New football scoreboard to greet fans on Homecoming

At the New Rockford-Sheyenne School Board meeting on Sept. 10, Linus Allmaras presented information about the Johnson Sports Park Improvement Project, for which fundraising is nearly complete. The plan is to install separate new scoreboards for football and baseball. He said these new scoreboards will track specialty stats, including pitch count for baseball, as pitchers are only allowed so many pitches in a given time frame. The football scoreboard would move to the southeast corner of the field to make it more visible from the crow's nest, or announcer's booth, during football season.

Allmaras requested that the school contribute $5,000 toward the project. This sponsorship level would put the school's name on the football scoreboard, which they plan to install before Homecoming. The baseball scoreboard installation will occur in the spring, according to Allmaras.

"The community has really gotten behind this," said Allmaras. The New Rockford Area Betterment Corporation (NRABC) gave $5,000, and the City of New Rockford and several other community organizations have contributed, as well. NR-S School Board member Mike Jacobson said the NRABC contributed after having a discussion about how they could generate more tax revenue for New Rockford.

"Sports draw people into town," he noted. The school board approved the $5,000, which Superintendent Jill Louters said would come from the activities account.

The cost of the two scoreboards is estimated at $50,000. Other improvements including an awning for the baseball stadium seating area, clay home plate and new batting cage turf are also part of the project, for a total cost of $65,000. The Johnson Sports Park Improvement Project is a joint effort of the NR-S School and the New Rockford Park District. Allmaras and NR-S Athletic Director Elliott Belquist are spearheading the efforts.

Kylie Hilbert delivered the Student Report, stating that the Student Council is working on Homecoming, set for the week of Oct. 1-5. The theme will be Rocket Spirit. Friday, Oct. 5, is an early out day, so the schedule will change accordingly. More information to come in a future issue of the "New Rockford Transcript."

The 2018-19 final budget was approved. It is balanced, showing both revenue and expenditures totaling $4,140,126. Heskin noted that the first $198,735 general obligation bond payment for building improvements will be due June 1.

Auditor Emil Schoenfish presented the 2017-18 audit, and he reported that there were no instances of non-compliance. The district's financial situation is favorable. He noted that the general fund has a $1,203,000 carryover (ending) balance, which is 28 percent of the annual revenue, and a $190,000 building fund balance. District revenues were $6,000 higher than budgeted, and expenditures were within budget by $79,000.

Elementary Principal Natalie Becker highlighted that the 50-minute block for student exploration will be back on Thursdays beginning in October. During this time, elementary students choose an activity, including art, fitness, cooking, science, etc. for each quarter. Teachers pair up to lead the exploration sessions.

Secondary Principal Avolt Baumbach reported that 51 students are enrolled in 72 dual-credit classes. The district also has 12 students enrolled in its new Personalized Learning Academy (PLA). Instructors Mark Huber and Lynnae Lies delivered the Teacher's Report to give a progress update. Lies said they have received positive feedback from parents regarding the weekly emails they receive outlining their students' progress. Huber added that students are seeing value in prioritizing assignments, as they must budget their time on their own.

"This is a lot different than traditional education has ever been in this school system," said Huber.

"They are learning from their struggles," Lies added, highlighting that this new system requires students to manage their time and seek help individually as needed so they stay on pace.

Board members approved the first reading of a proposed change to Policy DDA, Sick Leave Bank. The Sick Bank has 61.1 days available currently, so there is a need to replenish it. The language has been amended so that "any sick days exceeding the cumulative cap (of 60 days) will be transferred to the Sick Bank." Therefore, when any staff member's sick day balance exceeds the 60-day cumulative cap, any additional accrued days will be automatically transferred to the bank. Staff receive 10 days of sick leave per year, and any unused days are carried over to the next year.

The building project was 72 percent complete as of Aug. 31, according to a report prepared for the school board by CTS Group. The board reviewed the report and discussed the progress at its Sept. 10 meeting.

Construction planning meetings continue every Tuesday, and Louters expects that by the October meeting, the project should be complete and all equipment commissioned. Officials identified issues with drywall in several classrooms, which the contractor will address. The window shades were scheduled to be installed the week of Sept. 10.

Coal Country Masonry, the mason who installed the brick on the school's new exterior walls, provided two estimates for repairing the chimney brick and tuckpointing around the building. Louters said she did reach out to other vendors, but has not received any more estimates. The Building Committee recommended to have the chimney repaired rather than rebuilt, as one vendor suggested. The estimates, which were approved, totaled $3,500 for the chimney and $3,000 for tuckpointing 10 areas around the building.

Louters reviewed plans and documents regarding the New Rockford Reservoir property for which the school currently has a 99-year lease with the city. She questioned whether it was important for the school district to maintain a lease on this space. The lease was signed in 2008, when former science instructors Reed Weisenburger and Nancy Schnabel assisted in restoration efforts and used the reservoir to conduct outdoor learning.

A low-water crossing, or concrete structure designed to manage variable water flow over the road, was installed with the help of N.D. Game and Fish grant dollars and a $5,000 contribution from the school district because the access road was washing out due to high water at the time. A shelter was constructed by Weisenburger and his students, and both instructors led plantings to improve the habitat. The school hasn't utilized or maintained the reservoir since. The impediments are time, transportation and lack of restroom facilities at the site, according to board members. The board voted to seek termination of the lease.