R-P Knowledge Bowl heads to state

At their regular March 20 meeting, the Rushford-Peterson School Board recognized the R-P Knowledge Bowl team for their second place win at the recent regional competition. The team consisting of Jackson Dvorak, Tel Fahrendholz, Zane Schroeder, Will Heiden and Christopher Oatman, along with their coaches Matt Myszewski and Tracy Knutson, will be heading to state competition in Brainerd in April.

In other good news, activities director John Loney reported that he’d been notified that RP has received a grant from MSHS for four new AEDs and training in CPR and first aid for up to five people. Loney shared that the AEDs will be much appreciated; the current ones at the school are outdated with difficult to find replacement parts. Additional AEDs will be purchased in the future as well.

Superintendent Dr. Ben Bernard shared that the wellness committee is working on a wellness month to take place in May. So far they have planned Get Active Week for May 1-5; Healthy Eating Week for May 8-12; Stress/Mental Health Week for May 15-19; and Nature Appreciation Week for May 22-26.

Thanks to the Midwest Dairy Smoothie Equipment grant, the food service has been offering smoothies and parfaits at breakfast. According to food service director Kari Blum, around 50 smoothies and parfaits are sold each morning with leftovers available at lunch. Elementary principal Angela Shepard chuckled that the new offerings have been very enthusiastically received by elementary students.

Middle school/high school principal Jake Timm shared that both the band and choir had done very well at the March 14 Large Group Contest held at Fillmore Central. The choir received two excellent and one superior rating while the band received three superior ratings with one of them being a perfect 40 score.

Mr. Timm congratulated middle schoolers Kyle Britton, Andre Badenhorst, Emilee Peterson, and Anthony Woxland on being selected to participate in the Middle School Honor Band event March 18 in Austin.

The third graders each received their own dictionary from the Winona Rotary Club. Club members were excited to once again be able to visit the school in person to share dictionary use with the students and distribute the dictionaries.

Principal Shepard informed the board that 46 students were registered at the recent kindergarten signup. The third, fourth, and fifth graders are busy preparing for the MCAs which will be taken March through April.

Dr. Bernard shared that Kids’ Club was busy looking for summer staff. He noted that the Club has been getting a lot of inquiries for services from parents. The board hired Kids’ Club assistants Jada Burr, Larissa Ryan, and Shane Rask. Reporting on ECFE,  Bernard commented it is “moving in the right direction.”

The limestone rock on the front of the school continues to be an issue. Some rock had fallen off last spring and been repaired before graduation, but now additional rock fell along the ramp. Apparently, anything facing west has an issue. Bernard and the original contractor are working together to find a permanent solution to the problem. Water appears to be running behind the rock and loosening it. Bernard assured the board he will continue to work on a permanent solution.

Other business

In other business, the board:

• Passed a resolution directing administration to make budget cuts; Bernard was quick to assure the board he doesn’t know if any cuts will be needed; this is just done yearly in case it might become necessary;

• Gave Bernard permission to advertise for quotes for bread, milk and gasoline;

• Heard that the softball concession stand construction will soon begin;

• Learned that the proposed collaborative trail to the school was received favorably at the recent open house information session;

• Heard that Bernard has almost completed the regular review of administrative staff; this will continue to be done on a yearly basis;

• Accepted the following donations: $500 from Sonja Cook for RP Drama and Music Program; $1,000 from Donald Pearlman for Steinway repairs; $1,299 from RP Booster Club for a popcorn machine for the concession stand.

The next meeting of the Rushford-Peterson School Board will be held April 17 at 6 p.m. in the forum room. The public is welcome to attend; a public comment period is available early in the meeting.