Back to school for area students
Summer vacation is all but over for local students.Classes begin this week both in the Ely School District and at Vermilion Community College.Students in grades 1-12 are scheduled to report for school Wednesday, while Ely’s two kindergarten groups start Friday and Sept. 7, respectively.At VCC, first-year students who will be housed on campus checked in over the weekend and classroom instruction starts Wednesday.School officials report few major changes, although both Ely and Vermilion could have fewer students enrolled than a year ago.Enrollment in the Ely schools has fallen by one-third over the last decade and if projections are accurate, student population could tumble by as many as 40 students this fall.Superintendent Tom Bruels said that kindergarten enrollment is estimate at 38, while Ely graduated more than 70 high school seniors during the spring.Vermilion is looking to stabilize enrollment after a seven percent drop in 2003-2004. The school had about 540 full-time students then.Those who remain enrolled in the local schools aren’t likely to notice many differences at either facility.The Ely schools did make some personnel moves over the summer.Ely has one fewer administrator, following the retirement of previous superintendent Ray Toutloff and school board action to eliminate the elementary principal position.Bruels, who served as principal at Washington Elementary, was hired as superintendent but will maintain elementary principal responsibilities.And though the district’s general office continues to be located in the high school building, Bruels will continue to work out of an office in the elementary school.“I’m hoping to spend a majority of my time (at Washington),” said Bruels. “Even if it means doing some of the superintendent’s work over there. With e-mail and our phone system, people can be redirected to me and people can also make an appointment.”New staff members at Ely this year include:• Susan Lindmeier, who takes over the vocal music position vacated by the retired Marcia Homer;• Val Beale, who has been hired for a learning disabilities position in the elementary school;• Anne Oelke, hired for an early childhood special education job;• Amanda Solum, who has moved into a full-time special education teaching spot at the high school.The Ely district has installed a new security system, including the placement of cameras at entrances in the Washington building.“The concern we had there is that there are so many entrances that have to remain open during the day,” said Bruels. “That’s primarily where we tried to locate the cameras, to watch the entrances and exits.”Faculty members are on campus today for in-service work and part of the program includes a presentation from law enforcement officials on methamphetamine. Use of the illegal drug is on the rise in northeastern Minnesota.St. Louis County Safety and Development Coordinator Brian Poppenberg and Ely Police Chief Archie Manning are scheduled to address the issue.“It’s more of a preventive thing,” said Bruels. “With the media attention it’s gotten and the concern we have for our kids, this gives our staff members some information so they can keep their eyes open and look for indicators.”Ely’s school lunch program is largely the same as it was a year ago, but changes - including possible price increases and the potential addition of snack and breakfast programs - could be made during the year. Food service director Robyn Bertelsen is scheduled to discuss the program with school board members next month.Parent conferences with kindergarten instructor Edye Johnson are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, with one group set to begin school Friday and the next group the following Tuesday. Ely kindergarten students attend school all day, every other day.Parents of elementary school students can meet their children’s teachers and various school officials at the annual open house event. Washington’s “Back to School” night is slated for Monday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m.
