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Academics, activities keep school board busy

By Sue Sitter - | Oct 16, 2021

Student activities, budgets and supply shortages took up much of the discussion at a busy Rugby Public School Board meeting Oct. 12 in the Rugby High School library.

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

Gullickson reported fifth and sixth grade girls’ basketball season had wrapped up recently. Fifth and sixth grade basketball season would begin for boys the week of Oct. 25. Gullickson noted parent-teacher conferences would be held at the school the week of Oct. 18. He also reported four Ely teachers had established the Panther Ambassadors, a group of fourth through sixth graders exploring leadership and engagement. Gullickson added students were looking forward to taking their annual trip to a pumpkin patch again after a year away due to COVID.

Blikre reported a busy month ahead for Rugby High students. Blikre said students were preparing for college and career nights, one at Rugby High and a second at Harvey High School, where they were invited to participate. Blikre also reported 20 Rugby High FFA members were preparing to leave for their national conference in Indianapolis, scheduled for Oct. 25 -31. The students had held a district leadership event at the high school Oct. 4. Rugby High was named runner-up among several area schools.

Receiving awards at the Oct. 4 event were the Rugby High Conduct of Chapter Meetings team and the Rugby High Green Hand Quiz team. Individual awards went to Rylah Hager, FFA Creed; Amber Selensky, extemporaneous public speaking, and Katelyn Duchscher, employment. Parliamentary Procedure team members Selensky, Duchscher, Thatcher Volk, Amy Volk, Rylie Suchor, and Ryleigh Keating all won second place to advance to state competition.

Blikre said another activity, e-sports, would be added to Rugby High’s extracurriculars soon. Blikre said the school had formed a committee for the new sport.

Relatedly, members voted unanimously to approve girls’ softball as an official sanctioned sport after reviewing budget and participation data presented by Coach Miriah Yoder.

“I think it’s great,” RHS Athletic Director Scott Grochow said of the program. “I don’t think there’s any competition with anything else we have – baseball, track and field.”

Grochow and the coaches said they had concerns over conditions on the city-owned softball diamonds used by the girls’ team. Yoder said she planned to talk with the City of Rugby Recreation Committee about the issue.

Two players spoke to the board about the fun they’ve had on the team. “I didn’t realize how fun a sport could be, truly, until I joined softball,” player Amy Volk said.

Board members also reviewed information about establishing a Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter for Rugby High. According to information reviewed, an FCCLA chapter must have at least 12 members to meet national standards. Board members reviewed information provided by advisor Brittany Lovcik, who detailed her efforts to raise interest in the club. Board members approved a salary schedule for Lovcik with a structure similar to the pay the school’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) advisor receives.

In other activities-related business, board members approved a first reading of an amended district extracurricular participation policy, which now allows students suspended from activities to serve their suspensions in any sport, not strictly the sport they were participating in when they violated school rules.

Board members also heard a report from Superintendent Mike McNeff, who said COVID cases in Rugby Public Schools “were trending down.” McNeff said fundraising efforts for a new athletic complex had garnered $62,000 of the $300,000 for the project. McNeff also told the board the district had made a new link available on the district’s webpage with information on a proposed expansion for the Ely Elementary School campus. The link, called “Ely Addition,” would be updated periodically.

Board members approved a financial report by District Business Manager Dawn Hauck, who reported funds had fluctuated, however, she expected to increase the general fund balance when reimbursements for expenses came in. Hauck said she was most concerned with the district’s hot lunch fund, which has seen expenses rise due to food shortages caused by production and supply chain issues.

Peggy Harmel, who oversees the district’s child nutrition program, also spoke to the board about hot lunch issues. Harmel said the district’s current supplier would not renew their contract to provide food for the district. The contract expires Nov. 2. Harmel said the district was looking for another supplier. Harmel said unique challenges caused by labor shortages include shortages of processed foods such as chicken nuggets.

Members heard better news from District Instructional Coach Ashley Seykora, who outlined professional development strategies for new teachers that she would share Oct. 21 and 22, two days dedicated to professional development for the district. Seykora also reported success in the district’s summer school program, funded by federal Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) money. Seykora said the program, formed to address literacy issues, would expand to help students in math as well.

Members heard more good news from North Dakota Superintendent of Schools Kirsten Baesler, who sent a letter to Blikre congratulating Rugby High School for high student performance.

Baesler said Rugby Public Schools ranked “in the top 15 percent of public schools based on the North Dakota Accountability Index (NDAI).”

The NDAI breaks down student performance measurements in English/language arts and math. Other factors measured include graduation rates, test scores and “choice readiness,” or readiness for college or career after graduation.

Baesler said in the letter the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction funds district efforts to close educational gaps among “special populations,” such as those with learning disability or economic challenges. The letter commended Rugby Public Schools for addressing these gaps.

“The NDDPI commends you for your commitment to all children and the positive impact your hard work and dedication have on the students you serve,” Baesler wrote. “Please continue to evaluate your data regularly to identify areas of strength and areas of need.”

In other business, the school board voted to designate the Rugby High School gym as the polling place for a special election on a school bond measure for the Ely campus expansion Dec. 1.

The school board will hold their next meeting Nov. 9 at 7 a.m. in the Rugby High School library.