The Rugby Public School Board certified the results of a voter-approved bond referendum to expand Ely Elementary School at their regular monthly meeting, held Dec. 14 in the Rugby High School library.

The board voted unanimously to declare the passage of the bond measure, which finances additions to the Ely campus with funds from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program and extending an existing mill levy.

At the board meeting, District Business Manager Dawn Hauck presented four ballots for members to approve. Hauck told the board three of the ballots had signatures needing verification. The fourth had been completed by a voter in the district’s business office and held until the voter could provide identification. The board approved the ballots, which added three “yes” and one “no” vote to the final count. The board voted unanimously to declare the bond’s passage by a 79.5 percent margin.

The board next resolved to apply for a construction loan from the North Dakota School Construction Loan Fund in the event bond interest rates exceeded two percent. District Superintendent Mike McNeff told the board the district’s bond rating stood at A1 from Moody’s.

In other business, the board approved a first reading of a plan for giving instruction to students in the event of weather emergencies or other conditions. The plan detailed how schools would decide to provide virtual learning, devices or other methods of teaching to students in the event in-classroom learning was not possible.

The board heard from Kris Crabtree-Groff, a professor of education at the University of Jamestown. Crabtree-Groff attended the meeting remotely, answering questions about the university’s Teacher Leadership Academy. Dan Seykora, who teaches math at Rugby Middle School, and Kim Williams, who teaches second grade at Ely Elementary School also spoke to the board about their experiences in the program and how it benefited their teaching. McNeff told the board he hoped to form a group to attend another academy in the summer of 2022. McNeff said teachers from TGU School District were also interested in the academy.

Ashley Seykora, an instructional literacy coach with the district, presented information on state standards for K-12 students. Seykora described subjects taught and what students at each grade level should know. “This is not Common Core,” Seykora noted. “North Dakota schools do not use Common Core standards because they write their own.”

The board also met with Rugby High School Athletic Director Scott Grochow, who discussed forming a cooperative arrangement with Leeds Public Schools for sports. The board voted to add Leeds students to Rugby High’s football and track programs with the Leeds School District providing transportation to their athletes.

The board voted to approve a first reading of policy changes that would use the general equivalency diploma to meet certain graduation requirements for high school.

Federal mandates to address COVID-19 and their effect on the district’s preschool program also sparked discussion among board members. McNeff said federal mandates to require staff to be vaccinated by the end of January and students age two and older to wear masks would affect Rugby’s preschool because some of the children at the school are in the Head Start program.

McNeff said the district would send letters to parents of preschoolers and attempt to opt out of the requirements. However, he called the situation “a tricky thing.”

In other business, the board heard from Rugby High Principal Jared Blikre, who praised music teachers Kari Hill and Lexi Rusch for their work in organizing a school concert performed Dec. 7 and 9. Blikre said the high school’s semester ends Jan. 14. He noted although no semester tests will be given this school year, teachers would have the option to test students in their classes. Blikre added Rugby High had a “full slate” of winter sports and activities, including wrestling, basketball and hockey. Blikre added e-sports and speech teams had begun practicing and the FFA had begun their career development events. “We’re going to take 40 kids to the FFA Winter Leadership Conference in Bismarck January 8 and 9,” Blikre said.

Ely Elementary Principal Jason Gullickson said the school’s fourth-graders had organized “Ely Project Joy.” Students in Liisa Foster’s class had collected $1,486.98 to contribute to the Pierce County Food Pantry. “They put up little canisters around the school for monetary collections,” Gullickson said. “They went around to classrooms to collect the money and raised just about $1,500, which is fantastic.”

Gullickson added the second-grade teachers had organized a food backpack program to distribute food to 40 families in the district facing hunger over the holidays.

Gullickson said he looked forward to a school musical performed by third and fourth-graders. “The name of the musical is, “Elfis and the Sleigh Riders,” he said. The third grade will present their show at 6:30 p.m., while the fourth-graders will perform at 7:30 p.m. Gullickson said the free concerts “typically have a full house, so get there early.”

Gullickson said Ely’s Lego League team had formed and decided to name themselves “The Drop Zone.” “We have six students involved in that. Their theme is cargo connecting and their missions involve different ways things are transported,” Gullickson said. “They’ve designed a drop zone box to keep your packages safe at home from inclement weather and porch pirates.” The team will travel for a regional competition in Minot Jan. 15.

Gullickson said 23 fifth and sixth-graders had formed e-sports teams. Coach Johnny Skipper has already had informational meetings with the students to discuss games played, ways to communicate and team goals with the team. The teams will hold their first practice Jan. 10.

In other business, the board approved financials and minutes from their regular November meeting. The board will next meet Jan. 11 at 7 a.m. in the Rugby High School library.