Posted: 5/23/06
Signs approved for CMHS
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The ISD #299 school board has approved a plan for new signs at the middle/high school.
At the May 13 meeting of the board, member Chuck Schulte announced that he has raised $7,000 to be used to purchase and erect a sign at the entrance to the school. The plan includes the creation of a green area with four trees to be planted to represent the four communities that make up the school district. The trees will be selected to provide seasonal color, and flowers and shrubs will be planted as well. The wall that is currently at that site will be taken down.
The estimated cost for the sign and installation is $6,950. It is hoped that volunteers will provide labor for the planting.
In addition, the board agreed to spend $1,500 to add ìHome of the Warriorsî over the entrance to the school.
Accountant resigns
Amy Schmidt, school district accountant/controller for the past four years, has announced her resignation effective June 15. School board members and superintendent Michael Moriarty expressed appreciation for the job she has done in her time with the district.
Wellness plan approved
The school board approved a district-wide wellness plan as required by the federal government. Overall, the plan seeks to promote increased physical activity and good food choices to students. The plan also discourages the use of food treats as a reward, and instead suggests that non-food incentives and rewards be used. It also advises against including food at more than one party per class per month.
The school food service director, Julie Merzenich, is in charge of implementing the policy. School nurse Carrie Ott and board member Naomi Fruechte helped draft the policy.
Schulte will not seek reelection
Board member Chuck Schulte announced that he will not seek reelection to the board when his term expires at the end of the year. Filing opens for school board candidates in July. Schulte said he wanted to announce his decision early so that potential candidates had time to consider a run for the school board.
The terms of Charlie Wray, Mary Frank and Naomi Fruechte are also up. Another board member, Mike Novak, resigned earlier this year. Joyce Knutson was appointed by the board to fill in until the end of the year. His term would have expired in 2008.
Because of the two-year term that is open, anyone who files for a school board position can choose whether to run for Novakís unexpired term of two years, or a regular four-year term.
Filing is July 3-18.
Test scores praised
Board member Chuck Schulte drew board membersí attention to a website which lists test results for the nationís schools. The site is www.schoolmatters.com and is a division of Standard and Poorís.
Results for 2005 for Caledonia show a 79.9 percent reading proficiency compared to 78.4 percent nation-wide, and a 80.2 percent proficiency in math compared to 76.1 percent as a state average.
ìHow do we toot our own horn and let people know whatís going on?î said Schulte. He said he believes the school needs to get information like this out to the public. Activities such as athletics seem to get most the attention, several board members commented.
Superintendent Moriarty commented that there needs to be a balance ìfor the years when things donít look as goodî since that would need to be covered as well. Moriarty said the district can discuss testing results and related matters in the column that appears in the newspaper.
Principalsí reports
During the administrative reports portion of the meeting, middle school principal Brian Doty reported that standardized testing is now taking place. Also, the students and teachers are looking to the end of the year as ìreward and awardî time.
High school principal Ron Helmers reported that the incoming freshman class will number 85 or 86. Eleven students will be coming from St. Maryís and eight from St. Johnís. The current class of seniors numbers 101.
Helmers also told the board that attendance in the high school is between 95 and 97 percent, which he considers ìexcellent.î Several students who had truancy problems have been turned around after being before a judge in District Court, he noted.
Helmers also told the board that the students should have next yearís schedules in hand before the school year ends.
In regard to the conference track meet held May 13 in Caledonia, the first one ever to be held in the district, Helmers praised the work of the National Honor Society members who volunteered their time to help at the event.
ìThey did an excellent job,î said Helmers.
Elementary principal Connie Hesse reported that fifth grade graduation is set for Thursday, June 1 at 7 p.m. The fifth graders also have a retreat to help them prepare for the transition to middle school.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com