LUVERNE - The Luverne School Board met in regular session Thursday night in the district office.
Carrie Soto gave the school board an update on the the Luverne Backpack program that keeps students from missing meals throughout the school year and during summer. It is a completely volunteer, non-profit program that is in its 7th year of operation. The program currently serves preschool through the 9th grade, but would like to add the 10th, 11th and 12th grade over the next three years. Soto said that it take about $150 a year, per child to provide them with two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks and fruit for the weekend. The Backpack program has provided thousands of meals throughout the years and have been provided grants from the Luverne Area Community Foundation.
Luverne Superintendent Craig Oftedahl presented a breakdown of the results from the Flexible Learning Year survey with the board. At best guess, there were 800 responses, with 36 of those being duplicates for a total of 764.
38 percent of those that took the survey said they would strongly agree with discontinuing the Flexible Learning Year, while 13 percent agreed. 22 percent strongly disagreed with discontinuing the Flexible Learning Year, while 12 percent disagreed meaning they want to keep it. 400 responses, or 52 percent, came from parents. The second highest total was from licensed teacher who made up just under 9 percent of the vote.
The school board will now have to make a decision if Luverne is going to continue the early start date of the Flexible Learning Year. An application to continue will be made in either January or February after parent/teacher conferences. Superintendent Oftedahl suggested conducting another, smaller survey of parents during the conferences, as well as students, with a simple Yes or No vote.
The district bills were paid, totaling $1,333,473.70, with $214,457.28 being for payroll.
Elementary Principal Stacy Gillette went over Kindergarten orientation that took place this past Monday. The Elementary will have their first Friday Fly Over assembly of the school year today. Students will also be going over bus safety by watching a video in class and completing a bus evacuation on Wednesday.
Middle School/High School Principal Ryan Johnson said there were record numbers for the open house last week. Principal Johnson also created a video for student explaining the ICU program for getting assignments completed in time.
The scoreboard at the football field should be working properly after there were problems during the season opening football game on Saturday, August 22nd vs. Worthington. The district has been in contact with Daktronics, local electricians and maintenance staff. As of Thursday, the scoreboard was working.
The board approved the use of school facilities for the 65th annual Tri-State Band Festival in Luverne on Saturday, September 26th. Field competition will start at 12:30 pm with gates opening at 11-11:30 am.
The next School Board meeting will take place on Thursday, September 10th, at 7 p.m.