Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield — All systems are go to welcome students at the Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School, said Superintendent Jason Gustafson.
Students will report on Tuesday at 10 a.m. to a school that Gustafson assures is “cleaned, polished” and “as safe as it possibly can be.”
The superintendent reported the news to board of education members at their Monday evening meeting and also noted in a related, written agenda report that custodial staff was putting “finishing touches” on the school and that he also had placed signs and decals throughout the school to alert students to safety in relation to COVID-19 concerns.
Due to the pandemic, the school will have no open house this year, and students will have the option to attend classes either in person or online. The superintendent added that teachers also have been busy preparing their classrooms.
To help in starting the new year, Alan Tulppo, president of the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District, also presented the board with $22,780.
“The funds are to be used to offset COVID-19 expenses,” said Tulppo at Monday’s virtual session.
During board comments, Vice President Micki Sorensen said it’s her impression that kids in this region are looking forward to returning to some sense of normalcy after a state mandate forced schools to switch to distance learning as of March 16.
“Our kids are going a little crazy,” said Sorensen. “They want back to just everything,” she added, referring to engagement with friends and teachers and the security of a meaningful routine.
Sorensen said adults need to be mindful of the potential mental health issues that can result from students being denied regular social contact.
She also said that the manner in which adults present the necessary COVID-related restrictions will set the mood for student cooperation. “Kids are going to accept it or reject it, based on how we present it,” she said.
Board members also took time to praise the superintendent for steering the district through the pandemic.
“You are an extremely organized person,” said President Brad Dalbec, who served with Sorensen, Gustafson and other members on a COVID-preparedness committee. “I cannot imagine having that ad-hoc committee without your organizational skills.”
Sorensen also praised Gustafson’s leadership and said, “You are a true asset for our school.”
She said that, during 2018 hiring discussions, former Superintendent Cathy Shamion hailed Gustafson as “meticulous.” Sorensen concluded, “And you’ve proven it throughout this whole COVID thing.”
Other board members also echoed the praise.
The board also:
—Voted to hire Alex Metas as the new varsity girls’ basketball coach and Ashley Heil as the new junior varsity girls’ basketball coach. The board thanked Chris Tweiten and Jim Tarro, respectively, who each chose to end their coaching roles. Gustafson said there had been five total candidates for the two positions.
—Voted to deny a request by the Bessemer School District to host the Gogebic Miners softball/baseball co-op, which includes Bessemer and Wakefield. The decision was made at the recommendation of athletic committee members, who met just prior to the meeting.
The board’s next regular meeting will be on Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. It will be a virtual meeting, so members of the public who wish to attend should check the district’s Facebook page or call 906-224-7211 for an entrance code.