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With less than two months remaining for the academic year, the ISD 166 April School Board (regular business) meeting was held on Thursday, April 15, 2021 via zoom teleconferencing. All board members and Acting Superintendent/Principal Mrs. Megan Myers, along with Assistant Principal/ Activities Coordinator Mr. Mitch Dorr were in attendance. Cook County school staff, parents and community members attended, as well.
A few school resignations and retirements were announced. Industrial Tech teacher, Chris Rauzi will be retiring at the end of the school year. Registered Nurse Alexandria Miller and Licensed Practical Nurse Tim Young both submitted letters of resignation as well. Jake Patten, a fulltime route bus driver has also resigned effective the end of the current school year but will maintain his bus license to be a substitute driver. In addition, Special Education teacher Susan Nelson submitted a heartfelt retirement letter noting her pride in the district where she was employed as teacher and coach for 31 years. “I am proud of the academic; athletic; and positive, heartfelt connections I have made with my students, families, ISD 166 staff, administrations, and school boards,” wrote Nelson. Every school board member and administrator wished all the resigning and retiring staff well and offered an abundance of gratitude for their service to the students and community at large.
In the goals report given by Myers, the new Language Arts curriculum proposal was discussed with an implementation date of Fall 2021 given. A well-received, in-person professional development day for staff took place where items such as MCA training and testing, advertising and applications for Preschool/Kindergarten fall programming and plans for a summer school session were all addressed. Myers explained that state and federal program and grant applications are being completed and that elementary and secondary school Emergency Relief II funds are being budgeted for COVID-19 related expenditures. Principal Myers also discussed the two positive COVID-19 cases within the building and the close work with families and the community and proactive steps taken along with advisement from public health officials. Mrs. Myers referred to a recent LIEC meeting that was held as well, with potential plans in place to expand the Ojibwe language teaching to all students. A zoom model will be considered for representing the additional language offering into the elementary level curriculum.
In the school report given by Assistant Principal Dorr, different plans and dates were put into place with the intentions to, “finish the year strong,” and to have, “great experiences,” for the students as this busy time of year is underway. Mr. Dorr noted that there are over 100 students currently participating in one or more activities including Robotics, Baseball, Softball and Track and Field, to name a few. Calendar dates of importance were cited. The prom has been set back to Saturday May 8. The awards and scholarship program will be pre-recorded and is currently planned for release on Tuesday, May 18. May 27 will be the last day of school for Seniors. Graduation is currently set for Saturday, May 29 and will follow a similar format as last year’s walk-through version. June 4 will be the last day of school for grades K-11.
The search for a new District Superintendent is still in progress. Please refer to the school webpage www.cookcountyschools.org for additional information. The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 20, at 5p.m.
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