---

   The Northland School Board held their regular meeting on Wed., Dec. 18. With only a couple reports being presented orally and some policy updates needing to be approved.

   Elementary Principal Janessa Green began her report by highlighting the fourth grade class. Last month all 38 fourth graders attended the Young Authors Conference in Staples. It was stated in the past only a few select fourth graders have been invited to attend this conference, but the teachers decided this year it would be a good experience for all students to attend. The conference entails youth attending break-out sessions with authors and other instructors to learn more about writing. The students had a blast and staff plans on taking all fourth graders moving forward.

New board member Jason Perkins and current board members Terri Nystrom and Marc Ruyak accepted their election and took their oath of office on Wed., Dec. 18. Photo by Kyndra Johnson.

   Green then shared with the board that the students in Ms. Morten’s class have been working with NFL teams. Each student picked a NFL team to track for the season at the beginning of the school year. They then wrote a letter to their team, which some students have received swag back from the teams, and every Tuesday they will track wins, losses, scores and talk about the games. The students are learning math, social emotional learning, social studies, geography, writing and other essential skills with this activity all while doing something unique and fun.

   Superintendent/High School Principal Mary Yakibchuk congratulated and recognized Robbie Hall, title teacher, on her retirement. Hall has been with Northland Community School District for the past six and half years, but has a total of 41 years of service in the education field. Yakibchuk also thanked outgoing board member Seth  Robison for his service to the district for the past four years.

   Other updates Yakibchuk shared with the board was in regards to bus inspections. She stated all busses passed with the exception of one due to some rust. This has been repaired and is currently awaiting re-inspection. Yakibchuk then mentioned Northland is currently collaborating with Deer River to reintroduce a wrestling program next year which will be co-oped. Currently board member Tyler Seifert has been working with younger students to get them involved and also helping Hill City begin a youth program. It was asked if Hill City would also co-op next year with wrestling, Seifert stated they are not at that point in the program yet, but does predict in the next couple of years they would, which would then make that program one of the largest in Northern Minnesota.

   In other Board action:

   • Approved allowing fifth graders to play junior high basketball for the 2024 -2025 season only and with contingencies that it is at coach’s discretion, does not apply to other sports, complies with Title IX and is not a revision to district policy.

   • Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between ISD #118 and NREM Local #7224 pertaining to Language Essential for Teachers of Reading and Spelling training.

   • Heard from Lori Backlund with Arrowhead Regional Computing Consortium with information for the Truth in Taxation public meeting. No public was in attendance with questions.

   • Approved the 2024 payable 2025 Levy in the amount of $2,495,294.27.

   The board has scheduled the following meetings: The re-organizational meeting, Mon., Jan. 6, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. to be held at Northland High School.

---