BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth Area School Board looked at a couple of creative ways to use their federal ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds, during their regular meeting on Monday night.

One had to do with creating a new position for the district, while the other had to do with installing a new surveillance camera system in the elementary and middle school building.

BEA superintendent Mandy Fletcher explained the proposed new position would be a community outreach coordinator.

“This position would coordinate events, work with families – especially those new to the district – and help them connect with the school, and give all students and their families access to resources,” Fletcher said.

The position would be funded for two years using the ESSER funds, Fletcher said.

“After the two years the board could revisit the position and decide to fund it with district funds or end it,” she added.

Fletcher said she would like to advertise the position right away, if the board approved, and have someone hired by July 1.

“That way the person could get started before school starts,” Fletcher said. “And they could be heavily involved in planning the back to school kickoff event.”

The other use of ESSER funds would be to upgrade the surveillance camera system at the middle and elementary school, since the current system, Fletcher explained, was very outdated.

Two quotes for a whole new system were received. The board voted to go with the lower bid of $105,674 from Bevcomm.

In other business at Monday’s regular monthly meeting, the BEA School Board:

— Heard a report on the kindergarten classes from the four kindergarten teachers, and heard a report on the art classes in the elementary, middle and high schools, as well as the high school Art Club, from the two BEA art teachers.

— Discussed continuing to rent out the 40 acres of farmland the BEA School District owns south of the football field for one more year, and then using the land for ag classes and the FFA to use for instructional learning about ag.

— Discussed the possibility, with art teacher Sara Albright, of having a trained therapy dog in the BEA Schools for a couple days a week next school year.

— Approved a Food Service Management Contract, a School Resource Officer Contract, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BEA Education Association concerning summer teaching rates, and approved a referendum stating the intention of the district to sell a bus garage building in Delavan.

— Approved personnel matters including a leave of absence for Becky Anderson, a resignation from Keli Enser, a contract for Stacy Haase (technology coordinator), new hires Lindsey Norman (HS STEAM teacher), Spencer Monson (MS electives teacher), Betsy Monson and Sandra Malo (special education teachers), Lauren Sturtz (kindergarten teacher) and the retirement of Shar Stindtman.