Northland School Board details upcoming projects

   Superintendent Pat Rendle shared an overview of the building and maintenance projects that will begin this spring, and where the money will come from at the regular board meeting Thurs., Jan. 20. Labeled as “Northland Project 2.0” Rendle stated the project has to be worded correctly in order to receive funding from certain areas. One project is to build a bus maintenance training center with an estimated cost of $1.4 million By classifying this as a training center the school can utilize funds from the Federal Esser grant that was received. The school also plans on using a little over $310,500 of Esser funds to update the indoor air quality in the old gym.

   Another part of the project is to update and repair all of the outdoor sport fields. In order to finance this the board will need to approve using current and borrowing from future LTFM funds. Approximately $500,000 will be needed for these projects. The budgeted amounts for each area is as follows: front field, $23,000; football field/track, $209,100; softball field, $15,000 and baseball field, $119,000.

   The third part of the project is to pave the back parking lot and install lights. This project will be discussed at a public meeting as the funding for this will need to be approved as an abatement bond. The cost of this project will be $600,000 and is needed to help prevent costly future maintenance on the sewer as currently during a rain the sewer is receiving gravel run-off. It was noted by business manager, Ellie Hill that the tax impact would amount to an increase of approximately $7 per year for a $200,000 appraised home.

   The final pieces of the project will be discussed further and possibly approved at a later date, as the money for those projects will need to be financed from the capitol budget. Those pieces are landscaping to the entry way of the building in the amount of about $10,000 and irrigation of the football field, which will cost approximately $80,000.

   Principal Mary Yakibchuk then shared an update on credit recovery for students by stating there is approximately 18 students currently working with Mike Horn on Social Studies. Next quarter Tim Hasse will be teaching English and Carol Procopio will teach Math during the fourth quarter. 

   Yakibchuk then gave an update on the Marzano High Reliability Schools journey, as the school is in the first year of the program. It was mentioned that a survey was given to staff, parents, students and administration last August regarding where the school is at having a “safe, supportive, and collaborative culture.” The results of the survey were very positive with the school receiving close to 3.5 or higher means in most of the areas. 

   Assistant principal Janessa Green then presented her report to the board by sharing that staff recently underwent training on the standards response protocol. Green also shared the elementary and high school Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) data. As of the beginning of January, 88% of elementary students and 89% of high school students have zero or one referral; 10% of both elementary and high school students have two to five referrals and 2% of elementary and 1% of high school students have six or more referrals. The majority of the elementary referrals are defiance/non-compliance and endangerment, while the majority of the high school referrals are attendance/truancy and defiance/disrespect/non-compliance.

   Green also proposed some policy changes to the board. One would be on attendance stating currently there is a category labeled as “other” excused by parent, which there is numerous absences currently labeled. Green would like to see a student only being allowed three of these absences each quarter, after three then the absence would be labeled as unexcused. 

   Another policy change Green would like to implement is a no cell phone during class. Currently students are allowed cell phones during class when teachers allow them, but it is noted that some students will receive a text during class from their parent and will say if they don’t respond they will get in trouble. Green mentioned that this is a distraction for all students and she has spoken with teachers and they are all in agreement that a new policy not allowing cell phone usage be made. Board chair Marc Ruyak asked that the staff come up with a plan and bring it to the next work session for discussion. Ruyak also requested that elementary teachers be brought into the discussion, because he hears from his children that kids in fourth through sixth grade are using their phones at school also.

   The final policy change Green mentioned was regarding student use and parking of motor vehicles. She would like to add in language to allow snowmobiles, dirt bikes and ATV’s be parked at school. A representative from the area snowmobile club spoke and offered to bring in the groomer to make a safe path for students to get to school on their snowmobiles.

   During Green’s Activities Director report a couple of proposals were discussed. Green would like to hire a fitness center supervisor as students are misusing equipment and she is afraid they will get hurt. Green also proposed to hire a worker for after school supervision on game nights in order for students to remain at the school and attend home games. This would allow a safe place for students on those nights.

   In other Board action:

   • Heard from Isaiah Heinle with the student leadership report stating first semester went well and there are many fun events planned for the spring semester including the annual SnoDaze to be held Feb. 28 - Mar. 4.

   • Approved the resolution directing administrators to make reduction recommendations in programs and positions.

   • Approved the 2022-23 school calendar.

   The board has scheduled the following meetings: a work session, Thurs., Feb. 3, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting, Thurs., Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m., all meetings are held at Northland High School.