New School Superintendent Talks About Kids First, Community Involvement And Financial Footing

NEBRASKA CITY – Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce introduced the public school’s new superintendent at a Hot Topics Zoom meeting on Wednesday.

Mark Fritch, a former principal at Wilber-Clatonia, is originally from Palmyra and attended Peru State College.

He said his educational philosophy is about kids first with community goals.

Fritch: “We need to have a community that is involved in raising our students. It doesn’t just fall on parents. It doesn’t just fall on our school. How do we do that to create the best environment for our students to be successful, so they are contributed members to our society and our community?”

He said visibility in the community and a consistent message are keys to good public relations.

Fritch: “I still believe the most important thing I do is to tell our story. When I say tell our story, what I really believe the most important thing we all have to remember to do is to tell the positive things are students are doing.”

He said the school is working on its strategic plan and he expects overall finances to be a topic at an upcoming retreat meeting.

Fritch: “There are going to need to be some decisions that are going to need to be made that are going to be very difficult. That’s part of the interview and part of what has been happening when I do visit with the board and that’s part of what the retreat will be. We’re trying to do some groundwork so that when we do have those difficult decisions to make that we have some things in place that helps guides those decisions. Because they are going to be difficult. There are going to be difficult times in the future in order for us to get back on solid ground.”

Lourdes Central Catholic Principal Curt Feilmeier updated Hot Topics on new hires at the school.

Sarah Marek will teach Spanish, Fr. Stephen Graeve is the new pastor of parishes at Julian and Paul, Mark Madison is the girls head basketball coach, Trevor Krenk is the boys basketball coach, Leslie Lien will teach business and computers, Kris Lien will teach physics and chemistry and Mike Kearney is the new physical education instructor.