The opening topic at the USD 323 March school board meeting was the Rock Creek High School Scholars Bowl team and the high school girls’ wrestling team.
The Scholars Bowl team, consisting of four seniors—Bee Shultz, Aidan Levendofsky, Colton Klecan, and Jonas Smith, along with junior Avery Foster and sophomore Brice Palmer, which were all recognized for their performance in 2025. Coaches Darwyn Sweetman and Daniel Smith reported the team became league champions, marking another successful season for the RC Scholars Bowl.
The girls’ wrestling team was also highlighted. The team finished fourth overall at state, with sophomore RaeLynne Wilson, freshman girls Megan Ryan and Lillauna Nold, and senior Brooklyn Burenheide placing 6th, 5th, and 2nd, respectively. Making this years Rock Creek Girls Wrestling league champs. Coach Dr. Brad Burenheide also received the regional Coach of the Year award.
Student parking at Rock Creek High School was another major topic of discussion. The south parking lot, located directly in front of the high school doors, has insufficient paved spaces for students, forcing some to park in an unlined gravel area. This has created disorganization and chaos at times. Some students have also parked in handicap and reserved spots to accommodate the demand for parking.
In response, students began parking in the west parking lot, also known as the middle school parking lot, starting in late January. The lot, which typically operates at 10 to 20 percent capacity, is mostly used by high school and middle school teachers. By early March, the middle school lot was approximately 40 to 50 percent full, easing congestion in the main parking lot but creating more concerns for the busses and foot traffic.
In early March, administration halted students from parking in the west lot due to safety concerns. RCHS Principal Eric Koppes emphasized the need to prevent students from parking there. Board member Nate Meile argued that there were “safety concerns both ways” and suggested finding alternative solutions as the school continues to grow. The current parking policy will likely be revisited, and changes could be made when the student handbook is updated.
Another key topic was the HVAC systems on campus. The district has faced ongoing issues with HVAC units, particularly with AC compressors and control modules. The middle school, built in 2020, has experienced multiple failures of compressors, and some units have malfunctioned several times. According to Tim Churchman the Rock Creek Facilities Director, repairing these units is costly, and with warranties set to expire this summer, future repairs will impact the school budget significantly. The board is currently weighing out whether to replace these units with more reliable systems or continuing to repair the existing units for a few more years.
