The Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) has set the week of February 15 through February 19 as School Board Recognition Week. The mission of MSBA is to support, promote and enhance the work of public school boards and public education. Cook County School District, together with all public school districts across the state will honor their local board members for... READ MORE >
The industrial arts program at Cook County Schools – ISD 166 appeared to be in danger of closing down after the resignation of industrial arts teacher Peter Johnson on January 5, 2016. Fast action by ISD 166 prevented that from happening and industrial arts will continue—at least for the time being. Principal Adam Nelson, not present at the Thursday, January... READ MORE >
Community member Doug Sanders, speaking on behalf of former school board member Mary Sanders who was home ill, opened the community comments portion of the January 21, 2016 meeting of the Cook County Schools – ISD 166 school board meeting. He gave a brief report on a meeting of interested parties for the continuation of programming at the Arrowhead Center... READ MORE >
The annual organizational meeting of 2016 was held by the Cook County Schools – ISD 166 board on January 5. The board unanimously agreed to retain the same board officers with Jeanne Anderson as board chair, Sissy Lunde as board clerk and Chris Goettl as board treasurer. The school board schedule was approved for a regular meeting to be held... READ MORE >
The Cook County Schools – ISD 166 board was met with a shocking request for resignation by Peter Johnson at their January 5, 2016 board meeting. Johnson, the industrial arts teacher heading up classes in the newly expanded, state-of-the-art, industrial technology center at ISD 166, tendered his resignation earlier that same day with the intention of the very next day... READ MORE >
During a five-hour meeting of the Cook County School Board on December 17, 2015, Board Member Terry Collins spoke of correcting the budget problems caused by three consecutive years of deficit spending, adding that there are “time bombs” in the budget as enrollment declines. He believes the situation should be corrected so that it is not just getting pushed down... READ MORE >
About two dozen school staff members were on hand at the December 3, 2015 special meeting of the Cook County Schools/ISD 166 school board. Gary Lee from the Minnesota School Boards Association led the full house in discussion of administrative structure proposals. Lee, who has been with the association for six years, is from Fertile, Minnesota where he has also... READ MORE >
Board Member Terry Collins reported on the status of staff contract negotiations with the Cook County Education Association at the October 22, 2015 meeting of the School District 166 school board. The discourse began in May of this year. Collins, together with Board Member Chris Goettl, has attended eight negotiation sessions with the association. He said that although the meetings... READ MORE >
Superintendent Beth Schwarz presented a report from the Minnesota Department of Education concerning calculations for levy limitation and certification at the October 1, 2015 meeting of the Cook County School Board. Although several formulas are considered to determine the number of pupils at ISD 166, Board Member Terry Collins noted the declining enrollment figures across all categories. The current levy... READ MORE >
Superintendent Beth Schwarz introduced the ongoing discussion of recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day at the September 24, 2015 meeting of the ISD 166 School Board. Board Member Deb White, who has been at the forefront of this effort for the last two years read the following statement, “Ninety-eight American Indian children attend Cook County School District. The... READ MORE >
