Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Virtual snow day options under consideration

Further discussion planned for September board meeting

The method of making up lost instructional time due to weather interruptions may be in for some changes this year.

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Superintendent Patrick Carlin and school board members this month discussed how the district could use virtual [online] learning as a way of eliminating traditional "snow days" to make up lost time.

The 2020-21 school calendar currently lists eight snow days: Dec. 23, April 5, May 21 and May 24-28. The May dates follow the scheduled end of classes on May 20.

"What would be wrong with doing four and four? It would be worth a try," said Board President Scott Heetland.

Carlin said the district needed to consider whether online learning was the best way to reach students. He recommended that a decision be made this fall rather than waiting until next spring.

The consensus was to continue the discussion at next month's board meeting before making a final decision.

• Adjustments to insurance policy

David Treimer and Liz Norgaard, of Treimer's Insurance Agency, reviewed changes in the district's annual property and liability insurance program.

The experience mod for the worker's compensation program rose from .78 to .98. The mod is based on claims history during the past year.

"That's quite a jump, but it's still OK. It's a little better than average," Treimer explained. "The rates haven't gotten worse. They are actually better. It's that the mod has changed."

Endorsements for the district's facilities will be adjusted based on progress of the building projects. The new elementary building will be moved from builder's risk to general property and liability, while the middle school site in Sanborn will switch to the builder's risk form which covers in-progress construction and stored materials.

• Little Hawks Preschool

Eighteen students are registered for the new Little Hawks Preschool, which begins its year on Sept. 8. Preschool meets from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch is provided before students are dismissed and bus transportation is available.

Principal Cathy Jochims said that staff participated in professional development related to the new Illustrative Math curriculum and to procedures and routines for the new Positive Behavior Intervention and Support program being implemented at the elementary school. Staff also focused on adjusting to the new facility and studying the return to learn plan.

While staff and students are adjusting to their "new" location, not many other changes are in store at the middle school. Principal Mark Dorhout said course offerings will remain the same with the exception of a slight reduction of direct instruction in 5-6 language arts.

The high school staff's professional development plan for the year will continue to focus on writing across the curriculum and identifying essential standards in the curriculum.