2014 prom to set sail aboard riverboat
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
An administrative staff resignation and two student expulsions were approved by the board at Monday’s regular meeting of the NRHEG School Board.
Administrative Assistant Karen Gimberline turned in her resignation effective February 7. Her resignation was approved, with gratitude for service.
Expulsions approved
The board dismissed visitors to hold two closed sessions for the purpose of discussing two recommendations to expel two students. The board then unanimously voted to expel both students.
Information regarding these students is confidential under privacy laws.One or both of the students may file an appeal with the Minnesota State Board of Education within 21 days of the vote to expel, to request a hearing. The hearing will be closed unless the defendant requests a public hearing.
2014 Prom to set sail
After Prom Committee member Tami Busho detailed the plans for the upcoming NRHEG Junior/Senior Prom and After Prom party to be held May 3, 2014.
The prom dinner and dance will be held on board the riverboat Avalon out of Stillwater, on the St. Croix River, and the After Prom party will be hosted by Dave and Buster’s in Maple Grove.
After picking up tickets at the New Richland Care Center at 2 p.m., attendees will need to drop off changing bags at the high school commons, then proceed to the gym for the Grand March at 3 p.m. At 4:30, buses will be loading. Buses will have restrooms and snacks. The buses will leave for Stillwater at 5 p.m. and arrive at the Avalon by 6:30 when pictures can be taken.
The Avalon will set sail at 7:15 p.m. and there will be buffet dinner and then the dance with DJ until 11 p.m., when the attendees will re-board buses for the 45-minute trip to Dave & Buster’s in Maple Grove.
After Prom activities will include food, games, and fun at Dave and Buster’s until 3 a.m. Students will be provided with a card good for approximately $20 for snacks and games. At 3 a.m. the students will re-board buses for return to New Richland. Movies or a nap will be options. Back in New Richland at 4:30 there will be light breakfast and prizes.
“We’re not doing all the prizes we have in the past,” Busho explained in reply to questions about where the money was coming from.
New district website
Paraprofessional Michele Mulder gave a brief laptop-driven presentation on the progress she’s made with the new district website, which will be powered by Blackboard rather than the rSchool Today software currently in use.
Mulder demonstrated how the new site will be less drop-down and more page-driven than the old one, and all faculty and staff will have access and tools to create and maintain their own pages, which can include videos, class information, and calendar data.
Mulder says the new site is progressing but is still a ways from being ready to go live.
Compliance reviews
Supt. Dennis Goodwin reported that the Dept. of Education reviewer will be observing New Richland’s breakfast and lunch programs on Feb. 6 and review with staff and administration. A corrective action plan will be written if needed. The district must comply with expectations or fail to receive funding for meals.
Similarly, the district is also in a Special Ed Compliance review. Dr. Goodwin has spoken with the Superintendent of Waseca School District and he is setting up a joint meeting with three other school superintendents. They are all concerned about the large number of new federal and state requirements being put in place without any accompanying funding.
Still not fixed
The commons floor at New Richland is still losing color when it’s being scrubbed. The district is still withholding the retainer of $51,551 until this is resolved.
Meanwhile, after all these years, Schwickert’s Roofing has still not repaired the ceiling at Ellendale. The district is still withholding $23,075 in lieu of that.
Test Scores still not good
A presentation per the Minnesota Dept. of Education website by Dr. Goodwin showed NRHEG still below the line on most reading levels.
“It is the district’s responsibility to educate our students, and test scores are how the state determines that we are meeting our goals,” said Goodwin. “This has to be our priority. “Regardless of how you feel about these tests, this is the way the state evaluates us.”
Goodwin suggested incentives for advancement of students doing their best when taking these tests.
“Maybe a field trip,” he said. “Waterpark for the younger kids, a trip to Valleyfair for the older ones.”
Meanwhile, Elementary Principal Doug Anderson reported that he has completed two grant applications to continue the district’s PreK and K-3 Minnesota Reading Corps programs.