Local News Headlines – Friday, November 20th

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ HAS ANNOUNCED NEW RESTRICTIONS DUE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS.  ON WEDNESDAY, WALZ ANNOUNCED A FOUR-WEEK “PAUSE” ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.  THE PAUSE WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR FOUR WEEKS, STARTING AT MIDNIGHT FRIDAY.  UNDER THE NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER, RESTAURANTS, BARS, BREWERIES, BOWLING ALLEYS AND MOVIE THEATRES WILL BE RESTRICTED TO TAKE-OUT ORDERS ONLY WITH NO IN-PERSON SERVICE.  GYMS, FITNESS CENTERS AND MUSEUMS WILL BE CLOSED.   YOUTH SPORTS AND HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS WILL BE ON PAUSE FOR ONE MONTH.  THE NEW RESTRICTIONS WILL NOT IMPACT RETAIL BUSINESSES, HAIR SALONS, DENTAL OFFICES OR ANY HEALTH-CARE RELATED BUSINESS.   CHURCHES MAY HOLD WORSHIP SERVICES, WEDDINGS OR FUNERALS, BUT NO RECEPTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED AFTER A WEDDING OR FUNERAL.   

 

THE MT LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL WILL BE MOVING ITS SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS TO DISTANCE LEARNING, STARTING ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH.   THIS IS FOR STUDENTS IN THE 9TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES ONLY.  ALL OTHER STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO ATTEND CLASS IN PERSON.  ALL MT LAKE STUDENTS WILL ATTEND CLASS ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD.  THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOL THE REST OF THE WEEK AS TEACHERS USE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY TO PREPARE FOR DISTANCE LEARNING.  DISTANCE LEARNING FOR GRADE 9-12 WILL RUN FROM NOVEMBER 30TH THROUGH DECEMBER 11TH.  STUDENTS AND PARENTS WILL BE RECEIVING MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING DETAILS ON FOOD SERVICE. 

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   THE MT LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED AS A COMBINED POLLING PLACE FOR ANY ELECTION HELD IN 2021.  THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO MOVE FORWARD ON A ‘PHASE 3’ WINDOW REPLACEMENT PROJECT.  THE BOARD APPROVED A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR A 3RD-GRADE TEACHER FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.  A NUMBER OF DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE ACCEPTED, INCLUDING DONATIONS TOTALING OVER $14-THOUSAND FROM THE REMICK FOUNDATION.  THE BOARD REVIEWED RECENT SAFETY INSPECTION REPORTS FROM OSHA AND THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL’S OFFICE.   

 

A MEETING OF THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD HEARD THE ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT.  THE DISTRICT SAW ITS FUND BALANCE INCREASE DURING THE PAST YEAR.   THE BOARD APPROVED AN UPDATED DISTANCE LEARNING PLAN.   THREE ELEMENTARY PARA-PROFESSIONALS WERE HIRED.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE HIRING OF A HALF-TIME SCIENCE AND LIFE-SKILLS TEACHER.  THE DAILY PAY RATE FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS WAS INCREASED TO $150 A DAY FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.  THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS AUTHORIZED TO HIRE ADDITIONAL SUBSTITUTES AND PARA-PROFESSIONALS AS NEEDED.  THERE WAS A REPORT ON PLANS FOR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES.   

 

THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD APPROVED A 20-DAY SUMMER AG PROGRAM.  THEY APPROVED THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO PURCHASE TWO NEW VANS.  APPROVAL WAS GIVEN FOR THE PURCHASE OF FOUR NEW AIR-HANDLING UNITS WITH FILTERS.   THE DISTRICT’S ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEGRATION PLAN WAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED.  BOYS BASKETBALL COACHES WERE APPROVED FOR THE WINTER SPORTS SEASON.  DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE HIRING OF A SPECIAL-EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR.  THE BOARD DISCUSSED COVID-19 ISSUES.  HERON LAKE-OKABENA IS BACK TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, BUT IS MONITORING THE SITUATION DAILY.