Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By MEGAN HUGHES
Ironwood —- The Board of Education for Ironwood Area Schools heard a Monday presentation from Trisha Winn, chair of the English Department and coordinator of the Professional Learning Committee.
The board also heard a presentation from Alan Tulppo, superintendent of the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District.
Tulppo has been making the rounds of all GOISD schools regarding how each of them utilize various services.
The GOISD aims to provide support to its districts in areas such as academic support, program enhancement, social and behavioral support and community outreach. It also provides career technical education services, business services, and general education services, among others.
“The Ironwood Area Schools have always had a strong involvement in our Career and Technical Education Programs,” Tulppo said.
This year, of the 187 students in the GOISD participating in CTE programs, 66 of those are from the Ironwood schools.
“We are happy to partner with Ironwood,” said Tulppo. “We value our relationship with the district and the staff, and look forward to continuing a strong relationship.”
Tulppo also congratulated Ironwood on a successful presentation by its staff at the recent conference of Michigan’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports Technical Assistance Center.
“Great work to the teachers of Ironwood,” he said.
In her presentation, Winn spoke about the current state of the Ironwood Area Schools’ PLC programs, emphasizing that early grades are in a fantastic place to see continuing future success.
The Ironwood Area Schools PLC process involves teachers making intentional decisions on how they teach their material, in order to optimize their effectiveness in helping students learn and understand the information provided.
“It really allows students to take ownership over their own learning,” said Winn. “There is a bunch of research for why that works. It not only makes them feel good, but it also improves their learning.”
Winn also discussed strategies that teachers in Ironwood Area Schools implement to improve the learning environment for students, as well as methods they use to gauge student’s proficiency in various subjects.
In other news, the board:
— Approved a first reading of the NEOLA policy update for Vol. 39, No. 1. This included revisions on such topics as employment of personnel for co-curricular and extracurricular activities, opioid antagonists, student accidents, student conduct, and criminal justice information security. It also included a new policy regarding the usage of artificial intelligence technologies in school.
— Briefly reviewed and discussed the Nov. 5 election summary report provided by the Gogebic County Board of Canvassers.
— Amended the agenda to approve the second payment for the Edgenuity program.
— Approved school district and activity fund bills and the activity fund report as presented.
— Approved October board meeting minutes, as well as those for the Building and Grounds Committee.
— Approved the first reading of the September 2024 NEOLA EDGAR/UGG revisions as presented.
— Heard the superintendent’s report, administrative reports and a strategic planning report.
— Acknowledged October donations.
— Heard and approved the attendance and enrollment report.