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LCC graduation is set for July 11

LAUREL — Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School Board got an update on closing out the 2019-20 school year and starting up the 20-21 school year during their June 8 meeting.

Supt. Jeremy Christiansen discussed plans to reopen the school in August.

“We must make sure that we include the possibility and be prepared to move to alternate classroom delivery if we are notified that we need to do so,’’ Christiansen advised board members.

Before a new year can start, the old one has to be officially concluded. That will happen Saturday, July 11 when graduation ceremonies are held at 2 p.m. at the school.

LCC Graduation will be Saturday, July 11, at 2 p.m. The school’s plan and guidelines needed to be approved by the public health department. The audience for the event must be limited to less than 400. Normal capacity for the gym is 1,600. The event will be ticketed with 13 tickets for each graduate. Graduates families will be seated in groups as a family with social distancing. No band will be performing.

Another end-of-year activity, the annual LCC Prom was cancelled due to the virus restrictions.

Board members were also told the Laurel Library Learning Center reopened June 1. Guidelines included 10 patrons at any one time and social distancing of six feet. Everyone is also required to wear masks and there is limited access to com puter use.

Also on June 1, summer conditioning and weight lifting was able to resume.

In order for this to happen, students must undergo daily temperature and symptom monitoring, along with thorough sanitization procedures. Student and staff safety and health considerations will include enhanced sanitization procedures, social distancing within classroom arrangement, cafeteria and playground.

Supt. Christiansen said school service meal delivery continues through June 30.

Summer School Programs will include Intervention Support via Remote Learning from June 8-June 25 and in-person (at school) Summer School from July 20 - Aug. 6.

The school received seven Construction Manager The school received seven Construction Manager at Risk proposals. Finalist interviews were at Risk proposals. Finalist interviews were May 18 with Hausmann Construction of Norfolk May 18 with Hausmann Construction of Norfolk earning the contract. earning the contract.

The Board also heard about Teammates. The Board also heard about Teammates.

“Much of our TeamMates Program growth “Much of our TeamMates Program growth and success can be directly attributed to the and success can be directly attributed to the Board’s commitment and decision to create a Board’s commitment and decision to create a part-time Co-coordinator and Match Facilitator part-time Co-coordinator and Match Facilitator position just over a year ago. Shawna Ranslem position just over a year ago. Shawna Ranslem has served in this position while also working has served in this position while also working part-time as a special education paraprofessional,’’ part-time as a special education paraprofessional,’’ Christiansen said. “Moving forward, she is Christiansen said. “Moving forward, she is returning to the full-time paraprofessional position. returning to the full-time paraprofessional position. I believe we need to expand the TeamMates I believe we need to expand the TeamMates role dedicated to program development and role dedicated to program development and mentor/mentee relationship support in light of mentor/mentee relationship support in light of the number of 95 mentor/mentee matches and the number of 95 mentor/mentee matches and anticipated growth. I am requesting the board anticipated growth. I am requesting the board consider modifying the part-time position to be consider modifying the part-time position to be a full-time TeamMates Coordinator position as a full-time TeamMates Coordinator position as a 10-month classified position.” The position a 10-month classified position.” The position of LCC Guidance Counselor would remain as a of LCC Guidance Counselor would remain as a position that serves as Co-coordinator for the position that serves as Co-coordinator for the Teammates program. Teammates program.

Christiansen is starting a Community Focus Christiansen is starting a Community Focus Group. He is seeking 25-30 community members Group. He is seeking 25-30 community members with broad patron representation. LCC’s with broad patron representation. LCC’s next phase of the Facilities Improvement Bond next phase of the Facilities Improvement Bond Study involves the engagement of a Community Study involves the engagement of a Community Focus Group. Christiansen said he wants Focus Group. Christiansen said he wants to have three to four members of the Board of to have three to four members of the Board of Education on the Focus Group. Education on the Focus Group.

