire population of the United States. With this growing middle class, it easy to see that the demand for oil will rise, thus making the price go up. What is happening in the Middle East right now is hard to predict. As long as the state of that region is unstable, oil prices will be also. The American economy looks to be only getting better, and Bloomberg predicts the unemployment rate will drop even more in the coming months, expect oil prices to rise faster than ever.

KYLE BROSNIHAN commentary

A high school student’s full time job should be being a good student and concentrating on school work. The goal is to get a good paying job when they need the money to pay for their home and food. This is the opinion of a few parents whose kids are students at HHS. However, there are many students that have jobs like working at a fast food place, in a grocery store, animal shelters, bowling alleys, or other places where they employ teenag-ers. Out of 100 seniors and juniors polled, more than 65% have a job. Most of them work one to three times a week, 50% of them work four to six times a week and some even work everyday! “I had to get a job because I have to pay for my car and other activities,” junior Kait-lynn Schmidt said. Some are using the money to help out at home while others us it for their basics. Many of the students who have a job are also involved in activities like sports or other school activities that take a lot of time. “Sometimes it is hard to manage practice, homework, and work if it all happens to be on the same day and the same time. But it works out somehow, so although it is stress-ful I still work,” senior Lindsey Leininger said. She works at Russ’s and at Building Blocks Daycare, and she is also an active member of the Tigerette team. She works 25 hours a week to pay for her car and to help pay for her college.

Some students, who are already on their own, have a job to support themselves. Senior Lilian Barnes is one of these students. She is 18 years old and a senior at HHS. She lives by herself since last summer and moved out because of personal reasons. Barnes has two paid jobs. She works at Hastings Literacy program and at Runza. She not just has these two jobs but also volunteer jobs where she doesn’t get paid. In the Hastings Literacy program she helps adults that are learning English as a sec-ond language and at Runza she is a cashier. Her work schedule changes every week but usually she works everyday. Living by herself she has to pay rent, personal expenses, and medical expenses.“I have wonderful people that help me with food,” she said. Barnes enjoys working and gets along very well with her coworkers. “There is this phrase ‘Find a job that you love and you would not have to work a day in your life’ Well, that is my case,” she said. Barnes learned that “Organization, time management, prioritization, motivation, optimism, and be willing to do school stuff is the way to survive.” She comes to early meetings, stays after school in meetings, goes to fundraisers, and participate in school trips. Her homework gets usually done during nights. She also saves money to help afford paying for college. “I save money to follow my dream to go to college and that is why I say it is worth it; the long hours at work, the angry customers, the non sleep nights doing homework - All is worth it!” Barnes said.

LAURA TIEPOLT story

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oll out the red carpet, ladies and gentlemen. A new celebrity has risen among our ranks. He’s been enrolled at HHS for almost three years, but only recently has his status skyrocketed to a new dimen-sion. That’s right, junior Luke Fanning has been elected the state DECA President. “I’m honored that I was chosen for such a presti-

gious position,” Fanning said. For those who are unsure, DECA is an organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. Basically, “DECA is a business club that prepares you for what lies ahead,” Fanning said. This has been Fanning’s first year involved in DECA. His journey to the presiden-cy started in September when he and the other DECA members began preparing for competitions that have taken place throughout the year. Fanning campaigned for the presidency against one other girl from Millard South, which has the biggest DECA chapter in the state. Although Fanning was considered the underdog, he emerged victorious and was announced president at a DECA conference toward the end of March. Fanning was excited when the winner was announced. “I was shocked when I found out! My opponent did such an excellent job at campaigning. The last thing I expected was to hear my name called for president that Saturday morning,” he said. Fanning is looking forward to his year in the president’s shoes. It won’t be all fun and games, however. The presidency is not just about glamour and flashing lights; Fanning has many responsibilities and duties to perform. One of his first obligations is to attend a national conference in Florida at the beginning of May. But that is just the beginning. “I will have to attend a lot of important meetings and write important letters,” Fanning said. Being in DECA has also introduced Fanning to many new people. The other state DECA officers are all from other schools. Fanning is looking forward to get-ting to know them and working together with them as well. “My state action team is made up of some pretty awesome individuals. With the little time I have spent with them, we are already close friends,” Fanning said. One downside of being DECA president is that Fanning will miss Tiger Mania, one of the last choir concerts of the year, to attend the Florida conference. Fanning is disappointed that he will be gone for such a fun concert but going to Florida is a sufficient reason to miss it. “I can’t wait for my week in Orlando, Florida for the In-ternational Career Development Conference, but I wish it didn’t overlap with the Tiger Mania concert. I’m sorry Mr. Canady [HHS choir director]!” Fanning said. Nonetheless, Fanning is honored to have been elected president and is plan-ning on making the most of his time in office. He hopes this first taste of power will lead to a long life in the political spotlight. “I’m think holding this position will be the starting block for me. I plan on continuing to pursue officer positions in my future activities,” Fanning said. Back on the home front at HHS, Fanning has only a few small changes he would like to see. “What I would like the most is having a statue erected in my honor. I talked to Mr. Opperman about it but he just said he would get back to me,” Fanning said. “It would also be beneficial to have my own office for writing my important letters and answering important calls.” Of course, these are simply suggestions and aren’t necessarily vital. But it’s something to think about. There are only a few requirements to be in DECA. Only juniors and seniors are allowed and members must take beginning marketing or another class taught by Mrs. Gwen Davidson, the business teacher. Davidson is also the advisor for DECA. If you see Fanning in the hallway, be sure to give him a pat on the back. His achievement deserves to be commended. It is not too often that a state president walks the hallways of HHS.

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