At the May 2 regular Houston School Board meeting, the board reviewed and voted on the proposed six-year contract with Superintendent Mary Morem. Josh Norlien and Nickki Johnson voted against the contract, while Mimi Carlson, Arlin Peterson, Richard Erdmann and Mark Swenson voted in favor of the contract. Marissa Grams was absent. The contract was for $150,000 each year … [Read more...]
Lanesboro School Board Discusses Policy 404
Once again, policy 404 which deals with Employment Background Checks was on the agenda at the May 8 meeting of the Lanesboro School District. This was the third reading of the policy which had been tabled at a previous meeting. Superintendent Matt Schultz had done exhaustive research and prepared a rough draft of procedures that could be implemented to follow the legal … [Read more...]
Mental Health in Local Schools
Across the nation, there has been a growing concern in schools about student and staff mental health. Six of our area schools shared how they are approaching the challenge of mental health needs – Chatfield, Lanesboro, Caledonia, Houston, Kingsland and Rushford-Peterson. At Chatfield, state money was used for additional staff to help with mental health issues. The high … [Read more...]
R-P Students to Compete at State
The April 15 meeting of the Rushford-Peterson School Board began with the introduction and congratulations of the students who will compete at the state level in speech and FFA. Kennedy Diepenbrock will be competing three times on April 19 in speech with her drama selection, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” The top three competitors at the section competitions moved on to state. The … [Read more...]
R-P Recycles Nearly a Ton of Plastic Bags
Last May, Rushford-Peterson’s Go Green Club collaborated with the Rushford Lions to establish a plastic bag recycling program with the goal of getting plastic bags out of landfills. Plastics take over 1,000 years to disintegrate. R-P’s Go Green advisor Jacob Kramer had learned of a program called NexTrex sponsored by Trex designed to recycle plastic bags. One of the pillars … [Read more...]
Lanesboro School Policy Regarding Background Checks
Friday, April 5, found many people heading to the Lanesboro School for a special school board meeting to review School Board Policy 404 which deals with employment background checks. Chairwoman Christine Troendle noted that the special meeting was being held because of “recent concerns and discussions from the public.” Superintendent Matt Schultz had researched the topic … [Read more...]
CIPP Project Completed in Houston
At the April 8 Houston City Council meeting, the council learned that the CIPP (cured in place pipe lining) project on Cedar Street was essentially completed. With CIPP, a lining is inserted into the pipes with resin in it. Some air pressure keeps the lining in place in a layer within the pipe, steam is then pumped in to cure the resin in place. Pictures of the process and a … [Read more...]
Houston to Restructure Administration
At the April 4 Houston School Board meeting, Board Chair Mimi Carlson and Superintendent Mary Morem explained recent superintendent contract negotiations. Morem had asked for a six-year contract. Carlson presented an offer of two three-year contracts. The first contract would extend the current contract for three years with … [Read more...]
Lanesboro School Board Ponders Background Checks Policy
The Lanesboro School Board saw an even fuller house at their second school board meeting in five days, on April 11. The regular board meeting included in the agenda a discussion and possible approval of policy 404 Employment Background Checks. This time more citizens signed up to address the board during the public input section of the meeting. Olivia Holtegaard introduced … [Read more...]
1973 Dart Swinger Heading to Prom Again
Jason Hovey bought his 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger in November 1995 for $900. The rusted and beat up pea green car took Jason many places throughout two years of high school. During that time, Jason and his dad changed the motor and rebuilt the transmission. Jason’s dad, Randy, taught him how to fix anything that was wrong with the car. The Dart was a special car to both Jason … [Read more...]