2023-24 ISD 318 school calendar amendment
Superintendent Matt Grose mentioned during the special school board meeting last week there was discussion on the school calendar.
Grose said that not having school for middle school and high school would drop the students below the minimum hours in school that are set by the state. He also mentioned that there are challenges as well with the bus drivers, paras, and cooks that are set up differently than teachers. Grose still recommended that the elementary schools have their last day of school on Wednesday, May 29. There will be “some decisions to work through but this will still be a cost savings.”
He proposed that East Rapids, West Rapids, and Cohasset Elementary schools last day be Wednesday, May 29 (one day earlier than all other ISD 318 students). This change is to provide teachers the early-out time on May 29 and all day on May 30 and May 31 to prepare for the transition. These are contracted teacher days. The school board approved this decision and the elementary schools will have their last day of school this year on May 29.
Itasca Area Schools Collaborative (IASC) update
Jackie Skelly, Executive Director for IASCA, said that they’re working to make sure that everyone knows what IASC is. Their current focus for this school year has been financial sustainability for all IASC programs. Skelly mentioned that the size of IASC is getting larger and more complex, meaning that there is more to go through in order to improve their financial systems. Skelly said that they’re working to not “be so siloed in IASC” and reach out to other businesses and pillars for a connection and partnerships between groups. They are also looking to rebrand with a clearer vision and update the look of IASC as well as becoming more present on social media and within the community. Skelly mentioned that people should know why it’s a benefit to be a part of IASC.
IASC’s financial systems have become clearer and more transparent according to Skelly. She said that their work has become much more about supporting all seven districts in IASC with areas they need support in. IASC will be working to support all IASC employees and early childhood educators in all seven districts with meeting the READ Act requirements. Skelly said they are in the process of working with the state on that process.
Principal Report- Grand Rapids High School
Principal Darrin Hofstad said that GRHS recently had their awards night which was very well attended. Prom is next weekend and the week after that will be their scholarship night. “It’s a busy place right now,” he said.
Hofstad brought up the course catalog and the changes that the catalog has seen due to reductions and legislative changes. In science, there is a major shift, starting in 2024-2025, a requirement of one credit of earth and space science has been added. He said they added a 9th grade Integrated Science course to fulfill this requirement but “it’s been challenging” to ensure that benchmarks are being made. A civics requirement will be added as well but has been pushed back, giving them time to meet the benchmarks and plan for those courses. He said there are still a lot of opportunities with their IB and College in the Schools classes.
In previous years, Hofstad the school tried to be more specialized with courses and offer classes that students would be interested in, but there isn’t room in the catalog anymore, and with the reductions, classes will be more generalized and focused to fit the standards. “We still feel that our catalog is serving our students to the best of our ability,” Hofstad said. He said that they’re hoping to have even more collaboration with UMD and the CITS classes to add to the best interests of the students.
He commented on the collaboration with MN North College and a CNA course for the students next year on site at the Grand Rapids High School.
In other business:
The minutes of the 4/8/24 regular school board meeting were approved as well as the minutes of the 4/15/24 special meeting.
The consent agenda was approved.
The school board approved the technology services agreement with IASC for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.
During the open forum a substitute teacher who has been subbing in the district for over twenty years, mostly at the middle school and high school level, brought up a “terrible problem” he sees every day: cell phones. He said that he’s asked what teacher’s cell phone policies are and many teachers have no policy and that it’s a battle for teachers every day.
During the Superintendent's report, Superintendent Grose brought up the conversation about cell phones in school and that it is a topic that has been discussed and they’re looking into doing something about cell phones in the school. Grose said that he foresees the legislature telling school districts that they need a policy but not giving specific rules. Grose thinks that ISD 318 should come up with its own policy. “Any policy is only as good as consistent you can be… so that it doesn’t create tension between teachers and kids.”
He mentioned that he was able to attend the academic awards and while people say ‘kids these days,’ and Grose mentioned that “kids these days are doing incredible things.” Grose said that kids continue to do great things despite the distractions they face.
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