Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
New Rockford-Sheyenne School Board
Wayne Stephenson of CTS Group, the New Rockford-Sheyenne (NR-S) School District’s on-site project manager for construction, gave the NR-S School Board a tour of the building, highlighting interior work that remains to be completed, during the board’s regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 13.
“There is not retracting on the fact that school is starting. All trades are on site for finishing work. Our focus is on getting in cleaners and painters, and finishing classrooms.” Stephenson said as the board stood in the incomplete media center. It was obvious though, in many of the rooms, just how close they are to completion, needing only sill plates installed near the windows and the unit ventilators powered up. Stephenson said both tasks were expected to be completed by Friday, Aug. 17.
The building committee addressed concerns regarding the offices and small instruction rooms that lack air conditioning. The committee recommended the purchase and installation of 12 mini split units for a total cost of $36,000 from the building fund, which the board approved. This cost covers installation by local contractors Yri Electric and Alan’s Furnace.
Elementary Principal Natalie Becker reported that on Aug. 7 she met with teachers to discuss class size reduction strategies for the fourth grade class, which totals 32 students. As a solution, Craig Demester and Alaina Yri will both teach a fourth grade class this upcoming year.
Current enrollment for the 2018-19 school year includes 24 students in preschool, 19 in Kindergarten, 24 in first grade, 22 in second grade, 28 in third grade, 32 in fourth grade, 17 in fifth grade and 24 in sixth grade. Nine new students have been enrolled in elementary for the 2018-19 academic year. Three students have left the district, resulting in a net gain of six.
Becker cited the need for substitute teachers for the upcoming year. Qualification requirements for substitute teachers include a minimum of 40 college credits, successful completion of a background check and a state certification. Additional information can be found on the Educational Standards Board website at https://www.nd.gov/espb/.
Secondary Principal Avolt Baumbach reported on the efforts he has made in preparing software and teachers for the Personalized Learning Academy, which pilots this fall for junior high and high school students. In addition, while most high school students completed their registration in the spring semester, changes can be made to schedules during the Back to School Open House on Aug. 20.
Superintendent Jill Louters shared that the Northeast Education Service Cooperative (NESC) extended an invitation for NR-S to participate in a strategic and long-range planning workshop. Strategic and long-range plans are valuable in providing direction in organizational management and help improve access to additional resources for educational enhancements. Per the North Dakota Century Code (N.D.C.C.) 15.1-07-26, “the board of each school district shall invite the public to participate in a planning process addressing the effects that demographics might have on the district in the ensuing three-year and five-year periods, and specifically addressing potential effects on academic and extracurricular programs; instructional and administrative staffing; facility needs and utilization; and district tax levies.”
An updated long-term plan for NR-S will need to be completed by June 30, 2020. Louters encouraged the board to consider modifying current strategic plan items that are well underway. She also suggested that the opportunity with NESC might not suit the current needs for NR-S, and it maybe be more effective to include the entire board and work with a local consultant.
Business Manager Janet Heskin presented the annual financial report for the Department of Public Instruction to be approved by the board. This year, NR-S financial carryover totaled 28 percent. The goal of the board is to carry over 30 percent of revenue into the next year. The total carryover by schools is limited by the state, per N.D.C.C. 15.1, not to exceed 35 percent, in order to demonstrate an adequate utilization of funds among all districts.
Heskin also presented the preliminary budget changes for board approval, noting these adjustments balanced the budget at $4 million. Changes included a decrease in state funding for career and technical education, 3.44 percent increase to staff, increased mileage and fuel reimbursement for bus drivers, and also a reduction in direct costs for the East Central Coordinator.
Heskin and Becker presented the Consolidated Application for Federal Title Funds. These federal dollars support professional development for staff, technological resources and classroom supplies with a focus on educational intervention. In addition, federal title funds support class size reduction and a newly implemented emotional learning curriculum for students K-3. Title I funds also cover 70 percent of the salary for Title I Coordinator Lynnae Lies.
The board approved an out-of-state travel request for Lies and 1:1 Technology Coordinator Amy Cudworth to travel to the American Association of School Administrators for Personalized Learning Cohort and Certification. The training will take place Oct. 31 - Nov. 2 at the Dysart Unified School District in Dysart, Ariz.
Becker and Baumbach presented the changes in the student handbook. The changes regarding elementary students included efforts to reduce the congestion and chaos in the hallways during the morning. Page 4 of the student handbook now indicates that students should not be dropped off before 8 a.m. Upon early morning arrival, students will be directed to the media center, cafeteria, gymnasium or outside. Also, parents are being asked not to walk to the classrooms before 3:10 p.m., but instead wait by the main office in an effort in reduce distractions for students. For high schoolers it has been a long standing rule that students are not to use vehicles during open campus lunches. This still remains true; however, to better accommodate family needs, if a parent gives permission for a student to use their vehicle during lunch, they may do so. However, students will be required to sign out upon leaving school grounds and sign back in upon their return.
