Girls fastpitch softball on radar at NR-S

On Monday, July 19, the New Rockford-Sheyenne School Board of Education met via Zoom. As July is typically the reorganization meeting for the school board, election of officers was held. Mary Kay Price, who has represented the former New Rockford district on the board since 2015, was elected as the new president. She succeeds Alyson Myhre, a representative from the former Sheyenne district, who has served as president for the past two years. Mike Jacobson will remain in his role as vice president. The board also welcomed newly-elected member Todd Allmaras to his first meeting.

Community member/pastor/Pink Sox coach Joe Greiner joined this month’s meeting to ask the school board to consider starting a fastpitch softball team. Greiner and his wife Erin have coached the New Rockford Park District Pink Sox slowpitch softball team for four years. Girls age out of this summer league at 13 years old.

“Our teen girls have put in the effort to learn and play the game since T-ball,” Greiner said, citing that there are enough girls to form a team now, and the fields are full of young girls who will keep the team full. This summer, there were enough girls enrolled in coach pitch to form a separate girls’ team. Also, he noted that area communities have formed fastpitch teams recently, including Harvey/Wells County and Carrington, which would mean less travel for games. Greiner also said that New Rockford was a topic of conversation at the latest state fastpitch association meeting, as other members asked “why doesn’t New Rockford have a fastpitch team?”

The school board committed to assembling a working group, which will evaluate the idea and consider whether it would be more advantageous to organize a fastpitch team as a “club” sport or as a school-sanctioned activity.

The theme for the upcoming school year is “Kindness and Generosity.” NR-S is planning to open as usual with no pandemic restrictions, however the administration and staff are ready to “pivot” if such a need arises, Superintendent Jill Louters said. If students or staff members choose to wear a mask, they certainly may, but masks will not be a requirement. As many families handle COVID-19 differently, it is important as the students move back to in-person, hands-on learning, that other’s differences are supported with kindness and generosity.

The Back to School Open House will be held on Monday, August 23. The architect’s drawing for the second gym project should be ready for the public to view by that time.

Four staff members have stepped up to the plate and volunteered their time to receive CDL training to drive the new short bus.

There will be no “snow says” in the future, as virtual education is ready to go in the event that inclement weather keeps students and staffs from traveling to school. The music department is looking to re-engage students by offering a more robust music program in the fall.

The agenda this month was full of “reinstatements” and “annual reports.” The District Pupil Membership Summary tallies and compares the average daily attendance (ADA) with the average daily membership (ADM). NR-S reported that out of 312.30 students enrolled, the average daily attendance was 291.03. The transportation report gives a detailed breakdown of how many miles buses traveled and how long bus drivers were on the road; 25,358 rides were given during the 2020-21 school year for a total of 134,459.50 miles.

The Board renewed its NDSBA membership to assist with policy services. Administrative appointments were made in several areas. Dr. Louters will be the school district’s representative for the Federal Title Programs. Dr. Louters and Mr. Baumbach will represent NR-S on the East Central board of directors. Dave Skogen is finally official as the operating business manager. He was formally appointed through an affirmative vote of the board. Todd Allmaras will be joining the second Gym Project Committee. Community Credit Union and Bank Forward will remain the designated depositories for school district funds, and the New Rockford Transcript will continue to serve as the official newspaper for the district.

School meals will be free to all students again this year. Second helpings will be $0.75, and students can purchase a serving of milk for $0.50. Even though meals are free, families are encouraged to fill out an application for free or reduced meals, as some federal financial programs for schools are based on how many students in the district qualify for free and reduced meals. Through a partnership with the Hunger Free Food Pantry at First Lutheran Church, students with a weekend need for meals will continue to receive a backpack full of food to take home each Friday.

The preliminary budget was approved with a two percent wage increase for staff and support staff. All administrative contracts have been signed.

A discussion regarding the Pre-K tuition rates ensued at the end of the meeting. The board gave approval to increase the monthly fee to $55 per month and $12 per month for families who qualify for a reduced fee. However, it appears the board will be forming a working group to evaluate what other districts charge for preschool education. Dr. Louters expressed to the board that it is not always about money, but more about making sure children are educated. She encouraged the board to include early education teachers in the discussion.