Local News Headlines – Friday, October 23rd

THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD APPROVED A TRANSFER INTO THE LEARNING READINESS FUND, AND A TRANSFER TO BALANCE THE ACCOUNT IN THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION FUND.  THE BOARD APPROVED A STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH VARIOUS STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES.  THEY REVIEWED A BULDING SURVEY FOR THE WALNUT GROVE BUILDING.  SOME POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES WERE NOTED.  THE ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR REVIEWED A PROPOSED BASKETBALL SCHEDULE.  THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL DISCUSSED FLU SHOTS AND PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES.    THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL DISCUSSED COVID-19 TESTING, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT TESTING AND HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES. 

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD HANDLED A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL MATTERS, INCLUDING THE HIRING OF A NEW HEAD KNOWLEDGE BOWL COACH; HIRING A FULL-TIME CUSTODIAN; HIRING A PARA-PROFESSIONAL; AND HIRING A JUNIOR-HIGH FOOTBALL COACH.  THE BOARD APPROVED A LIST OF BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL COACHES FOR THE 2020-21 SEASON.  THE BOARD APPROVED A NOTICE OF COMPLIANCE WITH ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICIES.  THE 2019 DISTRICT AUDIT REPORT WAS PRESENTED.  THE BOARD ACCEPTED SEVERAL DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT INCLUDING A DONATION OF $1,000 FOR THE GREENHOUSE. 

 

THE ANNUAL GUN AND KNIFE SHOW IS BEING HELD THIS WEEKEND IN WINDOM.    THE 17TH ANNUAL SHOW IS PRESENTED BY THE WINDOM CONVENTION AND VISITORS’ BUREAU.  IT WILL BE HELD AT THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER ON SATURDAY FROM 9:00 TO 5:00 AND SUNDAY FROM 9:00 TO 3:00.  ADMISSION IS $5 WITH A TWO-DAY PASS FOR $8.  CHILDREN UNDER 12 ARE ADMITTED FOR FREE.  ALL CHILDREN UNDER 18 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT.  THE SHOW WILL FEATURE VENDORS WITH A FULL DISPLAY OF GUNS, KNIVES AND ACCESSORIES TO BUY, SELL OR TRADE.  ALL STATE AND FEDERAL FIREARMS REGULATIONS WILL BE FOLLOWED.  A FOOD TRUCK WILL BE ON SITE TO PROVIDE CONCESSIONS.   

 

THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS FACING A NEW CHALLENGE IN ITS EFFORTS TO PASS A BUILDING REFERENDUM.    THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS NOTIFIED RED ROCK CENTRAL THAT ITS BUILDING PROJECT HAS BEEN GIVEN AN “UNFAVORABLE” REVIEW.  THAT MEANS THE STATE WILL REQUIRE 60% OF VOTERS TO APPROVE THE MEASURE IN ORDER FOR IT TO PASS.   THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN AND SUPERINTENDENT EACH STATED THAT THEY FELT THE STATE’S REVIEW AND COMMENT PROCESS IS NOT ACCURATE AND DOES NOT INTERPRET THE DATA CORRECTLY.  THE STATE REVIEW CLAIMED THAT DISTRICT ENROLLMENT IS FALLING, WHILE RED ROCK CENTRAL SAYS THE ENROLLMENT HAS GONE UP BY 4% OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   THE COUNCIL REVIEWED DETAILS ON A STATE GRANT PROGRAM.  WINDOM WOULD BE SEEKING FUNDING TO EXTEND SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE CITY, INCLUDING AT THE WINDOM RECREATIONAL AREA, THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND TEGELS PARK.  THE COUNCIL VOTED TO SUPPORT THE SUBMISSION OF AN INITIAL LETTER OF INTENT FOR THE GRANT.  A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 17TH TO CONSIDER THE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE 2020 STREET PROJECT.  THE ASSESSMENTS TOTAL JUST OVER $1.9-MILLION.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED SOME NEW RATES FOR WINDOM-NET FOR BUSINESS HOSTED E-MAIL DOMAINS AND E-MAIL ACCOUNTS.   

 

THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.    THE BOARD DESIGNATED OFFICIAL POLLING PLACES FOR THE FALL ELECTION.  A DATE WAS SET TO CANVASS ELECTION RESULTS.  A NUMBER OF FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES WERE APPROVED FOR THE F-F-A PROGRAM.  AN OLDER BUS WAS DESIGNATED AS SURPLUS.  BRANDON THURK WAS APPOINTED AS THE ROBOTICS COACH.  TRISTA RHUBEE WAS APPOINTED AS THE YEARBOOK ADVISOR.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE DISTRICT’S PLAN FOR THE “WORLD’S BEST WORK-FORCE” PROGRAM.  ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS WERE PRESENTED.  THE ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR REVIEWED ISSUES WITH COVID-19 INCLUDING THE NEED FOR CONTACT TRACING.