<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Qw9FK_0s4Ot4oM00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Qw9FK_0s4Ot4oM00" width="1600" height="796" ><figcaption>It was a full house at the Tuesday, March 19, 2024, regularly scheduled Mabel-Canton School Board meeting. Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1mssHu_0s4Ot4oM00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1mssHu_0s4Ot4oM00" width="400" height="486" ><figcaption>Mabel-Canton School Board Chairman Cristal Adkins presides over the March 19 school board meeting with and Superintendent Gary Kuphal on hand to answer questions. Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee</figcaption></figure>During the Mabel-Canton School Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on March 19, the seniors’ proposal to end their academic year on Friday, May 24, was unanimously approved by the board. The Mabel-Canton senior class officers, including Janessa Hershberger, Hayden Erickson, Izabella Gerleman and Colton Tollefsrud appeared before the board to request that the seniors’ last day be Friday, May 24. The seniors explained that they will attend the awards ceremony and graduation practice on May 28. As part of their request, the seniors pledged not to pull a senior prank or a senior skip day. The board unanimously approved their request. Chairman Adkins laughed as she reminded them that on their days off, they are to help their parents prepare for graduation. Adkins called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and led the board and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The board unanimously approved the meeting agenda as presented and the February 20 minutes as written.Board members present included Cristal Adkins, Chris Miller, Mark Weidemann, Dustin Tollefsrud, Jason Marquardt and Diane Wilder. Traci McKenzie-Livingood called in.Included in the consent agenda for approval were the 2023-24 budget, the claims report, an anonymous donation of $500 toward the M-C milk break program, and the generous gesture from Jean Happel, Mark Sikkink, and Steve Cremer who donated their winnings, totaling $300, from the senior raffle back to the class of 2024. The agenda received approval, and heartfelt thanks were extended to the donors for their kind contributions!Due to additional state dollars received by the school, the board approved hiring Ben Mohs as the school’s social worker. Mohs was one of three interviews, and he comes to Mabel-Canton with lots of experience. His start date is April 1, 2024.Superintendent Gary Kuphal announced that the Minnesota Legislature passed the READ Act, aiming for standardized training statewide. To adhere to this, Mabel-Canton staff suggested adjustments to the 2024-2025 school calendar to integrate READ training. While the state would cover costs for modules, books, and the three-hour live sessions, it wouldn’t compensate for the 22 preK-5 teachers and paraprofessionals’ time. The mandatory CORE training, totaling 48-50 hours, must be completed by June 2025. The board noted that requiring teachers to attend training after school hours would incur a cost of $25,080, while restructuring the calendar to allow for three additional days off for preK-5 (with 6-12 grades unaffected) would cost $13,875. The board opted for the latter, approving the three student days off. This decision will now be submitted to the staff development for final approval.The facilities committee requested that the board investigate a potential bond referendum. Kuphal said that there are two things “hanging out there” after the bond referendum four years ago because of the increases in prices due to COVID and there were a number of things that were included in the survey of the community that were never made onto the bond referendum. The board unanimously approved a $7,000 proposal from ISG (an architectural and survey company) to gather preliminary information about a referendum.The board unanimously adjourned the meeting at 7:11 p.m.The next school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16. Meetings start promptly at 6 p.m. and are held in Mrs. Peter’s science room, number 50. The public is welcome to attend. Future meetings dates are May 21 and June 18.</div></body>

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M-C Seniors Last Day is May 24

During the Mabel-Canton School Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on March 19, the seniors’ proposal to end their academic year on Friday, May 24, was unanimously approved by the board. The Mabel-Canton senior class officers, including Janessa Hershberger, Hayden Erickson, Izabella Gerleman and Colton Tollefsrud appeared before the board...

M-C Seniors Last Day is May 24

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