Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The NR-S school board approved the hiring of an assistant coach for the school’s archery team. Archery is in fourth year, and has in increasing number of participants. Last year, the team included 62 students. This year, 83 have signed on to the sport and each one will be involved in practices, weekly tournaments and a state tournament in March.
Superintendent Jill Louters commented to the board, “There has been an overwhelming student response to archery. That just goes to show, we’re tapping onto something powerful.”
Current elementary coach Mike Schaefer will be stepping into the assistant coach position. Head coach Jamie Risovi has already talked to Lucas Wiesenburger, who will be helping coach elementary students.
The zeal of the archers points to an issue that had been kicked around the building committee for months now. Board member Mike Jacobson spoke about the need for a second gym, “We can’t just get wrapped up about athletics when talking about the gym because there is more than that. Last year we had 42 days without outdoor recess. Students are coming into school for 6 a.m. practices.”
The discovery of a potential donor led to a conversation about seeking alumni donations to initiatebuild a second gymnasium. While there are no clear plans as to how and where a second gymnasium might come to be, the board was made aware of some financial support available. Superintendent Louters introduced two representatives from the North Dakota Community Foundation (NDCF), an organization that can help with the management and distribution of funds received from donors for the project. Established in 1976, the Community FoundationNDCF is a statewide organization with various communities workity funds under the its umbrella.
Readers might be familiar with the Deal or Deal event previously hosted by the New Rockford Community Foundation. This is New Rockford’s local fund managed by NDCF. The local fund is an endowment that in turn distributes dollars from the account’s from which interest it earns is granted to area 501(c)3 organizations each year, but the principal of the fund is never withdrawn. In a similar fashion, the NDCF could essentially manage a dedicated pool of funds to be used only for a second gym, to be withdrawn only when construction begins.
Other Business
• Elementary Principal Natalie Becker and Secondary Principal Avolt Baumbach reported on the ongoing teacher evaluation training. Becker explained that the training helps them to be more effective in giving feedback to teachers. Baumbach added that the training contributes to a “culture of trust with the teachers.”
• The Department of Homeland Security grant that covered the cost of the new entry doors at NR-S was set to expire Dec. 31. An application for an extension will ensure funds are available to implement the security phases of the project by June 30.
• Communications continue with CTS, the contracting group hired to complete school renovations last year, as there is additional cracking in the drywall.
• Destruction of unnecessary records from 2014 has been authorized.
• Board members scheduled and committed to three strategic planning sessions with Sarah Smith Warren of Community Communications.
