Northland School Board: Students report enthusiastic return to in-person learning

   The regular scheduled school board meeting held Thurs., Sept. 16 began with Kayleigh Horn giving a report on behalf of the student leadership team. Horn stated that the school year has began very well as most students have expressed they are not thrilled to be back to the grind, they are happy that they are back to school in person. There was some comments from fellow students saying they were glad to not be learning from home and that they no longer had to wear a mask, which they felt was taking away from their learning experience. Horn also stated that the enthusiasm from the teachers is “through the roof.”

   Horn then shared with the board the schedule for homecoming events with dress-up days all week long, various events and of course the volleyball and football games. It was mentioned the student leadership team wanted to fund a fan bus for the one away game during homecoming week, but they have instead decided to wait for another time. 

   The board then heard a report from principal Mary Yakibchuk stating they are still trying to fill the science position. Currently there have been no applicants, but the school is offering the Biology instruction through Infinity Online and has a substitute teacher in the room for any additional support. Yakibchuk also requested the board consider creating a new pay category for long term substitutes and pay them $165 per day. It was mentioned many other schools are currently offering this incentive and when a substitute fills in for more than 15 consecutive days in one area they need to be licensed for that specific position. Therefore,by creating this special pay category and offering more money it will hopefully create a more qualified substitute pool. The board approved increasing the daily rates for all substitutes to $115 and $135 based on credentials and creating a new long term substitute category at a daily rate of $165 later in the meeting.

   Yakibchuk also discussed the new enrichment program that is being offered to students during WIN (What I Need) time. WIN time is offered everyday for a half hour and is designed to help students by offering additional reading instruction, behavior support or more one-on-one instruction. Yakibchuk stated not all students need that support, therefore an enrichment program is being offered to those students. This program is similar to the Talented and Gifted program, but is different in that a student doesn’t have to test to have access to the program. The enrichment program is offering technology related enrichment opportunities to these students.

   Superintendent Pat Rendle shared his report with information on COVID. Currently one student has tested positive and, due to staff recommendation, their siblings are at home also to quarantine. Administration recommended a few weeks ago, that if anyone tested positive for COVID that all household members must stay home and quarantine for 10 days. Rendle shared with the board what other schools are doing concerning COVID and that this year is different because each school has to come up with their own back to school plan verses last year where all schools were required to follow a specific back to school plan. Some area schools have already had outbreaks and have decided to go to a two week distant learning plan. Rendle stated to the board that if positive cases in the Northland school district started getting high, he would request an emergency special board meeting be held to make a decision for a learning plan. Yakibchuk also mentioned that the staff would be having an emergency staff meeting on Friday to discuss how they are going to teach students who have to be out of school due to being quarantied.

   In other Board action:

   • Approved a contract with Interquest Detection Canines for 2021-22 for use of their drug  sniffing dogs once per month at random visits to help maintain a drug-free environment in the school. It was noted that during 2019-20 there were three majors related to drugs and in 2020-21 there were 22 majors related to drugs.

   • Approved the hire of Jessica Wake as paraprofessional with a start date of Aug. 26 and October Soyring as junior high volleyball coach for the 2021-22 season.

   • Approved well-child leave for Kim Parent from Nov. 24, 2021 through Feb. 23, 2022.

   • Approved the 2021-23 notice of assignment for Jennifer Welk as Community Education Coordinator.

   • Approved the elimination of one route driver position.

   • Approved Brenda Snakenberg to coordinate concessions for the 2021-22 school year with a stipend of $2,500.

   The Board scheduled the following meeting: a regular meeting, Thurs., Oct. 28 at 5:30 p.m.; a work session, Thurs., Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m.; meet and confer, Wed., Nov. 10 at 3:45 p.m. and the Truth in Taxation Meeting, Thurs., Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. all meetings are held at Northland High School.