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E-TC School Board goes into 2 closed sessions

Skip Schulz/For the Gazette The Ewen Trout Creek School Board went into 2 closed sessions at Thursday’s meeting

By SKIP SCHULZ

For the Gazette

The Ewen Trout-Creek School Board went into two separate closed sessions. The first was to discuss a student discipline matter, and the second was to go over the two-year contracts for superintendent/principal, business manager, and athletic director.

Under state and federal law, the protection of the student is provided through the closed session. After the second closed session, the board reconvened to approve the contract of Alan Tulppo for superintendent/principal, Tammy Gibson as business manager, and shawn brown as athletic director.

Tulppo gave a report on the recent Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District (GOISD) report card.

“Of the 7 schools in the GOISD, we ranked third behind Ironwood, and Bessemer’s Washington School. This ranking showed that we are meeting the needs of most of our students, where we need to work on is the lower 30 percent.” Tulppo said the school improvement plan is addressing this area.

Tulppo said the problem the District is facing with the lower 30 percent comes from lower income families, and households located in areas without reliable internet service.

“This hurts the students when it comes to projects and research via the internet. What can we do for those students that don’t have reliable internet?” Tulppo said.

Tulppo talked extensively about the in-service meeting between both E-TC and Watersmeet Schools. The major topic of that meeting dealt with staff and student safety and security.

“From what self-defense students can take to where to go in case of gun-fire. The in-service meeting between both schools was a good experience for both staffs to get together,” Tulpo said

Also discussed at that meeting was how to work with students that may have experienced trauma in their life.

The State of Michigan is making new graduation requirements for students graduating in 2019. The new law will require students to have 22 credits, one credit has to be in technology literacy. Tulppo said this can include classes the school district is already providing. The class of 2020 will also need to have two language credits, other than English.

The student driver education program was approved by the hiring of a Negaunee resident to teach the class. Cost will be $300 for the first segment and $50 for the second segment.

Without any bids, the board approved having Ontonagon Telephone provide local, non-internet phone service. The board also approved the purchase of LED lighting in the big gym, removal and replacement of some of the hallway carpeting. The board also approved the purchase of a new oven in the kitchen.

“The current oven is the one we had when we built the school, and the back-up oven is the one that came from the old school,” said Tulppo.

The E-TC School District remains in strong financial condition. Gibson reported that the district has $891,714.61 of available cash on hand. Gibson reported on the required 120 day School Bond audit.

“There was no findings. We just have to go through this because it’s the law,” Gibson said.

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