Project Study Partners will include: Bob Soukup, Project Study Partners will include: Bob Soukup, Carlson West Povondra (architects), Steve Carlson West Povondra (architects), Steve Thiele, Hausmann Construction (CM@R), and Thiele, Hausmann Construction (CM@R), and Cody Wickham, D.A. Davidson (finance agent). Cody Wickham, D.A. Davidson (finance agent). Proposed meeting dates are: Monday, June 15 Proposed meeting dates are: Monday, June 15 at Laurel Library Conference Room. Facility at Laurel Library Conference Room. Facility Tours of all schools on both campuses will then Tours of all schools on both campuses will then take place. take place.

On Monday, June 29 a review of facilities On Monday, June 29 a review of facilities small group discussions will he held. small group discussions will he held.

Personnel Updates include a Library Assistant Personnel Updates include a Library Assistant (Part-time) - This position was previously (Part-time) - This position was previously advertised, however, the decision was made to advertised, however, the decision was made to not fill the position until the re-opening of the not fill the position until the re-opening of the public library. public library.

Bob Parsons, Librarian, and Christiansen interviewed Bob Parsons, Librarian, and Christiansen interviewed and offered the part-time position to and offered the part-time position to Lisa Dohmen. Dohmen is a senior student at Lisa Dohmen. Dohmen is a senior student at Wayne State College, majoring in Organizational Wayne State College, majoring in Organizational Leadership and Public Relations. Leadership and Public Relations.

The school has an open position for a parttime The school has an open position for a parttime Middle School kitchen assistant. This position Middle School kitchen assistant. This position has now been advertised. has now been advertised.

The next Community Conversation Program The next Community Conversation Program will be Wednesday, July 1, at 7:30 a.m., in the will be Wednesday, July 1, at 7:30 a.m., in the Middle School Boardroom at Coleridge and noon Middle School Boardroom at Coleridge and noon at the Elementary School Boardroom in Laurel. at the Elementary School Boardroom in Laurel.

Community Conversation topics during this Community Conversation topics during this past session included School Closure and Reopening past session included School Closure and Reopening Updates, Planning for the 2020-2021 Updates, Planning for the 2020-2021 School Year and Facilities Improvement - Community School Year and Facilities Improvement - Community Focus Group. Focus Group.

Meal prices will be increased by five cents for Meal prices will be increased by five cents for student and adult. The cost will be raised from student and adult. The cost will be raised from $1 to $1.75 if students go back for additional $1 to $1.75 if students go back for additional food. Ala carte items will be increased from .75 food. Ala carte items will be increased from .75 cents to $1. cents to $1.

The school received the first notice of parents The school received the first notice of parents choosing to home-school due to the virus. choosing to home-school due to the virus.

Paige Parsons, Elementary Principal, said Paige Parsons, Elementary Principal, said teachers are in full swing using Seesaw. Seesaw teachers are in full swing using Seesaw. Seesaw is a platform for student engagement that inspires is a platform for student engagement that inspires students of all ages to do their best, and students of all ages to do their best, and saves teachers time. saves teachers time.

Students use creative tools to take pictures, Students use creative tools to take pictures, draw, record videos and more to capture learning draw, record videos and more to capture learning in a portfolio. Teachers find or create activi in a portfolio. Teachers find or create activities ties to share with students. Families see their to share with students. Families see their child’s work and leave comments and encouragement. child’s work and leave comments and encouragement.

Parsons said the program will be implemented Parsons said the program will be implemented in the fall. Staff will be offered a variety of in the fall. Staff will be offered a variety of professional development opportunities this professional development opportunities this summer to better aid efforts. summer to better aid efforts.

Summer school includes nine students digitally, Summer school includes nine students digitally, The program runs Monday-Thursday, The program runs Monday-Thursday, during the month of June for the first round of during the month of June for the first round of summer school. These students will continue summer school. These students will continue on the Reading and/or Math intervention they on the Reading and/or Math intervention they ended with during the school year. ended with during the school year.

“Jean Granquist and I are working to plan “Jean Granquist and I are working to plan our second round of summer school as an inperson our second round of summer school as an inperson experience,’’ Parsons said. “We will use experience,’’ Parsons said. “We will use this opportunity to help our most at-risk students this opportunity to help our most at-risk students transition back to school, whether that be transition back to school, whether that be in-building or remotely.” in-building or remotely.”

