SHERBURN– The Martin County West School Board meeting on Monday night began with an audit report from a representative of Eide Bailly company. The numbers were very close to last year’s budget. The proposed levy will be $724 per student which is .83 percent more than last year. The general fund was the only one that had a proposed higher amount than last year at more than $1 million.

Superintendent Cori Reynolds reported that enrollment was 668 which is down 11 students. She also reported that 5five students and 13 staff are positive for COVID right now. High school principal Michelle Baker reported that they are working with staff and students needing quarantine protocol to help them keep up the work and to not be penalized for being unable to be present at school.

She also talked about a community action program that will work on action projects. In January, the process about what to offer next year will be started. In response to a question from the board, she stated that registration information is sent home with the

students and the student and parents decide the best plan for the student.

Elementary principal, Autumn Welcome, reported the fun things that they did this week and that the food drive in Trimont was a record success with the fourth grade winning extra time at special events at school.

The CER report included a new preschool teacher, Jordan Neduzak, who is working out very well. The first adult program ’Sharks in the Water’ was well attended and very helpful. The board also discussed the former Welcome School building and the committee or task force proposed to open opportunities for proposals and create a timeline for action. The board agreed that residents in that area and the Welcome City Council should have representatives on the task force. Discussions about listing the building with real estate agents, demolition and the asbestos problem, re-opening possibilities, and assessment responsibilities/liabilities were held. The board agreed that the next step was to form a task force and timeline for action. They approved the Building and Grounds Committee motion to form a task force to make recommendations with the object to offer the building for sale by May 30, 2022. A question about the engineering assessment responsibility from the audience attending the meeting was answered that there is a baseline of the needed repairs, etc. from the time the building was closed but time has passed since then and an additional assessment would be needed. The meeting ended with Christmas greetings all around and a reminder that school resumes on Jan. 3, 2022. The usual date for the school board meeting would fall on a holiday in January so the date will have to be determined for the next meeting.