The cast, director and support staff of the Cook County High School One Act Play did a brief presentation to open the February 6, 2014 ISD 166 school board meeting. They exhibited the play at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7:00 p.m. that same evening. The group achieved a second place finish in the sub-section competition by performing the 1929 play, The Undercurrent.
Long-range capital plan considered
Superintendent Beth Schwarz’s report introduced a long-range capital plan of upcoming expenditures. Capital outlays are currently estimated at $2,431,000 through the 2017-2018 school years. This does not include up to $750,000 for the industrial arts shop expansion.
Nearly one million dollars of the capital improvements are attributable to new roofs including $175,000 to the lower elementary next year and $250,000 to the varsity gym during the 2015-2016 school year. Other major expenditures will be $200,000 for parking lot lighting in 2015-2016, a science room upgrade of $250,000 in 2016-2017, and at least $350,000 for buses and vehicles over the next four years. It will later be determined if six additional buses not included in these figures will be leased or purchased three years from now.
Even more long term and not included in the total are the possibilities of artificial turf for the football field and the infield of the baseball field. A track around the football field is also being considered.
Architect selected for industrial arts expansion
Architectural Resources Inc. (ARI) and the Meyer Group both made presentations for the expansion of the industrial arts shop and the bus garage. Both companies have extensive experience working on the North Shore. The cost for either company to oversee the projects will probably exceed $50,000.
In the end, the board unanimously agreed to pursue the project with ARI. ARI has done about 80 percent of its previous business with educational facilities and also employs its own engineer as well as architects. Meyer Group would have needed to subcontract the engineering portion of the work. Both companies also explained that although it is possible to have the project completed by the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year it might be an aggressive goal to achieve.
Open lunch to end?
The possibility of ending the school’s open lunch policy was discussed. The policy currently allows juniors and seniors in good academic standing to leave the campus during the lunch period. Schwarz conducted a survey of 13 area schools and found that five of the schools, including CCHS, currently allow some students to leave campus during lunch. The main issues are safety and liability.
Bolstad stated, “It’s a fact of life in the times we are living” and later added, “It’s a very serious thing.”
When asked by Anderson how things have been going with open lunch now, Schwarz replied things have gone well, although Principal Adam Nelson did have to take the privilege away from a couple of students and she has received at least one complaint from a local business about exhibition driving by a student.
The board agreed that they would like to decide this issue before the end of the current school year and would like anyone who wishes to comment further to contact the superintendent or the school board. Anderson added, “We’re not looking at this as a reprimand for anyone. We’re looking at it as a safety issue.”
In other business:
. Two different versions of a proposed calendar for the 2014-2015 school year were presented. Both calendars allowed for potential make up days in the event of weather-related school closing. Both calendars also were based on having 160 student days. The State of Minnesota currently requires a minimum of 165 student days and 1020 instructional hours per school year. Although the proposed calendars both achieve more than the required number of hours, there still may be a violation of state statute to have less than 165 student days. Contact with legislatures will continue to request the repeal of or an exemption to the 165-day rule. Anderson encouraged Schwarz to discuss this with the district’s attorney.
. Board Member Ed Bolstad, who also sits on the Grand Marais Planning and Zoning Commission, explained that additional moderate- to low-income housing is being considered in the area of the Gofer Cabins in Grand Marais and could eventually mean more children in the school. He did state however, “I can’t put forth enough that it’s just beginning and may not happen.”
. The board also agreed to eliminate the listening session that was previously held before board meetings. It will now be combined with the Community Comments portion of the meeting. During the previous listening sessions, the board was not able to comment on any topics brought up during that part of the meeting. By including it in the Community Comments segment the board will be able to interact with the person speaking.
. Board Members Sissy Lunde and Jeanne Anderson also reported that the Cook County Education Association contract negotiations are going very well. Anderson also stated that interviews for the open school board position are taking place.
. Superintendent Schwarz presented a draft of the 2014-2015 graduation requirements and course descriptions. She emphasized that students should be discussing what classes they will need for graduation and further college requirements with their parents.
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