School schedule worked out
Board adopts plan to put sixth graders in contained classrooms
by Tom Coombe
After a month delay, school board members have adopted a proposed 2023-24 schedule for Ely’s Memorial Building.
The board first put the move on hold last month, after parents and staff filled their meeting room for successive meetings and voiced complaints and concerns about communication, lost electives and a plan to put sixth-graders back in a contained classroom rather than moving from class-to-class throughout the school day.
Those concerns appear to have been soothed after meetings between administrators and faculty over the last two weeks.
Anne Oelke, who took on superintendent duties June 1, acknowledged that the process “was bumpy,” but she and high school principal Jeff Carey said that discussions with faculty were productive.
“We did sit down (with the sixth grade teachers),” said Carey. “They had some good ideas and we had good discussions and we listened and followed through. I felt it was a good compromise. For the administrative team we got to where we wanted to be.”
Carey said the sixth-grade schedule has several benefits, including instruction in the “core academics” each morning.
Carey said the high school chemistry classes were split into two sections rather than one, which was another issue raised last month.
Board chairman Ray Marsnik noted that the schedule includes classes for gifted and talented program, as well as STEM and STEAM math and science initiatives and band, which were all addressed by parents or staff in May.
In a related note, the district is working on a communication plan to keep parents more in touch with district happenings.
In other business, the board:
• Accepted $1,000 donations from several of the sports booster organizations, which will be combined with school funding, an allocation from the Ely Education Foundation and a $250 donation from Dan and Jayne Dusich to make nearly $20,000 in improvements to the school’s weight room.
• Hired Warren Carlson for the district’s special maintenance position, effective May 8.
• Accepted the resignations of paraprofessionals Cathy Braun and Kaycee Gantt.
• Accepted a quote from Phil Hegfors and Sons to provide snow plowing and snow removal service during the 2023-24 school year.
• Accepted Amy Kingsley’s resignation from the junior class advisor and banquet advisor positions.
• Approved payment of annual dues and fees to the Minnesota School Boards Association and Minnesota Rural Education Association.
• Adopted the Washington Elementary schedule for 2023-24.
• Approved annual premium payments to Vaaler Insurance in the amount of $158,499.
• Received word that Carey as well as teachers Heidi Omerza and Elyssa Erickson have earned tenure rights.
• Approved quotes submitted by Superior Fuel for propane tanker supply ($1.0225/gallon) and propane bobtail supply ($1.599/gallon).
• Updated the district’s committee roster to align with Oelke’s promotion to the superintendency and the departure of former superintendent John Klarich.
• Accepted bread (Pan-O-Gold Baking) and milk (Prairie Farms) quotes for the upcoming school year. They were the only firms to bid for the respective contracts.
• Received the annual Q Comp Report.
• Cancelled the June 26 board study session.
