Sue Sitter/PCT Members of the Rugby FFA ag technology and mechanics team answer questions from the Rugby public school board.

Rugby public school board members heard good news about student success in academics and extracurricular activities at their regular meeting held the morning of Nov. 9 in the Rugby High School library.

Rugby High Principal Jared Blikre reported freshmen were preparing to attend the Minot Area Career Expo, an event featuring hands-on exhibits. “I also want to recognize our fall extracurricular success – three straight cross country state wins, eight straight volleyball district 11 wins, FFA national champions in ag technology and mechanical systems. Our one-act team won regionals,” Blikre said.

RHS cheerleaders had a competition ahead of them Nov. 13 in Fargo, where they would compete for their own state title, Blikre said.

Blikre noted winter sports season had begun. Hockey and wrestling teams were holding their first practices and the Panther girls’ basketball team would begin their season Monday.

Ely Elementary School Principal Jason Gullickson reported the school had recently wrapped up parent teacher conferences with 94 percent of parents attending. “The feedback from both parents and teachers was positive,” Gullickson said. “The grade 5-6 basketball season will conclude shortly. They have four games remaining.” Gullickson thanked coaches Shane Walker, Chris Walker and Jen Brossart for their help.

Gullickson said teachers were preparing to send report cards home after the end of the first trimester Nov. 10. The report cards would be sent Nov. 15. Gullickson added he and Rugby High Principal Jared Blikre would attend a NCEC principal workshop in Minot Nov. 10. Gullickson added he looked forward to an open house at the Ely campus Nov. 17.

Rugby Public Schools Superintendent Mike McNeff reported meeting with “about 15” local organizations to present the proposal to add to the Ely Elementary School campus and ask for support for a Dec. 1 bond measure to fund construction.

McNeff also noted the school’s food supplier had renewed a contract with foodservice company Cash-Wa to provide food for the district. However, he said driver shortages and other issues would affect the district’s ability to buy and negotiate prices.

McNeff added the district was reviewing hourly wages for support employees.

McNeff said he watching bills going through the North Dakota Legislature’s November special session pertaining to vaccinations, a ban on teaching critical race theory and adding cyber security to required k-12 courses. The legislature is meeting to discuss disbursing federal American Rescue Plan funds.

The board also reviewed and approved October financials. The district reported an increase from $1,596,487.91 to $1,608,197.14 over October of 2020 in their general fund. McNeff said the school’s hot lunch fund continued to receive transfers, with its balance increasing about $20,000 over last year. The district’s buildings fund saw a loss of $52,000 over last year.

In other business, the board approved a second reading of a change made to its extracurricular participation policy, which would allow students to serve suspensions in any activity season rather than the season in which their violation occurred.

The board voted to form an e-sports program to allow more students to participate in activities. The program, proposed for students in grades 5-12 would use $8,500 from the district’s activities fund to contract with Fenworks, a North Dakota online gaming company. Games in the program include Minecraft, chess and more. The program also includes lessons on nutrition and healthy habits.

An Ely Elementary student and a Rugby High School student both spoke to the board in support of the program.

The board also listened to a presentation by the Rugby High School FFA’s national award-winning agricultural technology and mechanics team. Member Carson Mattern, a student at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, attended by phone.

The team described each component of the competition and answered questions from the board. “The competition was something to remember forever,” team member Thatcher Volk said.

Team Advisor Kasey Okke told the board how they had practiced for the competition, using materials from local suppliers, including flux core welding wire from Rugby’s Home of Economy store. Okke described the pre-qualifying process, with projects and a written exam, which he said had challenging math questions. “A lot of math teachers helped out,” Okke noted. “A lot of dedication went into it and a lot of people helped out.”

Okke said the students brought home the welder they used in the competition as a prize courtesy of event sponsor Lincoln Electric. Team members each earned a $1000 cash award and were allowed to keep the vice stand they made in the competition.

McNeff also presented the board with ND Insights, a collection of academic data comparing Rugby student proficiency levels with those of other districts in the state. “All of our scores are above the state average,” McNeff said as he presented graphs to the board.

In other business, the board discussed collaborating with boards from neighboring school districts to share information and ideas. They also reviewed a proposal from First International Bank and Trust to provide banking services and an ATM at Rugby High School. The board did not vote on the proposal.

The school board will next meet Dec. 14 at 7 a.m. in the Rugby High School library.