At their April 28 meeting, the Rushford-Peterson School Board unanimously voted to proceed with exploring the possibility of a future building project. The staff has already had input on future needs at the school; now it’s time for the public to share their input. Superintendent Dr. Ben Bernard has already reached out on Facebook asking for people willing and interested to serve on a community committee to explore the needs of the school and to be involved in possible pre-planning for a referendum. This committee will then bring its recommendation to the school board. The board will ultimately make the decision whether to proceed with a building referendum.
The community has not yet been polled about the concept. Bernard told the board, “Our job is to communicate with the public as to the needs of the school.” He went on, “It’s a terrible time to ask for money, but it might be the best time for Rushford-Peterson.” This is because state funding is still available to Rushford-Peterson just as it received in building the new school originally.
Board member Carl Schollmeier commented that it had helped him to walk around the school and see it. Bernard agreed and suggested that perhaps he could take groups of the public around the school to see it for themselves.
Bernard is planning on sending out emails to the public as well as putting up postings around town and in the local restaurants. He feels it is important to get as much public input as possible.
Administrative Reports
Dr. Bernard shared that enrollment is up by 22 students since this time last year; he called this a “good sign for us!” Bernard noted that right now there is a lot of uncertainty about funding for next year. A full report on the current budget and next year’s budget will be presented at the May board meeting.
All open teaching positions are filled at this time. The school continues to seek some coaches, custodians, cook’s helpers and substitutes for a variety of positions.
Elementary Principal Angela Shepard reported that the MCA testing is being finished up and music concerts and field trips are happening. Shepard thanked the Booster Club for their generous support of the fifth grade’s Eagle Bluff trip.
Summer school at the elementary will look different this year. A two-week session will take place in June with another two-week session happening in August.
MS/HS Principal Jake Timm shared some of the trips the older students are taking. The sophomore class all went to the University of Minnesota and St. Olaf; the eighth graders went to Southeast Technical College for Careers on Campus to try out careers hands-on. All the juniors will be attending Build My Future in La Crosse; this experience is presented by the La Crosse Builders Association. Thanks to a grant from Tools for Schools, the entire grade level will be able to attend the event.
Community Education is trying to expand its offerings. At this time, 150 students have signed up for the traveling ball teams. The summer Community Education offerings are available on the Community Ed page of R-P’s website.
R-P will be hosting the True Team Track meet on May 6. Twenty schools will compete in the meet. Along with the regular school concession stand, El Barco’s Food Truck and Stumpy’s Concessions will serve food at the meet; the juniors will be working with the Fillmore County Dairy Association to serve ice cream (and earn money toward their senior class trip).
Business Conducted
The school board:
- Approved contracts for Superintendent Bernard, Principals Jake Timm and Angela Shepard, head custodian Nick Agrimson, Kid’s Club director Lakyn Rasmussen and nurse Stephanie Evenson;
- Hired AD/Dean of Students Clay Olstad, Community Ed coordinator Lakyn Rasmussen, MS/HS Business teacher and head football coach Robert Strand, Elementary Music teacher Jodi Monerson, Kindergarten teacher Taylor Allen, Elementary SPED teacher Sophia Westcott and fourth grade teacher Isabelle Berg;
- Accepted the resignation of Joe Hatch as assistant varsity football coach;
- Approved the R-P class of 2025 graduates;
- Acknowledged the many volunteers coaching youth baseball and softball;
- Gratefully accepted a total of $43, 513.19 in donations (most of which were from businesses sponsoring Community Ed.)
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