Virginia School Board report for Feb. 22

Chair Tim Riordan called the Virginia Board of Education regular meeting to order at 6 p.m. Awards included certificates to the board for School Board Recognition Week. The school district also received the 2010 School Finance Award in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in financial management, including compliance with state statutes. Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Alice Seagren summarized the award in a letter to the district. “The award reflects a proactive stance by the district on positive fund balances, sound fiscal policies, training initiatives and accountability.”

Principal Spelts reported on events at Roosevelt Elementary School. Roosevelt Elementary has immersed itself in “I Love to Read Month.” Events include a daily stop, drop, and read period where students read a book for twenty minutes. Classroom doors have been decorated with favorite book covers. I Love to Read Posters have been made and decorate the halls. Accelerated reader scores are being calculated and individual students and classrooms will be recognized based upon points earned. Superintendent Futterer will be visiting classrooms and reading to students. An end of the month celebration assembly will take place in the gym. Other activities included a fundraiser for diabetes that raised $252, and participation in community clean-up activities. Roosevelt staff attended the Reaching All Learners Road Show conference in Grand Rapids. The conference focused on new and upcoming advancements in educational technology.

Superintendent Futterer reported that student enrollment had once again held steady. Board members Johnson, Riordan, and Hafdahl reported on the RAMS annual membership meeting in Hibbing. Spencer Aune gave a financial report on twenty various clubs that operate within our schools, and also reported the financial impact of delayed state aid payments.

Submitted by Virginia School Board Director Dave Johnson.