Red Lake School Board votes unanimously to continue Distance Learning through end of November 2020

RED LAKE, MN - At the Red Lake School Board Meeting held on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, the Red Lake School Board voted unanimously (7-0) to continue the Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) Distance Learning model until the end of November 2020. Their decision was based on the current pandemic numbers locally and in surrounding districts.

MDE provided three main scenarios to help guide schools this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These scenarios are In-person learning for all students, Hybrid model with strict social distancing and capacity limits and Distance Learning only. Red Lake began the school year with Distance Learning.

Red Lake Schools will reevaluate the pandemic's path in the weeks to follow by watching state, county and Reservation numbers to possibly move up to a Hybrid Model with strict social distancing and capacity limits. But only if it is safe to do so and lives are not put at risk.

In other School Board actions, the Board received reports from the Superintendent, Business Manager, Ojibwe Education Steward, Special Services Department, Human Resources, Building and Grounds Manager, Food Service, Transportation, Security, K-5 Principal, Ponemah School, Secondary Complex and the Activities Coordinator.

The Board also approved minutes from September 16th and September 30th, accepted a resignation from Mariah Head, approved both the licensed and non-licensed sub lists, accepted a resignation from Brianna Hurlburt, approved a transfer request from Shana Woodworth into a full time custodian position, accepted a transfer request from Kelsi Brown into a Home School Liaison for the Secondary Complex, and approved 10 coaching positions for the basketball season. Coaches for the boys are Nolan Desjarlait, Delwyn Holthusen Jr., Gerald Kingbird Sr., Chris Jourdain and Bill Rutledge. Coaches for the girls were Randy Holthusen, Tara White, Keveon Kingbird, Jimmy Jourdain and Alexis Desjarlait.

Also approved in the Consent Agenda was a transfer request from John Elmberg into an open Cook 1 position, hired Terrance Jourdain as a bus driver, hired Cathleen Nelson as a Paraprofessional, approved a resignation from Bambi King and approved unpaid Maternity Leave for Karron Stenseng.,

The Board also terminated an employee and agreed to canvas the November Election results Thursday, November 12, 2020.