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   Northland School Board members approved an agreement to supply a full time School Resource Officer (SRO) submitted by the Cass County Sheriff’s Department at the regular board meeting on Wed., May 17. During a previous work session the board discussed the benefits of having a SRO full time during school hours throughout the school year. Board Chair Marc Ruyak stated “The school board wanted to ensure the safety and security of the students and staff.  We also saw the added benefit of growing a positive and productive relationship between the children and law enforcement.  We think that now, more than ever, it’s important to be leaders in demonstrating positive relationships between law enforcement and the members of our communities.  We felt that this was a small price to pay for the many benefits we will obtain.”

   The agreement the Cass County Sheriff’s Department submitted was to provide an officer Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. during the school year for $61,000. The agreement will automatically renew, unless a 60 day written notice is submitted by either party.

   Katie Hildenbrand with Architectural Resources, Inc. joined the meeting virtually to review the original plans for using Long-Term Facilities Maintenance funds the board borrowed from over the next ten years. Currently the school has approximately $480,000 with the original plan for utilizing the funds was to update the outdoor athletic fields. The estimated total for this project is $470,600, and previously went out for bid with nobody making a proposal on the job. There was discussion and concern regarding a long “wish” list from Jared Johnson, custodian supervisor. It was felt with all of the items on this list are the ball fields really a necessity. Ruyak proposed three separate options for the board to consider:

   1. Complete everything for the fields except the crushed asphalt on the track for a cost of approximately $362,600.

   2. Complete the softball and baseball fields due to there only being two home football games for a cost of approximately $134,000.

   3. Strip and level football field and all work on the baseball and softball fields which would cost around $284,000.

   After some discussion, the board decided to move forward with option two and instructed Hildenbrand to submit a Request for Bids to be published. The remaining money will then be utilized on the remaining maintenance items needing to be completed based on priority.

   In other Board action:

   • Heard from Paul Drange. Director of Regional Programs at Sourcewell with information of what Sourcewell is and what they have to offer.

   • Certified the graduating class of 2023 and recognized Alec Wake as Valedictorian and Nolan Carlson as Salutatorian.

   • Approved Fall, Winter and Spring coaches and Advisors for the 2023-24 school year.

   • Accepted donations from Americare Lodges in the amount of $50 for Prom and $2,500 from Outing Chamber of Commerce for Volleyball.

   • Heard information from Business Manager Lori Backlund, with Arrowhead Regional Computing Consortium, with a budget update and mentioning the school may have a balance budget next year if the Governor signs the bill giving schools more than $2 billion over the next two years.

   • Discussed and approved participating in Arrowhead Conference for high school sports along with the Northern Lakes Conference due to the possibility of dissolution of Northern Lakes Conference.

   • Accepted the resignation of Jerome Olivar as High School Science teacher, effective June 2; Stacey McKinney as Student Leadership Advisor, effective June 2; Chancellor Eliason as Paraprofessional, effective June 2; Chris Carlson as Varsity Boys Basketball Coach and Bill Wake as JV Boys Basketball Coach, effective May 31.

   • Approved the request from Brittany McClellan for parental leave beginning Sept. 5 and ending Nov. 6.

   The board has scheduled the following meetings: the regular meeting, Wed., June 21 at 5:30 p.m.; work session, Wed., Aug 2 at 5:30 p.m. and NREM Negotiations, Thurs., Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m. all meetings are held at Northland High School.

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