S01 E05: Under the Sea and Into Slang School 

Release Date: April 2, 2026

Duration: ~60 minutes 

Show Notes: Link

In this high-energy episode, Superintendent Mark Rairigh and host Chris Malanga trade the district office for the center stage. As Bryan City Schools prepares for a historic musical production, we bridge the gap between long-standing district traditions and the rapidly evolving culture of our Junior High hallways. From the grit of the theater to the "rizz" of the classroom, Episode 5 celebrates the many ways our students are staying "locked in" on excellence.

This episode covers:

The News Feed: A deep dive into major district shifts, including a busing expansion that will reduce the "no-bus zone" to a half-mile, serving 130 new students. We also honor nearly 80 years of combined service as we announce the retirements of Steve Alspaugh, Julie Taylor, and Karen Meister, and celebrate Mitchell Owens being named OTCA State Coach of the Year.

District Deep Dive: The cast and director of The Little Mermaid join the show for a behind-the-scenes look at the BHS musical. We discuss the unique "grit" required for this year’s production—the first BHS musical since the 1988–89 school year to be performed at an off-site venue—as the cast prepares to take over New Hope Community Church.

The Fun Segment: Class is officially in session for our debut of "Slang School." Junior High correspondents Gabi Malanga and Bree Herman put Mark and Chris to the ultimate test to see if they can translate modern student vocabulary. Will the admin team prove they have "aura," or are they headed for a "total cheugy" failing grade?

Community Mailbag: We head back to the construction site to answer a frequent community question regarding the MS/HS progress. Mark provides a transparent update on the physical transformation of the campus and whether the project is still on track for a 2026 completion.

We wrap up the show by honoring our Golden Bear Standouts, Sara Nowaczyk and Niki Minor. We highlight this incredible Kindergarten teaching team for the passion and service they bring to our youngest learners as they begin their #BryanBuilt journey.