Electrical work has begun at Washington Elementary that should put an end to the school's recent power outage woes, Gene Salmi, Cloquet schools buildings and grounds director, told Cloquet School Board members Monday.
"Minnesota Power is providing $30,000 of work for free," he said.
Among other work, Minnesota Power has poured a new pad which will serve as the base for a new transformer. The rest of the work will be completed the day after Thanksgiving when students are not at school. That electrical work, to be performed by a local contractor, will cost some $60,000, Salmi said.
"We got bids from three local contractors for this work of getting power in a new way from outside to inside the building," he said. "And we're saving $3,000 by not doing it over a weekend, as we originally planned."
In other school board business, staff from Washington and Churchill elementary schools presented their 2007-2008 goals, which were approved by the school board. For their student achievement goals, teachers will expand on last year's math proficiency focus. They will monitor several specific students who are having trouble in math and through differentiated instruction, will help them raise their proficiency significantly over three years.
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Churchill's building goal includes continuing to implement and evaluate the progress of identifying students for special education services. Washington's building goal is to build on the strategies established by the successful anti-bullying campaign.
"We have had a very successful campaign with 'Take a Bite of Bullying' T-shirts and monthly anti-bullying lessons," said Heather Johnson of Washington.
Both schools continue with technology goals that address educating staff on ever-changing computer software and equipment. Both will also foster staff and students in the continuation of nurturing a positive school climate, with Washington staff to support each other with improved communication and activities between groups.
Cloquet teachers attended the meeting en masse to show solidarity as contract negotiations continue.
Pine Journal Editor Lisa Baumann can be contacted at: lbaumann@pinejournal.com .
