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District 84 board discusses class trips

SLEEPY EYE — The Sleepy Eye Public School Board discussed class trips with high school principal Shane Laffen Wednesday.

Laffen said he has heard concerns about fundraising for class trips.

“Staff has asked me if it’s really a class trip if 60% of students go? Why not do something where everybody can participate,” Laffen said.

Board member Jeremy Domeier said he favored modifying it so everybody can afford to go.

“We don’t have to go to Florida. I’d hate for them (class trips) to go away completely.”

Other board members favored closer to home trips. Darla Remus said an in-state trip is a good idea now and it could be done on a long weekend.

Laffen said he will work on coming up with new ideas with senior class advisors.

The board also:

• Heard Superintendent John Cselovszki’s report and voiced pleasure about students returning to school.

“Our plan is working as it is supposed to. We had a few kinks right away, but we worked through it,” Cselovszki said.

He reported a good news item that the Minnesota Department of Education released guidance to food service sponsors including continuing Sleepy Eye Public Schools’ free breakfast and lunch programs for all kids through Dec. 31, or until funds are exhausted.

Daily pickup at the elementary front doors from 9 to 10 a.m. for students not attending school.

Signup is appreciated and can be made by emailing taher@sleepyeye.mntm.org.

It is important that all free and reduced applications be completed and turned in to the district office. Email Taher Food Service Director Abby Grove at taher@sleepyeye.mntm.org or call 507-822-1777.

Enrollment is now 283 for grades K-6 and 254 7-12, total 537.

Cselovszki said the Minnesota State High School League increased fees, which he attributed to the loss of tournaments.

• Approved Cselovszki’s request to adjust the school calendar by converting 3 student contact days into staff development days to allow teachers to work on COVID-related items including Google classroom transition and virtual student support.

• Approved confidential employees unit contract hikes of $1,000 in first-year one-time money, a $1.25 an hour raise. Non-union support staff will receive $500 first year one-time money and $1 an hour second-year hike.

• Received consultant Tim Harbo’s radon report about testing done this year and last year. Results were sent to the Minnesota Department of Health.

“We tested all ground contact level rooms and rooms above unoccupied spaces Jan. 14-16, and found no levels more than the 4 picoCuries per liter of air (pCi/L),” Harbo said. “It’s good. We’ll continue testing every 5 years. We didn’t have any issues. I encourage people to test at home too.”

Harbo said the district’s long-term facilities maintenance expenditures the next 5 years will vary from $178,000 to $200,000 a year.

“Our big expenses will be for roofing and the track,” Harbo said.

• Enrollment request were 10 students in, four from Springfield, five from St. James and one from New Ulm; and three out, to Comfrey, New Ulm and Springfield.

• Donations including face-masks from the Hernandez family and closing and school supplies form Doug and Holly Miller.

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

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