The Houston School Board took a close look at the proposed building referendum at their May 4 meeting. Andy Fields of SiteLogiQ summarized the two questions that are being planned for the referendum. Question one will ask residents to vote yes or no on a $17.9 million project. Included in this would be safe and secure building access at both the elementary and high school. The … [Read more...]
Chatfield board hears from the newly formed Chatfield Education Foundation
At the May 10, Chatfield School Board meeting, board members Josh Thompson, Jill Harstad, David Sowinski, Mark Johnsrud, Katie Priebe and Tom Keefe were present as well as Superintendent Ed Harris, Principals Shane McBroom, Eric Nelson, Community Education Director, LuAnn Kleven, and Lorri Lowery, administrative assistant were present. Representatives of the Chatfield … [Read more...]
Summer street repairs effect on Lanesboro School
Superintendent Matt Schultz and the Lanesboro School Board discussed the effects the summer street work will have, at the school at the May 10 regular board meeting. Although Kirkwood Street East past the front of the school will be completely torn up, access will be available all summer through the park road. The street will be widened to provide additional diagonal parking … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central considers new levy
At the April 25 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Superintendent Heath Olstad informed the board that he, along with the budget committee and several other individuals, had met with representatives from the district’s consulting firm, Baker Tilly, to discuss a potential building bond/levy. Due to rising costs across the board, operating costs have increased for the … [Read more...]
Caledonia School Board listens to a number of guest speakers
Caledonia School Board members met on Monday, April 17, from 6-8:52 p.m. Board members present were Derek Adamson, Tim Gunn, Leigh King, Melissa Marschall, Mike Peterson, Daniel Small, and Spencer Yohe. Superintendent Craig Ihrke, Elementary Principal Sue Link, Middle/High school Principal Nathan Boler, and Community Education Director Gretchen Juan also attended. The board … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson recognizes state competition participants
Many R-P students joined the regular school board meeting April 17, as they were recognized for recent and upcoming state competitions. The Knowledge Bowl team had just returned from Brainerd where they placed 10th out of 15 teams. When asked what was the most memorable part of the competition, one of the members replied that last year they had missed going to state by one … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Schools selected as a Head Start site
Spring Grove assistant superintendent Gina Meinertz announced at the April 17 school board meeting that the school has been approved as a Head Start site for next year. According to Meinertz the Head Start partnership will fund a paraprofessional for the school’s preschool. Meinertz continued, “They will provide different aspects and more support for our families to help … [Read more...]
M-C approves non-certified employee working agreement
The 2023-24 and 2024-25 working agreements for non-certified employees were approved by the Mabel-Canton School Board at its April 18 meeting. Superintendent Gary Kuphal noted that sick leave will stay the same as in the past. The committee is recommending a $1.25/hour increase for all non-certified employees. For example, this will give paraprofessionals a starting wage of … [Read more...]
Kingsland School Board discusses track replacement
The Kingsland School Board met for a regular session on the evening of April 17 at 6 p.m. Present at the meeting were board members Kyle Radar, Gary Broadwater, Carmen Anderson, Cindy Seabright, Steve Tammel, and Pam Freet and Superintendent Scott Klavetter. After the role call was completed, Kyle Radar led in the pledge of allegiance. The evening’s agenda was approved with no … [Read more...]
Houston adds ½ student contact day May 12
At their regular April 6 board meeting, the Houston School Board approved adding a ½ student contact day back into the academic calendar for May 12. Superintendent Mary Morem asked for the ½ day because of the many snow days that had occurred this year. The school still had not fallen below the required student days, but she felt the students and staff needed the additional … [Read more...]
Lanesboro School Board discusses attendance policies
At their regular meeting April 12, the Lanesboro School Board discussed the current attendance/semester test policies of the school. In effect for many years except for a hiatus during the pandemic, the policy requires any student with more than five excused absences per semester to take semester tests in all of their classes. Students with any unexcused absences or who have a … [Read more...]
Chatfield School Board hears from the Class of 2023
At the April 12, 2023, school board meeting, board members Jill Harstad, David Sowinski, Mark Johnsrud, Katie Priebe and Tom Keefe were present, as well as Superintendent Ed Harris, Principals Shane McBroom and Eric Nelson, Trista O’Connor, business manager; and Lorri Lowery, administrative assistant. Board member Josh Thompson was not present. Also present were Student Senate … [Read more...]
Patriot’s Pen essays by Fillmore Central students
My pledge to our veterans By Avalon Timmerman A pledge to our veterans is like promising them something. Some promises are easy to keep, while others are not. You can always do something to make a veteran feel appreciated just by saying, “Thank you for keeping me safe.” They deserve some appreciation for making this country a free country. Every 4th of July most towns have a … [Read more...]
College News
Honors List Spring 2022 • University of Minnesota Duluth: Moriah Babinski, Caledonia; Emma Craig, Caledonia; Vanessa Hawkins, Caledonia; Paul Griffin, Chatfield; Luke Ihrke, Chatfield; Tyler Waadevig, Chatfield; Ella Springer, Fountain; Shelby Ganske, Houston; Ryan Hoel, Houston • University of Northern Iowa: Katelyn Kleiboer, Decorah Fall 2022 • Bethel University: … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central students create online school newspaper
When Coy Pederson started his new job teaching English Language Arts at Fillmore Central last September, he noticed something. “There was no student newspaper,” he said. At one time there had been one that had been published under the guidance of teacher Gerri Nielson, but unfortunately, that had been discontinued. “So then I thought, there’s a need for some kind of outlet for … [Read more...]