New parents group to support NYM School

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

A new parents group is hoping to do its part to provide support to New York Mills School staff and families.

During its regularly scheduled meeting last Monday night, the NY Mills School Board heard from Kasey Wacker about a new parents group named Parent’s Nest. The group recently formed and already has well over 50 members who are committed to the program. 

The group met for the first time in July and are hoping to be an asset to the school district as a whole.

“We talked about all of the things the administration here would like to have help with,” said Wacker.

The group is planning several fundraisers in the near future, including a fun run fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 18, which is the same day as the NY Mills Corn Feed.

The Parent’s Nest is a subsidiary group of the New York Mills Education Foundation. Among the goals that Wacker listed for the group in its first year was to have a school apparel store open during the school open house and conferences, provide meals to teachers during conferences, show support and appreciation to school staff, provide something special to students who are awarded Eagle of the Month and fill in a gap for school supply needs.

In other news

• Heard the activities report from Activities Director Matt Radniecki, who stated that fall sports will begin practice in just three weeks. He said there has also been an interest in developing an E-sports program this year as well. Homecoming week will be held from October 9-13 this fall. 

• Heard the elementary report from Judith Brockway who stated that the school district is currently short about 4-6 paraprofessionals due to people leaving the school district and new students moving into the district with a need for a paraprofessional. She said plans are also underway for beginning of the year testing. The plan is to have the incoming kindergarten class complete their benchmark testing prior to the first day of school. 

• Approved a gas/diesel contract for the 2023-24 school year with Lakes Country Coop and the milk bid for the 2023-24 school year with Cass Clay Creamery.

• Approved the long-term facility maintenance revenue 10-year expenditure report. Superintendent Blaine Novak said the school district has already tabbed a large portion of its long-term facility maintenance revenue to pay for projects like the parking lot project.

• Approved the e-learning plan for the 2023-24 school year. This year the NY Mills School District did not build snow days into its calendar and any time there will be inclement weather the school district will immediately go into an e-learning day. The school district can utilize five e-learning days before the school day will need to be made up.

• Heard an update from Novak about the summer projects and cleaning. Novak said the new doors for the front of the high school entrance has been back ordered until August 17 and should take five days to complete. The plan is to also install a new dishwasher and domestic boiler system in the kitchen when the summer food program wraps up. 

• Approved the following appointments: Jennifer Woods as a junior high volleyball coach, Amy Sobieski as a general and vocal music teacher, Abbie Martin as a kitchen helper for 5 1/2 hours per day, Brenda Stinar as a kitchen helper for seven hours a day and Kayla Ben as a kitchen cook for seven hours a day. 

• Accepted the resignation of Erin Friedsam.