Kindergarten rooms were provided with more Kindergarten rooms were provided with more space during school closure. Custodial staff removed space during school closure. Custodial staff removed the divider wall that was adjacent to both the divider wall that was adjacent to both kindergarten classrooms, making the classroom kindergarten classrooms, making the classroom much larger. Art will now take place in the activity much larger. Art will now take place in the activity area or in the grade-level classrooms. The area or in the grade-level classrooms. The new room size will help accommodate the larger new room size will help accommodate the larger kindergarten class, and also provide staff with kindergarten class, and also provide staff with ample room for small group instruction. ample room for small group instruction.

New certification and recertification courses New certification and recertification courses will take place in both June and July for the will take place in both June and July for the Non-Violent Crisis Training (CPI). Participants Non-Violent Crisis Training (CPI). Participants were given the opportunity to take the course were given the opportunity to take the course digitally or in-person. Staff that choose to do the digitally or in-person. Staff that choose to do the course digitally will be retrained on the physical course digitally will be retrained on the physical interventions at some point during the 2020-21 interventions at some point during the 2020-21 school year. CPI training is provided to all LCC school year. CPI training is provided to all LCC Administration, special education teachers, Administration, special education teachers, mental health staff, and para-educators. mental health staff, and para-educators.

“I will also be taking classes this month to “I will also be taking classes this month to maintain my trainer’s certification. Trainers are maintain my trainer’s certification. Trainers are asked to recertify every three years. I will do asked to recertify every three years. I will do my coursework via digital learning, and will do my coursework via digital learning, and will do physical interventions at a later time,’’ Parsons physical interventions at a later time,’’ Parsons said. said.

The 2019-20 high school year concluded and The 2019-20 high school year concluded and all report cards were mailed home. Two students all report cards were mailed home. Two students are completing individualized education plans are completing individualized education plans in an attempt to earn credits toward graduation in an attempt to earn credits toward graduation prior to the 2020 graduation ceremony. prior to the 2020 graduation ceremony.

There was a joint effort between the elementary, There was a joint effort between the elementary, middle school and high school to collect middle school and high school to collect school materials back from students and distribute school materials back from students and distribute personal property back to students. The personal property back to students. The high school has outstanding materials that still high school has outstanding materials that still need to be collected from a few students. The need to be collected from a few students. The secretarial staff is continuing to pursue the return secretarial staff is continuing to pursue the return of those materials. of those materials.

High school students were recognized digitally High school students were recognized digitally with the release of High School Honors with the release of High School Honors information via the school website and social information via the school website and social media. media.

Upcoming Events include the July 6 installation Upcoming Events include the July 6 installation of retractable basketball supports in the of retractable basketball supports in the main gym at the Laurel campus, July 11 graduation, main gym at the Laurel campus, July 11 graduation, July gym floor refinishing at both the July gym floor refinishing at both the Laurel and Coleridge gyms, Aug. 3 Parent/Athlete Laurel and Coleridge gyms, Aug. 3 Parent/Athlete activities meeting, Aug. 5 first day football activities meeting, Aug. 5 first day football practice, and Aug. 10 first day of remaining fall practice, and Aug. 10 first day of remaining fall practices. practices.

Middle School Awards for their work during Middle School Awards for their work during the school year were mailed home to students the school year were mailed home to students that normally would have been presented at that normally would have been presented at awards day. awards day.

Some of the categories students were recognized Some of the categories students were recognized for were: Perfect Attendance, Near Perfect for were: Perfect Attendance, Near Perfect Attendance, Americanism Essay Winners, Attendance, Americanism Essay Winners, Patriot Pen Essay Winners, Science Olympiad, Patriot Pen Essay Winners, Science Olympiad, KK93 News Anchor, All State Band, Student KK93 News Anchor, All State Band, Student Council, Lewis and Clark Conference, Art, Council, Lewis and Clark Conference, Art, Marching Band, Two Sport-Athletes and Three Marching Band, Two Sport-Athletes and Three Sport-Athletes. Sport-Athletes.

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