North Star Schools

Acceleration tomorrow morning will meet at the school to start!

almost 3 years ago, Daniel Grande

ATTENTION! We are going to change the move date for the weight room to NEXT Thursday June 24th at 9:30. Again if anyone is available to help and/or wants volunteer hours please attend.

almost 3 years ago, Daniel Grande

Awesome news!! Our new weight room is about ready to be fully operational! That being said, I am asking that any students looking for volunteer hours, or community members willing to contribute, please come help move equipment from our current weight room to the new one. We will be meeting Friday June 18th at 9:00 am in the lobby of the school to start this process. The more people we have, the less time it will take. Thank you for your support of North Star Athletics!

almost 3 years ago, Daniel Grande

North School Update The North Star School is busy preparing for the upcoming 2021-22 school year and would like to give everyone a current update and review some of the things that have already happened. First off, the North Star School will continue to have a Health and Safety Plan for the 2021-22 school year. Our current plan, which was updated on May 19th, will be updated again before the start of the school year. The current plan is on the North Star School Website (https://northstarnd.sites.thrillshare.com/). Hopefully, the update before school starts will make things as normal as possible. Any input is welcomed and greatly appreciated. The North Star School has received Federal Dollars to help with costs that have occurred because of Covid, and we are in line to receive more Federal Dollars for this coming school year. Listed below are the grants and grant amounts. If the category is Highlighted, the school will be awarded those dollar amounts once the entire application process has been completed. The money that has been spent was published in earlier newsletters. Corps Grant: $90,384.00 Broad Band Grant: $931.67 Resiliency Grant: $99,753.00 ESSER I Grant: $65,272.00 ESSER II Grant: $246,623.00 ESSER III Grant: $553,879.00 There are guidelines and restrictions on what these dollar amounts can be spent on. Here is a link pertaining to that information (https://www.nd.gov/dpi/familiescommunity/nddpi-updates-and-guidance-covid-19/covid-19-funding/esser-iii-funding). The ESSER II Grant has a 2023 deadline for spending and the ESSER III has a 2024 deadline for spending. The other grants originally had a December 31, 2020, deadline for spending but it was extended at the last minute to June 30, 2021. Here is a list of items the dollars have been spent on: -Cleaning Supplies -Extra Employees -Technology (every student has individual access to an iPad or computer) -Air Purifiers in every classroom, the lunchroom, and gymnasium -Internet access for families that could not afford it -Desk guards -Staff pay for dealing with Covid -Backpack Sprayer -Face Coverings -Thermometers Two items that we have on order that ESSER money could potentially be used for are an activity/route bus and a new bell/clock/intercom system. Our current coach bus no longer has air circulation available. To fix the circulation issue, in a bus that is 22 years old and parts that are near impossible to find, would be expensive. Also, throw in the fact that the bus is 22 years old and there are other issues that certain to occur. This past school year we were unable to use our activity bus when the temperature fell below 20 degrees or rose above 80 degrees because of the circulation issues. The bus we have on order is yellow, so it could be used on a bus route as a spare, but it has the activity seats, underneath storage, and cold/hot air circulation to be used mainly for activities and field trips. The other item for possible ESSER money is a Clock/Bell/Intercom System. The current bell system (40 years old) went out in late February. The clocks were connected to the bell system and worked sporadically but had issues. The intercom works most of the time but there are parts of the building where it does not. All these things tied together, if not working correctly, create a safety issue. Installation of an UpToDate technology driven system will be installed this summer. We do need input from students, parents, staff, and patrons on possible items on which to spend the ESSER money. We are tied into spending 20% of the ESSER III on learning loss. The summer school we had, hiring another elementary teacher to reduce classroom size, and staff training will all fit into this category with other items to follow. We will continue to employee three extra ancillary staff members paid by ESSER money. Cleaning supplies and any technology updates that are needed will also be ESSER money. Updating the cement slab, to be used for an extra recess area, east of the school is also a possibility. There has also been some discussion on air conditioning in the gym and the south elementary rooms of the school. These are just a couple of things; the school is open to suggestions. Keep in mind these grants have guidelines that must be followed and must be tied to COVID. Discussion on these items will continue at the school board meetings throughout the year. The next two meetings are scheduled for July 21st and August 18th. Feel free to stop in the office, call the school, or send a text or an email. The North Star School appreciates everyone’s support, and we are all looking forward to a great 2021-22 school year. Go BEARCATS!