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.
THE WINDOM AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY IS HOLDING ITS POPPY DISTRIBUTION THIS WEEK. AUXILIARY MEMBERS WILL BE DISTRIBUTING POPPIES ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT HY VEE IN WINDOM. DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. THE POPPY IS THE OFFICIAL FLOWER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, IN MEMORY OF SOLDIERS WHO HAVE DIED IN SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY. THE FRIDAY BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY IS “NATIONAL POPPY DAY.” POPPIES ARE BEING PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS AT THE SOGGE MEMORIAL GOOD SAMARITAN CENTER IN WINDOM, MICKELSON MANOR, REMICK RIDGE AND PINE VIEW ASSISTED LIVING. WINDOM 2ND-GRADE STUDENTS ARE TAKING PART IN A POPPY COLORING CONTEST. THE ENTRIES WILL BE DISPLAYED IN WINDOM STORE WINDOWS.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION EARLIER THIS WEEK. THE BOARD APPROVED A CONTRACT TO WORK WITH A CONSULTANT FROM THE MINNESOTA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION ON A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC SURVEY, PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS AND SEVERAL SESSIONS WITH THE BOARD, STARTING IN THE FALL. THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED A CONTRACT WITH ITS FINANCIAL ADVISORS TO WORK WITH THE DISTRICT ON THE RENEWAL OF ITS OPERATING LEVY. A REFERENDUM MAY BE HELD THIS FALL TO RENEW THE LEVY AT THE CURRENT AMOUNT OR A DIFFERENT AMOUNT. THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON BUDGET ISSUES. THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL BE HOLDING A SPECIAL SESSION IN JUNE TO TRY AND COMPLETE THE STATE BUDGET, INCULDING THE BILL THAT FUNDS K-12 EDUCATION.
THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK. A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD. THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE AN APPLICATION FOR A COMMERCIAL TAX ABATEMENT FOR A NEW CAR WASH IN WINDOM. A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ITEMS WERE HANDLED. THE BOARD APROVED THE HIRING OF TWO NEW FULL-TIME SOLID-WASTE TECHNICIANS AND FOUR PART-TIME JAILER-DISPATCHERS. AN OPENING WAS POSTED FOR A FULL-TIME JAILER-DISPATCHER. THE BOARD APPROVED A NEW COVID-19 OPERATIONS PLAN FOR THE COUNTY. POLICIES WERE REVISED IN LINE WITH NEW STATE GUIDELINES. THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD APPROVED THE ANNUAL FEEDLOT REPORT.
HERE’S AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA. AS OF LAST SATURDAY, STATE-WIDE TOTALS SHOW THAT 57% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED. LOCALLY, IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY, 53.4% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED. IN JACKSON COUNTY, 46.2% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED. IN NOBLES COUNTY, 55.5% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED. IN REDWOOD COUNTY, 47.1% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY FACCINATED. IN WATONWAN COUNTY, 51.4% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED. IN MURRAY COUNTY, 49.1% OF COUNTY RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.