SHERBURN — One Monday evening at the Martin County West School Board meeting there was a presentation of the e-learning plan which is mostly the same as last year with some changes to improve the quality of the content taught and the assigned check in time with teachers. If the student is not present or cannot be present, the parents may call

and give the reasons. The student will not have a bingo type choice of many items but will need to choose items that fill each learning skill taught that day. The board agreed that it was hard to know if it would be school two hours late or an e-learning day at 6 a.m. when decisions have to be made. The teachers are not in the school building either so it is harder to do virtual learning but some aspects have been improved with teachers available by email or phone.

In further business, the Superintendent’s report included the information that a mailing will go out in September to all households in the school district concerning the building project. Any group wishing to receive a presentation about the building project should contact the school. Several have been planned so far.

A special career planning curriculum that is together with area businesses is planned with 100 businesses in the area contacted. It hopes to bring together the needs of the student and the needs of the businesses to help students entering the world of business when they graduate.

The principals reported that 2/3 of the registration is complete. The high school teachers are meeting with students and families. The Trimont school will enjoy the new math curriculum Bridges and CPM for 5th grade through high school.

Trimont and Sherburn Elementary anticipate candy bar sales in September to help with field trip and special events expenses. The elementary also improved the look of the courtyard although it is not used by students, the aesthetic value was raised. Community Education and Recreation report was pleased with the Park Play in the three communities with a good number of children participating. They are working on gymnastics and preschool sessions. They have a good number of participants in basketball and football skills sessions. They are always looking for coaches and assistant coaches for those sessions and the Advisory Committee is also looking for volunteers.

School Board members volunteered to attend one of the two meetings this week for agricultural landowners about the tax impact the building project will have.

In other news:

— The board accepted with gratitude donations of $,3000 from the Odell Wind Farm Community Fund to purchase swerve drive components for the robotics team and $100 from Joe Neppl to use for motors for the robotics team.

— The board approved hiring the following: ESP at high school, Morgan Bloomquist; cook at Trimont, Jessica Bohm; K-12 special education teacher, Samantha Chukuske; cook at high school, Krista Coners; coaches – Tom Elliot, head football coach; Adam Williamson, Carter

Wille, Dustin Faber and Adam Schom, assistant football coaches; Preston Preuss, Tyler Wille, Payten Crosby and Ryan Melkert, junior high football coach; Kyla Zehms, head volleyball coach; Jennifer Clow, assistant volleyball coach; Jennifer Oskerson and Alexandra Lange, B squad and C squad volleyball coaches; Hillary Elliot and Courtney Schulz, junior high volleyball coaches; and Stannetta Svoboda, cross-country coach.

— The board approved the pay scale per day presented with: teachers at $160, half day at $80; custodians at $13, ESP at $12.75, and food service at $12.

— Athletic Director, Tom Elliot, reported on the merger with Tomahawk Conference (some schools included are GFW, Springfield, 2 Sleepy Eye, Cedar Mountain-Morgan, New Ulm Cathedral and Wabasso) and the Valley Conference which lost St. Clair, Lake Crystal and

Mapleton. The board approved the two-year plan presented for the merger and will reconsider at that time depending on the success of the merger. The volleyball and basketball coaches were approving.

— The board approved the necessity of issuance of a general obligation bond and special election.

The next meeting of the MCW School Board is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.