The Houston School Board officially created a new position at the school at their regular board meeting March 4. In an effort to pare down the superintendent responsibilities, the board will add a new position at the school. According to the job description, this position will take on the following duties: communications, activities director, and scheduling of transportation … [Read more...]
Houston school to consider purchase of St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Superintendent Krin Abraham informed the Houston School Board at their meeting on February 11 that the school had been approached about the possibility of purchasing the St. Mary’s Catholic Church building. Abraham told the board that the church will be available after June 30; the church’s roof has been recently done and the kitchen and bathrooms are handicapped accessible and … [Read more...]
Supt. Abraham announces retirement
At the very end of the January 21, 2021, Houston School Board meeting, Superintendent Krin Abraham informed the board that she will be retiring in June. Abraham declared, “I love this place; I love this district, but I need to be done. I want you to be able to start looking now.” Board member Arlin Peterson, who has had a relationship with Abraham both as a fellow teacher … [Read more...]
Houston School Board organized and ready to work
The Houston School Board quickly chose its officers, calendar, committees and other official elements as they met for the first time in the new year on January 7, 2021. Officers are: Tom Stilin, chair; Mimi Carlson, vice chair; Josh Norlien, clerk; and Gene Lundak, treasurer. Meetings will remain on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Bremer Bank was again chosen as … [Read more...]
Houston Schools – distance learning through January 8
The Houston School Board decided to remain in the distance + learning model through January 8, 2021, after careful consideration at the regular board meeting December 3. Superintendent Krin Abraham, in her COVID report, shared that the Houston County numbers for the most recent week were at 133.42 with numbers for December 10 at 112.52 (which will increase) and December 17 at … [Read more...]
Hurricanes and Knights Go Back and Forth
Kingsland (1-1) and Houston (1-1) football went back and forth in a week three battle. The Knights scored the first 14 points. Kaden Rath hit Ethan Imm on a 24-yard pass play, and James Howard authored a 7-yard TD run to give Kingsland a 14-0 lead after one. Houston then scored back-to-back. Logan Rodriguez and Issac Heyer each had 6-yard second quarter TD runs. Neither … [Read more...]
Volleyball (10/12 – 10/15)
Southland 3, Houston 2 > 25-23, 15-25, 26-24, 12-25, 9-15 (H: Emma Geiwitz 13 kills; Sydney Torgerson 11 kills; Lilly Carr 27 assists; Becca Rostad 18 digs, 5 aces; Allison Papenfuss 15 digs; Richelle Botcher 10 digs) St. Charles 3, R-P 1 > 25-22, 18-25, 20-25, 16-25 (R-P: Elly Malone 13 kills, 20 digs; Alyvia Eide 21 digs; Hailey Jenkins 16 digs; Isabelle Kahoun 24 … [Read more...]
Sports and activities attendance decisions for Houston Schools
By Wanda Hanson The Houston School Board wrestled with how to balance safety and the desire of students and parents for a sense of normalcy during COVID as they met October 15, 2020. The Southeast Conference decided that schools will be allowing visitors at volleyball games based on 25% of their gym capacity. For Houston High School this maximum capacity will be 116 … [Read more...]
Houston School Board shows its flexibility
By Wanda Hanson The Houston School Board showed its flexibility in many ways at their September 17 meeting. A new seating configuration awaited their arrival at the meeting. Since the public had commented that not all of the board could be seen on their YouTube stream, the board seating arrangement was reconfigured with plexiglass dividers used to continue to ensure social … [Read more...]
MNVA enrollment skyrocketing!
By Wanda Hanson The Houston School Board dealt with an influx of students in MNVA when they met on September 3, 2020. Last year’s enrollment in MNVA was 1,303 students; this year’s enrollment is 2,444 at this time, an increase of 1,141. As a result, MNVA will need 25 more teachers. Since 405 of those students have IEPs, more special education teachers will be included in the … [Read more...]
Final touches for the Houston Schools’ back to school plan
By Wanda Hanson With just a few weeks remaining before the September 8 start of the 2020-2021 school year, the Houston School Board met August 20, 2020, with a focus on a smooth start to the year. Superintendent Krin Abraham shared updates on the COVID-19 detail: for teachers who request to work from home, the board is “to the extent possible” make accommodations. SPED … [Read more...]
COVID-19 the center of Houston’s school board meeting
By Wanda Hanson COVID-19 took the spotlight at the Houston School Board meeting June 19 as the members of the board used technology to meet virtually. Using Zoom and YouTube applications, the board heard updates about the progression of plans for next school year. Since Governor Walz had had a recent news conference, Superintendent Abraham was able to give more details on next … [Read more...]
MiEnergy Cooperative awards $30,000 in scholarships
MiEnergy Cooperative awarded $30,000 in scholarships to 60 local high school students who exemplify commitment to their local community. MiEnergy’s scholarship program reflects the core cooperative principle of commitment to community by recognizing high school seniors who demonstrate cooperative spirit through service to others. The scholarships are funded through unclaimed … [Read more...]
A Decade’s Worth of Sports Part II
Football had the unique aspect that five of the seven Journal-covered schools all were coached the entire decade by the same guys. In volleyball, only Lonnie Morken accomplished the feat as a pure head coach. The volleyball All-Decade team is 20 deep. Those listed had to be covered by the Journal Sports. Those whose careers spanned just into 2010 are less regarded. … [Read more...]
10th Annual Boys All-County Team
1st Team Mikkel Schutte (6’4” Sr. F/C Houston): The Hurricanes rangy stat-stuffing double-double machine, Schutte had a stellar senior year, putting up the extremely rare stat line of 20.5 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.5 SPG, and 3.7 BPG. Led his team in all five categories. In SEC-league games, finished top three in all five (1st rebounding/blocks, 3rd … [Read more...]