SHERBURN — The Martin County West School Board approved offering Chad Brusky the interim superintendent position until June 30. This was necessary due to the resignation of Superintendent Allison Schmidt. Brusky accepted the nomination and asked for help from all. The board also began plans to hire an assistant principal for the elementary building.

Dean of students, Michelle Baker, reported that the homecoming activities were successful and helped to melt some of the stress everyone feels due to changes at school with the pandemic. All the changes sometimes produce some learning loss and a morning math program has been helping with some of the loss of learning in math especially. The catch-up-day was a success and students actually thanked teachers for the extra time for help. Both Baker and Brusky mentioned the brainstorming and planning they are undertaking to add 30 minutes for the teacher’s preparation that was asked for by Governor Walz. They will have a plan by Nov. 30. They also mentioned the virtual parent-teacher conferences and the virtual book fair.

The board also discussed employment contracts approved for principals, pool manager, office staff, and preschool employees. They accepted with thanks the donations from the Sherburn Legion for books and Federated Rural Electric Coop Roundup for iPads for the ECFE and preschool and steps for the pool.

At Trimont the six-foot distancing and extra cleaning are viewed as very important for student and staff health. Brusky also mentioned the sports situation since he is the athletic director too. It has been hard to plan for tickets to games and they are thinking of going to the plan of allowing each athlete two tickets for each event and paying for them by asking those attending to put $5 in a collection instead of purchasing season tickets.

The six-foot distancing and 12-foot distancing from the playing surface for volleyball are driving forces in limiting the number of people at these events. This may be the basketball plan also.

The board and administration thanked the parents, community, teachers, and students for their commitment and support for the past three months of school and through this difficult time. “Together we are capable of keeping our schools a safe and welcoming place where students can thrive and excel,” Brusky said.