At the regular Lanesboro School Board meeting on August 20, Superintendent Matt Schultz updated the board members on the ongoing facilities project. The classroom furniture and scoreboard will be delivered next week. There have been some delays in finishing the chemistry lab due to duct work issues and the kitchen has also been delayed as Superintendent Schultz works to make sure it stays on budget. He anticipates that sack lunches will be served to students during the first month of school which will work well since meals will be delivered to classrooms for the students to eat there.
Superintendent Schultz reported that the school is looking into installing two outdoor wireless internet access points so that teachers can easily move classes outside when weather permits. That will also allow families with problematic internet access to use them in case of distance learning. The distance learning plan is still in the process of being finalized as the last details are worked out. “We want it to be seamless,” Schultz said. Transportation and daycare plans are also being finalized. About 20 students have chosen distance learning rather than in-person learning this year. A protocol is being put in place for if a student has COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test, with the knowledge that not every scenario can be planned for, but that the school officials will be as prepared as possible so that they can deal with each issue as it arises. Fleet Farm will be donating 15 orange shopping carts for teachers to use as mobile classrooms this year.
Jill Pigott was hired for MS/HS mathematics, Ashley Franzen for MS/HS special education, James Semmen as the varsity football coach, Julie Schreiber as the varsity volleyball coach, and Ellen Cullen as the varsity cross country coach.
A milk bid from Polka Dot Dairy was approved. A not-in-contract quote from Ban-Koe in the amount of $32,271.87 for the PA system, card readers for doors, intercom system, media room, etc., was approved as well as a quote from P & T Electric in the amount of $18,753.00 for the installation of those items.
The school received approximately $123,000 from the CARES Act. About $80,000 of the funds are being used for technology purchases such as iPads for staff to use for recording their classes and students from kindergarten through second grade and Chromebooks for students from third through fifth grades.
The board reviewed and approved policies 422 and 522. They also approved an addendum to the secondary student handbook to take into consideration the changes this year due to COVID-19. The addendum will address a number of issues including using backpacks instead of lockers, bringing water bottles to school as the drinking fountains will not be used, and flexibility with the closed campus policy. “Obviously, we’re going to have some unique situations this year,” Superintendent Schultz stated, adding that school administration officials will continue to make changes as necessary to keep the students and staff safe.
The annual Truth in Taxation meeting was set for December 17 at 7 p.m. and will take place during that month’s regular board meeting. The next regular Lanesboro School Board meeting will be held on September 17 at 7 p.m.