Sue Sitter/PCT Outgoing Rugby Public School Board Members Carlie Johnson, left, and Kris Blessum hold plaques recognizing their nine years of service on the board.

Board members and administrators with the Rugby Public School District thanked two outgoing members for nine years of service on the school board at its regular monthly meeting held June 13 at Rugby High School.

Members Kris Blessum and Carlie Johnson each received plaques commemorating their service on the board, which began in 2014 for both.

Both thanked the board for their support and said they enjoyed serving on the board. “You’re a good group of people to work with,” Blessum said.

During the day, area residents voted for two new board members to fill the vacancies. Leah Harper, a candidate for one of the vacancies, attended the meeting.

The meeting began with reports from Ely Elementary School Principal Jason Gullickson and Rugby High School Principal Jared Blikre.

Gullickson said construction continued at a steady pace on a project to expand the Ely Elementary School campus. He noted registration for the 2023-24 school year would take place Aug. 8. “We’re knocking on wood that we can have that in our new commons area,” he said. “We’re pretty excited about that.”

He added summer school classes at Ely had begun at the Rugby High School campus due to the construction. Classes are held Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon for the summer term. The session had construction as its theme.

Blikre reported 45 of the 47 seniors graduating from Rugby High School in May were bound for college or career training programs. “One of the two who isn’t is going to Linnes Welding School,” he said. “We only have one who’s going directly into the workforce.”

He reported spring sports teams had seen success in track, baseball and softball. He also praised the success of the Rugby FFA Chapter, which won several state honors and would send teams to national competition.

Registration at Rugby High School is set for Aug. 16 and 17th, with seventh grade orientation on Aug. 17.

McNeff reported schools were fully staffed except for one position for a school custodian.

He noted the district would take on a Head Start preschool program funded by government grants. The board approved Jennifer Suko to teach the class.

McNeff discussed possible future negotiations for district land annexations in Bottineau, McHenry and Rolette Counties. He noted although Bottineau County struck down the petition by a family to annex their farmland into the Rugby School District, the resident has the option to hire a lawyer to appeal the decision.

Business Manager Dawn Hauck reported a difference of about $550,000 in the district’s general fund balance from June 2022 was due to transfers of funds from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program. Hauck said she would propose a transfer out of the district’s special reserve fund at the special board meeting June 26, when the board canvasses election results. She noted most fund balances looked “normal,” however, she had transferred $20,000 to the hot lunch fund over the year to pay for meals for staff, second helpings and other non-funded meals.

Hauck added the district’s finance would undergo an annual audit by the state July 31 and Aug. 1.

In other business, the board approved an application for funding for Title I, II and IV educational programs and supports for students from low-income families. McNeff said a portion of the title funds would go to Little Flower Elementary School.

In related business, McNeff presented student outcome reports for standardized testing in math and reading for second and third graders. Angela Hager, a multi-tiered support specialist for the district, prepared the reporting schedule and report.

Later in the meeting, both principals presented minor changes in school handbooks. Blikre said the board might consider reviewing the high school dress code and seek input from school personnel, parents and students at a later date.

The board approved the handbooks.

McNeff gave the board an update on the progress of the Ely Elementary School expansion project. He noted workers had encountered a small amount of asbestos in the kitchen area, which they addressed. He said the unexpected asbestos would add costs to the project.

McNeff said workers were laying new turf on the playground and adding masonry work. Other work included sprinkler systems, a new staff workroom, internet cables and a fire alarm system. Work would also continue on a special education classroom area.

“We’re shooting for the end of July for substantial completion,” McNeff said.

In other business, the board approved a proposal to review a program to connect rural schools with others across the state and nation. The free program, called “Transcend Education,” pairs districts to generate ideas to increase community involvement. McNeff said the district could expand work-based learning opportunities such as Rugby High School’s co-op program to reach more students.

The board also set July 6 as the date to swear in new board members. The ceremony and orientation meeting will be held at Dakota Farms Restaurant from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.