SLEEPY EYE — The District 84 Board of Education unanimously approved adopting a base learning model for the 2020-2021 school year and other COVID-19 related matters Wednesday.

Action came on a motion by board member Casey Coulson to follow in-person learning for grades K-6 and a hybrid learning model for grades 7-12 when school starts later this month.

The model was recommended by Supt. John Cselovszki and Brown County Public Health Director Karen Moritz.

Cselovszki said 48 students, 8% of 537 enrolled students, opted for virtual (online) learning when school starts this fall. He said the school will have virtual learning coordinators to guide students in addition to their online instruction.

Cselovszki said the school received a number of grants recently including a $75,000 state grant to provide 100 iPads and a software package to equitably identify computer talent in second and third grades.

“I’m pretty happy to have the opportunity of a grant like this,” Cselovszki said. “It is renewable annually for up to three years.”

The school received a $15,000 grant for the agricultural show and small animal program sponsored by the Bayer Fund and a $6,364.86 grant to upgrade the shop classroom.

The board unanimously approved:

* An MSEA Master Agreement for 2019-2021 paraprofessionals, motion by Jolleen Dittbenner, seconded by Bryan Sellner. Employees got a $500 lump sump payment last school year and will get a $1/hour pay hike for the coming school year.

Coulson praised the leadership of board member Brian Nelson on the district salary negotiation committee.

* Donations including $19.41 from CAF to benefit elementary field trips and high school PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports), 75 masks for student use from Anita Johnson, mask extenders for school use from Mike Hose, $5,000 from Bill and Julie Ries of Edward Jones and $1,500 from Central Region Cooperative for the FFA program.

Board members Darla Remus and Jolleen Dittbenner refiled for election. Board member Jeremy Domeier did not refile for election.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.