Cook County I.S.D. 166 School Board heard about a neat program for students on February 9. It’s called “Varsity Letter Application,” and it can help students get into college.
Students in grades 9-12 who perform 100 hours (or more) of outstanding voluntary service completed in any 12-month period will be eligible for a Varsity Letter.
All Cook County High School students will have a chance to record their volunteer service in school, churches, hospital, nonprofits, nursing home, parks, etc. and have that attached to their submissions for college or vocational school.
I.S.D. 166 school superintendent Dr. William Crandall said that if all things are even concerning grades on transcripts, universities will usually select the student who has shown they are well rounded and given back to their community. . Middle school math teacher Melissa Steele tendered her resignation but will finish out the school year. Her husband was promoted to Deputy Forest Supervisor of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Kamiah, Idaho.
“Our move and report date was January 17, 2017. I made the decision to stay in Grand Marais and finish the 2016-2017 school year,” wrote Steele. “Thank you for the excellent school years. I have worked alongside some excellent colleagues and had many numerous opportunities to grow, develop, and learn from the best. Your school and community will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Steele’s resignation was accepted with regrets. . The board approved some general housekeeping measures, which are done yearly. Among those was a resolution directing the administration to make recommendations for reductions and approving the 2017-2018 school calendar. . A discussion was held on bus routes, with one parent, Collette Mueller asking that her children and one other child be picked up on the Croftville Road instead of on Highway 61. Tom Nelson, head of maintenance and in charge of the school busses, said he had taken a smaller school bus down Croftville Road and when he met a fuel truck, had to pull over because there wasn’t room for two commercial vehicles on the road. He recommended that the pick-up spot remains where it is now.
Deb White, a school board member, also noted that the district has 122 students (from 79 families) who have to go and meet the bus at designated stops. School board member Jeanne Anderson said she has to drive her children over two miles to the school bus stop.
The school board agreed with Tom, and Mueller’s request was denied. . The board passed a resolution for the $6,450,000 General Obligation School Building Bonds, Series 2017A, ratifying the award of sale. . Karen Blackburn, from the Cook County Treasurer’s Office, asked the school board to decline the request of Cook County, for tax abatement where it concerned the planned 16-unit housing project located in Lutsen. The Cook County/Grand Marais EDA and One Roof Housing, who will own and operate the 16 units, requested that Cook County provide assistance for the project through tax abatement as permitted by Minnesota statutes. The board passed a resolution declining the county’s request. . A discussion was held about the Education Innovative Partnership (EIP) that Cook County I.S.D. 166 belongs to with 22 other schools and higher education in the taconite school districts. . The board approved requesting for bids to repair or replace the bus garage and approved an RFP for roofing projects that need to be done this calendar year for the school. . Also approved was a motion allowing the administration to get bids for a new camera/security system for the school. . Gina Wait was hired as paraprofessionals, and Stephanie Lott was recruited to be a long-term kindergarten substitute. . The board accepted the resignation of bus driver Jim Shinners. Shinners’ last day is March 1. . The contract of band teacher Brianna Volbrecht, a probationary teacher, was terminated at the close of the 2016-2017 year.
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