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Superintendent Ben Bernard informed the school board at their March 16 meeting that the new 3D printers, laser cutter/engraver and large format printer that had been obtained with a REAP grant have been set up in the last two weeks. The staff is training on them currently so they will be able to teach the students how to use the technology. As could be expected, the new equipment has generated a lot of student interest! A free software program called Tinkercad will be used to create 3D models. Bernard explained that students would use the printers to demonstrate what they had learned in class.
In his superintendent report, Bernard shared that he had attended an emergency services meeting with Rushford Police, Fire and Ambulance representatives as well as representatives from Houston and Winona Ambulance to discuss logistics if an emergency situation were to happen at the schools. Drills will be arranged for this coming summer to practice various emergency scenarios.
Personnel
The board accepted resignations from Allison Kjos and Emily Walberg and granted an extended medical leave to Emily Charlebois for the 2026-2027 school year.
Probationary teachers Madlyn Ripka, 5-12 band, and Grace Dahl, H.S. Math, were non-renewed. Bernard informed the board that the open positions would be advertised at once.
Jennifer Kleist was hired as a paraprofessional; spring sport coaching positions were all filled. Brenda Bergan was hired as assistant junior class advisor.
Principal Reports
MCA testing is in full swing at the elementary according to Principal Angel Shepard; snacks provided on the first day of testing were appreciated by the students.
Shepard shared the activities added by P.E. Teacher Teresa Brown. The climbing wall has added tubes and another section of wall this year. Archery for the older elementary students as well as golf have been added to the curriculum.
In music, Jodi Monerson has the K-4 students participating in “Music Madness” by voting for their favorite songs. The songs are displayed in typical sweet 16 bracket form on a classroom wall.
MSHS Principal Jake Timm congratulated Wade Pohlman who was one of six students in Minnesota to be selected by the Young Minnesota Playwrights Competition for his one-act play submission. Pohlman will work with a mentor to develop the play more; it will be performed in late June at the Park Square Theater in downtown St. Paul as part of the Young Playwrights festival.
Timm reported that R-P will be offering 48 college credits through the concurrent high school and college credit program. WSU has joined R-P in offering such classes. Other concurrent classes are also offered through Minnesota State College Southeast and Riverland Community College. Students will be able to take classes in speech, sociology, statistics, college algebra and pre-calculus through the collaborative with WSU while staying at R-P.
Business Conducted
The school board continued in their first and second readings of school policies. The policies presented had no changes from previous years.
Superintendent Bernard informed the board that the school was in compliance with the Local Government Pay Equity Act. Bernard shared seven documents to explain the process. In order to determine compliance, different classes of employment are examined. Employees are assigned a certain number of points. When the points are graphed, they should fall close to a line of compliance. R-P was within all the thresholds of pay equity.
The board authorized Bernard to advertise for garbage and snow removal for next school year.
Student School Board Representative Alexa Smith reported that Snow Week was a success at R-P. Bingo was great fun and the dance was well-attended by students who enjoyed the D.J.
Smith shared the itinerary of the senior class trip to Galveston. Twenty-five seniors will leave March 27 and return April 2.
In her HVED report, Nancy Synder recognized Lena Bergo for her accomplishment in receiving the 2026 UWL School of Education Early Career School Psychologist Award. Bergo works at R-P through HVED and is the school psychologist for all of R-P.
In closing, Snyder shared that HVED will be conducting an open house at their new facility Wednesday, August 26 from 2-6 p.m.
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