Ontonagon school board hears about GOISD academy

ONTONAGON — Ontonagon Superintendent Jim Bobula told the Ontonagon Area Board of Education Monday that the school is working with a recycling group to provide an opportunity for the community to recycle.

There are no recycling opportunities in Ontonagon and, beginning in June, recycling bins will be set out at the school. Bobula said the recycling of glass items will not be available immediately, but plastic, cardboard and magazines and other items will be taken. He also added that the school surveillance service will be in operation to monitor the program.

Jerry Pease. of the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District, gave a presentation on the Virtual Lakes Academy. He outlined advantages to the school district if it joined the academy. He noted that with the shortage of teachers, home schooled students and use of other virtual opportunities, the district could be losing funds. With the Virtual Lakes Academy, students would be registered with the local school district and the school would collect the relevant funds. K-5 students are not included in the proposal as their learning experience should be face-to-face, Pease said.

Pease suggested joining the academy would be proactive on the board’s part, since it would “bring back many kids that are not coming back.” The virtual classroom would operate eight hours a day, every week. He said it is transparent. He continued it has been done during the pandemic, and is used in teaching Spanish in many districts now, adding teachers and students are comfortable with it. 

Those students taking five virtual classes could also play sports if their school joins. The cost would be $195 per course, he said. No action was taken by the board.

Bobula also reported about the coming summer school, credit recovery program and summer manufacturing camp, sponsored by the GOISD for middle school students June 14-18. The manufacturing camp will run in the shop area of the building and students will make a lawn ornament or similar items.

Bobula said that each student athlete has to be tested for COVID-19 once a week and that process is going well. Both coaches and student athletes were commended by the board for this process.

The superintendent also informed the board that graduation this year is May 28 at 7 p.m. and thus far 17 students have signed up to participate.

In other action, the board:

—Authorized a posting for a summer custodian to work six hours per day for 10 weeks to assist with cleaning.

—Hired Brady Guilbault as golf coach.

—Approved posting for both a guidance counselor and a career and college readiness instructor.

—Accepted the three-year bid of Robert Graham for lawn care services at $3,600 each year for the summers of 2021, 2022 and 2023.

—Accepted the three-year bid from Anderson, Tackman & Company for financial audit in the amount of $11,700 for 2021, $11,900 for 2022 and $12,200 for 2023.

—Hired Brian Amos as instructor for the driver education program for this summer and authorized approval to hire an additional instructor if the number of students enrolled necessitates it. The drivers education program will only accept in-district students this year. The cost to each student will be $350 for Segment I and $50 for Segment II with a non-refundable deposit of $50 required prior to the first classroom session in order for the student to participate in the program.

—Re-confirmed the extended Continuity of learning Plan. “What we are doing is working,” Bobula said.

—Jan Tucker