Local News Headlines – Wednesday, May 26

THE CITY OF WINDOM IS REMINDING CITY RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO KEEP THEIR LAWNS MOWED.  AT A RECENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE STREET SUPERINTENDENT REPORTED THAT HE HAD COUNTED OVER 100 LAWNS THAT NEEDED TO BE MOWED UNDER THE CITY’S LAWN AND WEED ORDINANCE.   THE ORDINANCE STATES THAT WEEDS AND GRASS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GROW TALLER THAN 6 INCHES.  IF A PROPERTY OWNER DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE, THE CITY WILL SEND A PUBLIC NOTICE.  IF THE LAWN IS STILL NOT MOWED, THE CITY MAY HIRE SOMEONE TO DO THE WORK AND SEND A BILL TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.  LAWN CARE BILLS THAT ARE NOT PAID MAY BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE OWNERS’ PROPERTY TAXES. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION THIS WEEK.  AN UPDATE WAS PROVIDED ON PLANS FOR GRADUATION.  WINDOM IS NOW PLANNING TO HOLD A TRADITIONAL INDOOR GRADUATION PROGRAM WITH THE PUBLIC INVITED TO ATTEND.  A LIVE FEED WILL BE OFFERED ON THE DISTRICT’S YOUTUBE PAGE.  THE BOARD APPROVED A CHANGE IN THE SCHOOL CALENDAR.  THE FINAL DAY OF CLASS FOR ALL STUDENTS WILL NOW BE ON JUNE 4TH.  JUNE 7TH AND 8TH ARE BEING CHANGED TO STAFF WORK DAYS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RE-ARRANGING FURNITURE TO RETURN CLASSROOMS TO THEIR ORIGINAL PRE-COVID SETUP.  MANY ITEMS OF FURNITURE WERE PUT IN STORAGE TO CREATE SPACE FOR MORE SOCIAL DISTANCING. 

 

THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR WINDOM AREA HEALTH MET THIS WEEK.  ELECTION OF OFFICERS WAS HELD.  THE REPORT OF PATIENT ACTIVITY FOR APRIL SHOWED ACTIVITY WAS ABOVE BUDGET FOR OUT-PATIENT PROCEDURES, EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, LAB PROCEDURES AND IMAGING PROCEDURES.  THE APRIL FINANCIAL REPORT SHOWED AN INCREASE IN NET ASSETS OF JUST OVER $131-THOUSAND.  APRIL IS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.  THE UNOFFICIAL YEAR-END TOTALS SHOW A NET INCREASE OF JUST OVER $2.1-MILLION.  THAT INCLUDES ROUGHLY $835-THOUSAND IN FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDING.  THE BOARD HEARD REPORTS ON SOME RECENT SURVEYS AND INSPECTIONS.  THE LAB DEPARTMENT PASSED ITS RE-CERTIFICATION SURVEY.   

 

THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD HELD A SPECIAL MEETING LAST FRIDAY MORNING.    THE BOARD APPROVED THE HIRING OF KANDICE BYRON AS A TEACHER FOR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS PROGRAM.  NO OTHER BUSINESS WAS CONDUCTED.  

                                                                   

A MEETING OF THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD LAST WEEK.   A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL MATTERS WERE HANDLED.  A NEW TWO-YEAR MASTER CONTRACT AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED WITH THE DISTRICT TEACHERS’ UNION. IT CALLS FOR INCREASES OF 4% A YEAR.  TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS AE ELIGIBLE FOR A BONUS.  THE BOARD APPROVED A LIST OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO ARE CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION.  BIDS WERE ACCEPTED FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST-WEST CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE.  A DISTRICT LITERACY PROGRAM WAS APPROVED.  THE BOARD APPROVED CHANGES IN THE PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM, WITH STUDENTS MEETING FOR MORE DAYS DURING THE YEAR.