Area Foundation donates $17,000 to school

During the May 18 NRHEG School board meeting the New Richland Area Foundation– represented by board members Betsy Bartness, Kalisha Routh, Karla Christopherson, and Kermit Schoenrock–shared news about more than $17,000 in grants given to school-related projects. The spring round of New Richland Area Foundation (NRAF) grants included about $2,000 for the purchase of interactive display screens for use in classrooms; about $5,000 worth of textbooks and materials to be used in a new elementary reading curriculum; $1,000 toward the cost of installing handicapped accessible walkways to the equipment now in place at the elementary site’s inclusive playground; $3,000 to be used as “scholarships” to help three- and four-year-olds attend the Panther Preschool; nearly $3,000 toward a “core knowledge” language arts curriculum for preschoolers; $2,000 to purchase supplies for activities offered during summer school and after-school programs; and $1,000 toward the support of the competitive cheerleading boosters’ initiatives.

 

Prior to arriving at the school board meeting, Foundation board members had also visited the New Richland Area Sportsmen’s Club, where $1,800 was donated in support of the club’s pollinator garden, native prairie, and the purchase of trees to replace some which are dying in St. Olaf Lake park. They had also stopped at the New Richland Public Library, where $700 was given to allow the library to acquire an interactive “Toniebox” collection. The electronic equipment incorporates small figurines which, when placed on a portal, appear to begin talking about and interacting with a specific book.

 

In addition to learning about the various initiatives the grants will support, board members accepted a list of 55 twelfth-graders who are “on track to graduate.” Superintendent Michael Meihak clarified that, although not all individuals on the list have completely met the requirements, it is understood there is still sufficient time before the May 31 graduation ceremony for the necessary work to be completed.

 

The board also accepted the retirement of elementary physical education teacher Beth Schoenrock and paraprofessional Diana Oltmann. Resignations were submitted by administrative assistant to the secondary principal Nikki Cromwell, director of bands Seth Schaefer, and paraprofessional and ELL specialist Cynthia Tucker.

 

The board also approved renewing  the school district's property, liability, auto and workers’ compensation insurance through agent and past district graduate Tyler Firme of Heinz Insurance out of Owatonna. Board members made the observation that the 6.9 percent cost increase for the insurance was lower than they had feared.