Who needs a weatherman when you have a third-grader around? During the community comments portion of the September 17, 2015 meeting of the ISD 166 school board, third-grade teacher Lorelei Livingston shared a “magical moment” utilizing technology in her class.
Anticipating rain on the way, she and her class pulled up a satellite map on the classroom smart board. She admitted that the kids helped her determine where to click at times. A discussion of the geography of the map ensued while watching the storm’s progression. They noted the storm was moving toward Chicago where a friend of Livingston’s resides. The class made a prediction of when the rain would start at her friend’s residence. Livingston then made a cell phone call to her friend and asked that she text when the rain begins. Livingston later received a text that the rain hit at 4:49 p.m. She thanked the board for the smart board and technology available to the school.
Interim administrative structure set
The board then tackled the difficult duty of deciding on an interim administrative structure for the distribution of the elementary principal duties in the wake of the resignation of Principal Gwen Carman.
High School Principal Adam Nelson will absorb many of the duties and will have an increase of 10 work days per year. Compensation for Nelson, who is in the negotiation year of his contract, has yet to be determined.
Superintendent Beth Schwarz will assume much of the early childhood and special education administrative duties. The remaining duties are slated to be distributed among four positions: Counselor, Student Success Coordinator, Community Education Assistant and Administrative Consultant.
It was pointed out that the approval is for the structure only and that this is not approval for any specific personnel. This is also not necessarily a permanent solution and is intended to be used until a long-term plan is arrived at. It is anticipated that the new structure will result in a savings of about $40,000 per year.
Board member Chris Goettl reported on his participation at the most recent Quality Oversight Committee meeting. Goettl said there is a lot happening with the departure of former elementary Principal Gwen Carman. He was very impressed with the school staff, the goals they have set and their willingness to help out. Although it will still take some time to work everything out, he felt they were pretty well on track.
Superintendent Schwarz informed the board that enrollment stands at 441 students as of September 17. This is down from an enrollment of 459 students last year. It had been projected the number of students this year would be 446. A five-year projection will be given at the second meeting in October.
Discussion with city on shared garage
Schwarz commented on a possible joint venture with the City of Grand Marais to complete a bus garage. She had discovered that the city is also looking into a garage as well. Bids for construction by the school had come in much higher than anticipated. Even though all school buses had passed an inspection the previous week, two of them went down recently and a third is having problems. The problems are being attributed to wiring problems and being stored outside. The district was forced to obtain a loaner bus to cover the routes. City Administrator Mike Roth said he is interested in meeting concerning the issue.
Columbus Day concerns
East end board member Deb White, who had attended the Local Indian Education Committee (LIEC) meeting, addressed concerns over Columbus Day. She repeated a request she had made a year ago asking that the holiday be renamed and that the board ask other area government boards to do the same. The concern is the perception of the treatment of the native population by Christopher Columbus over 500 years ago. LIEC has also recommended that the board create a standing committee to address the achievement gap between American Indian and white students in Cook County. White in addition asked that the board have a discussion on the possibility of offering an elective class for Native American history at some future point. ISD 166 currently has 100 American Indian students.
Band trip to Chicago gets go ahead
Band instructor Kerri Bilben received approval from the board for a band trip to Cleveland, Ohio, May 12 to May 16, 2016. Previously a trip to Los Angeles, California had been scheduled over spring break but not many students had committed to the trip, partly due to the $1,000 cost. The trip to Ohio would be about $350 less expensive to the students and is hoped to be attended by 75 percent of the band. The students will play the Star Spangled Banner at the Minnesota Twins game against the Cleveland Indians, plus hold a performance at the Cedar Point Amusement Park. They may also have opportunity to perform at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
In other business
. With the recent closing of a local area daycare, the board approved Schwarz seeking daycare licensing as a community education program. No further details were agreed upon and the statement was made that this does not create any obligation on the part of the school to open a daycare.
. The details of updating the off campus lunch policy for seniors were again discussed. The policy as presented would discontinue off campus privileges for 40 days for any student with four absences, excused or unexcused. Goettl especially felt that there should be additional exceptions to this rule. Nelson and Schwarz will review the policy again and bring a recommendation to the next board meeting scheduled for October 1.
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