Virginia school district approves continuing foreign exchange program

The Virginia School Board on Monday, March 8, heard a presentation from German Language Teacher, Terri Kowalski, about the German American Partnership Program (GAAP). The Virginia High School successfully took part in this program during the summer of 2009, with 11 students participating. The main objective of the program is the integration of exchange students into the everyday life of host families and the classroom activities of host schools to provide the students with coherent intercultural experiences. Their three week stay in Hermeskil, Germany was the first overseas trip for many of the Virginia German class students. While in Germany, the students also made side trips to Trier, Heidelberg, and Cologne. This program is a reciprocal exchange, so in September of 2009, eighteen students and their two teachers came to Virginia to live in our community for three weeks. GAAP provides training and materials for starting a new program while the flight arrangements and coordinating of local touring is done by the host school’s teaching staff. The program does have small grants available to all participants with the majority of the student costs being raised by specific fundraising events. The cost per student for the summer 2009 program was $1,100 per student for the three week-long program. Board Director Paul Cerkvenik praised the program stating that it is essential for student achievement in college, as it couples the foreign language credit with the international experience. Terri Kowalski said that she could see not only increased language proficiency among the students who participated, but increased classroom discussion and interaction regarding specific travel experiences in Germany.

Elementary Principal Michael Krebsbach updated the board on Parkview’s enrollment which has increased since the beginning of school, and class sizes which remain constant, with first and second grades just above 20 students per class, and second and third grades hovering around 25 students per class. He also reported that 21 teachers were receiving additional training on Tuesday, March 9th at the NESC learning about interpretation of student test data. He also expressed excitement about February’s “I Love to Read” Month outcomes, with 277 readers meeting their goal of 422 minutes read. Another one-day event, “McTeachers Night” had 24 of the district’s teachers working at the local McDonald’s. The teachers worked the lobby, cleaned tables, and even worked side by side with the McDonald’s staff at the registers and drive thru lines. This event, held on March 8th, raised $1,026.45 for the Virginia Schools while encouraging school spirit, family involvement and community participation.

Board Chairman and NESC Director Riordan reported on the Middle Mile Project, which is a project grant recently awarded by the USDA to the Northeast Service Cooperative. This $44 million project will bring 920 miles of interconnected fiber optic rings to Northeastern Minnesota. The NESC will build a network extending from the Northeast Arrowhead region, West thru the Iron Range, and South to the prairies of East Central Minnesota. This project will bring new construction jobs throughout the region and at least five new permanent jobs. The project is divided into three rings and two additional linear systems: Ring #1 comprises all of the Duluth area; Ring # 2 runs from Duluth up through Floodwood and Hibbing into Britt; Ring #3 encompasses the North Shore area to Illegen City and up the Hwy 53 corridor to Britt. The two linear systems will go on to International Falls and Grand Portage. This system will provide broadband service to a significant number of unserved and underserved internet subscribers.

Superintendent Futterer presented a request from the United States Police Canine Detector Trails for the use of Ewen’s Field on May 4th from 4 pm to 9pm which was approved contingent on the organization meeting several requirements. He also passed out an announcement from the Virginia Foundation, Virginia Educational Fund concerning their spring fundraiser, a specialty wine event scheduled for April 29, 2010.

In other action the board approved revoking the School District Primary Election system which was adopted several years ago, and will instead have a single school board election held during General Elections in November.

Submitted by Virginia School Board chairman Tim Riordan.