Houston FFA Returns

Hailey Jensen, the new agriculture teacher, visited the Houston School Board regular meeting on October 1 to introduce herself and her program to the board members. Jensen shared that she is licensed to teach a total of 97 agriculture related courses. Among the classes she is currently teaching are a floral design class and a farm to table class, which teaches food preparation. Next semester Jensen will be teaching a concurrent animal science class; students will earn both high school and college credits when they take this class.

After being dormant for 25 years, the Houston FFA has been revived. A generous donor paid for FFA memberships for all of Jensen’s students. The Houston FFA now boasts 62 members.

Jensen explained that FFA offers career and leadership development and is the largest youth group in the country. The members of the Houston club and Jensen have been “crazy busy.”

They’ve been participating in livestock, communications and fish and wildlife at this time of the year. There are competitions in various categories year round. Not a single program in the state does everything — schools choose what to participate in according to their students’ interests. Activity does not end with the school year; summer brings county and state fairs as well as leadership conferences.

MNVA

Superintendent Angi McAndrews updated the board on MNVA. Currently there are 2,200 students enrolled in MNVA. Approximately 190 of those students are part time. The October cohort is expected to be even larger. There will be 65 more elementary students, 80 more middle school students and 126 more high school students.

The open houses for the beginning of the MNVA school year were held virtually this year with full group assemblies for the kick -off. The administration reported very good participation. Some parents had been disappointed that there had been no plans to take in-person school pictures this year. MNVA then offered to take pictures online and send them to the families.

Questions Answered

McAndrews answered questions from the previous board meeting. The first was regarding marching band. McAndrews informed the board she had discussed marching band with instructor Tammy Bartz. Students in band are also involved in other activities. The high school band has 20 to 30 members. Sometimes band is offered opposite another class students want or need.

This year the band was involved in HoeDown and homecoming. McAndrews proposed using the stipend for marching band to pay Bartz for her work on those events this year; the board approved this. Suggestions for the future included offering band during a “zero hour” when there would be no conflicts with other classes and perhaps have the community get involved in pep band.

McAndrews reported that MNVA will be selecting students to represent MNVA students on the school board just as Houston High School has done.

Driver’s Ed

Former Superintendent Mary Morem had initiated a pilot program for this year in which the school pays for the classroom portion of driver’s education. Students’ families are responsible for paying for behind the wheel portion. This program will cost the school $28,725 this year.

Board member Lisa Schultz researched area schools and found that at Caledonia, La Crescent-Hokan and Rushford-Peterson parents were expected to pay for both the classroom and behind the wheel portions. There is state legislation pending that could possibly provide free classes for income eligible families, but it has not yet been passed.

McAndrews noted that the program could be changed for the second semester if they took action soon. Curriculum would need to be rewritten for the MNVA class which now includes driver’s ed as a component.

Students enrolled in career driving and operators pathway need to get their license in order to take needed classes.

At this point, the number of students who will enroll in driver’s ed for second semester is unknown.

Tom Stilin suggested continuing as is for this year while they break down the costs more and get more data before making any decisions on paying for future classroom instruction. Lisa Schultz felt it was important to treat the MNVA students and the Houston students the same.

The subect was tabled and will be revisited after the new full school board is in place.

Other Business

In other business, the board:

•Approved the hiring of a Power School Administrator to do go-between work; the position will be paid for through the Power School Contract;

•Accepted donations of $2,500 from Carey Dubbs for the softball program, $700 from Looney Valley Lutheran Church for Community Education/Hurricane Watch and $1,500 from the Chamber of Commerce for boys basketball, football and softball;

•Recognized Hurricane Heroes: Rebecca Jennings, Tori Flores, Dena Bucceri, Erin VanBeck and Joslyn Runyan;

•Approved the additional hiring of a District Office Support Associate; this will reduce overtime and employee burnout;

•Were reminded of the upcoming School Board Candidate Forum to be held October 21.