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“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition
Trojan boys take second at state Pages 10-13
Canton forgives over-run charges page
Monday, March 24, 2014
Forming habits for the better
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Volume 29 Issue 27
Rushford Village looks to projects page
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Houston students look forward to trip abroad page
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Canton l Chatfield l Fountain l Harmony l Lanesboro l Mabel l Ostrander l Peterson l Preston l Rushford l Rushford Village l Spring Valley l Whalan l Wykoff
R-P’s last legislative “hurrah” By K irsten Zoellner kirsten@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Members of the high school Professional Learning Community report to the Kingsland School Board. Pictured are left to right: Steve Tart, Paul Wilson, CJ Boerger, and Jennifer Orth. Photo by Barb Jeffers
Kingsland School District explores idea of additional bus route By Barb Jeffers barb@fillmorecountyjournal.com
The Kingsland School Board met on March 17, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. for its regular monthly meeting. All school board members were present. Consent agenda items approved included the board agenda, minute review of the February 19, 2014 meeting, March 2014 bills, policy review and policy adoption. The board also approved the contract for Principal Chris Priebe. In Public Thank You and Recognition the board recognized St. Jude’s Medical Hospital for a donation of $5,000 for the Robotics Team registration fee. A thank you was given to Pheas-
ants Forever and representatives Neal and Cindy Hinners for a $325 donation to the Trap Team. The Tootie Foster Scholarship was recognized for a $2,500 donation which goes to deserving seniors. State Farm Foundation and Ross Heusinkveld were recognized for a donation of $500 dollars. In Public Comments resident Lynn Kidd approached the board to ask if the school board would be discussing what the agenda or format will be at the Community Meeting Tuesday, March 25, 2014, to which Doug Plaehn replied, “It is not currently on our agenda.” The board then moved on to the next item of business. Kidd commented to the Fillmore County Journal that
he would like to urge residents to attend the Community Meeting on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the Kingsland High School Cafeteria. The FFA representatives reported that they have four teams going to state and two individuals. FFA week which included a barnyard, Ag Olympics, pancake breakfast, coloring contest and bowling was a success. Officer interviews for the 2014-15 team were held March 18, 2014 with a vote being held on March 20. The Chapter Banquet is April 21, 2014. The State Convention is April 27-29. In Spotlight on Education, 3rd grade teachers gave a presentation and discussed math See KINGSLAND Page 2
In a continuation of discussion from the March 11 work session, Superintendent Chuck Ehler again sought guidance for the direction of the district in regards to facility improvements and upgrades. In the last six years, R-P has gone through a series of task work sessions, task forces, a dizzying number of legislative testimonies, bonding tours, and a referendum vote which was split in the community. Now, the board is looking to make a recommendation to the community, but not before the district appeared before the House Education Committee March 19. “What direction do you want to go?” asked Ehler. There are currently two bills that could assist the district in funding, but there is little confidence in the outcome. There may be some relief for the district through debt equalization, but it is also
not guaranteed. Some funding is available from the district’s New School Initiative and potentially assistance through the Health and Safety Fund. “I still need to know exactly where the state is at,” responded board member Greg Smith. “I don’t know what to recommend to the public if you don’t have funding. We need to look at all options.” The district is contemplating a major overhaul to the existing facilities, which includes an elementary and high school facility in Rushford and a middle school facility in Peterson. “One problem we have is where do you start and where do you finish,” added board chair John Linder. “We still have an old facility. How much do you want to spend on it? It’s $14-15 million to do what we have to do. Every option is on the table at this point. We’ll know shortly whether or not there’ll be help See R-P SCHOOLS Page 9
Preston calls for hearing initiating TIF process with construction of the necessary infrastructure. The Preston karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com EDA wants to use a TIF district At the March 17 Preston City to help cover some of the cost. Council meeting a resolution The TIF district for the six was adopted to set a public hear- acre property would be capped ing on April 21 regarding a plan at nine years. City Administrato set up tax increment financ- tor Joe Hoffman noted that two businesses are seriously intering district (TIF) number 8. If an industrial park is devel- ested in this location. oped at the southwest corner Mike Bubany, David Drown of the intersection of Highway and Associates, would draw up 52 and Highway 16, there will the plan for the TIF district (estibe considerable costs associated See PRESTON Page 14 By K aren R eisner