State superintendent visits Ironwood schools

By ZACHARY MARANO

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Ironwood - Michael F. Rice, Michigan's superintendent of public instruction, visited Luther L. Wright K-12 School Wednesday afternoon as part of his tour of schools in the western Upper Peninsula. Ironwood Area Schools Superintendent Travis Powell and K-12 Principal Melissa Nigh showed him around the building and visited some classes that were in session.

Rice said that he works in the state capitol in Lansing, but he regularly visits schools to get a "view from the ground" that helps inform his legislative decisions.

"I periodically visit schools in the state and I had wanted to get to the western U.P. in May of 2020 ... but, of course, the pandemic hit so it got scuttled. It got pushed back until this fall. But I'm delighted to be here. I was in Copper Country ISD yesterday and here today," Rice said.

"We're very honored to have Dr. Rice visit our school. He came up to tour schools specifically in the western Upper Peninsula in our ISD and in the Copper Country. Having him come to our actual school and see the great things happening in our classrooms and meet our students really fills me with some optimism about what he'll be able to do for schools of our size when he gets back to Lansing and things he's going to do to support schools in the Upper Peninsula in general," Powell said.

The group dropped in on several classes, including Judy Balchik's social studies class. Powell asked the fourth graders what they were learning about and the students answered that they were talking about the U.S. Government.

Rice also sat in on a class in the metal shop taught by Alison Stehlik, a biology class by Cheryl Jacisin and a chemistry class by Dr. Valerie Talsma.

Director of Vocal Music Darin Schmidt guided Rice around the school's new makerspace, which has two 3-D printers, a laser cutter for engraving and cutting materials, a vinyl cutter, a soldering machine and robotics equipment.

"We got a jumpstart on the makerspace movement several years ago," Powell said. "And then, it kind of waned a bit. The ISD helped reinvigorate the process with the funding for the equipment. And so, Mr. Schmidt was talking about how some of the robotics things were here but they weren't getting the use that they needed. He's been instrumental in helping gather the folks that are interested and providing them with instructions."

At several points during the tour, Powell called attention to the contrast between the almost 100-year-old school building and high-tech such as the new televisions in every classroom.

Rice, Powell and Nigh visited math teacher Kevin Lyons in his classroom on the third floor. Lyons said that the third floor of the building was Gogebic Community College from 1932 to 1969, when they built their current facility at E4946 Jackson Road. As a result, Lyon's classroom looks like a college lecture hall.

They also visited the school woodshop, library and Colonel Sandra Keefer in the JROTC rifle range behind the bleachers in the school gymnasium.

Powell said that he thought the visit went very well. Rice said that he would return to his office in Lansing on Thursday.