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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Applied learning effort prepares students for trades, careers

Tom Klein
Posted 2/27/15

REGIONAL – Preparing students for careers in mining, forestry, health care and other vocational trades serves as the thrust behind the Applied Learning Institute, according to coordinator Roy …

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Applied learning effort prepares students for trades, careers

Posted

REGIONAL – Preparing students for careers in mining, forestry, health care and other vocational trades serves as the thrust behind the Applied Learning Institute, according to coordinator Roy Smith. Smith provided St. Louis County School Board members with an overview of the ALI and its mission at their regular meeting on Monday.

ALI was formed in 2006 to strengthen technical education in Minnesota by providing hands-on training and bringing new technology to schools.

ALI began its first pilot year offering technical courses at 16 school districts and five community/technical colleges in 2007-08. It has grown since then to provide programs in 17 northeast Minnesota school districts with 25 high schools and the five colleges of the Northeast Higher Education District. More than 1,500 students are currently enrolled in ALI programs from International Falls to Floodwood, according to Smith.

Smith said having a highly trained workforce is critical, with a number of skilled workers reaching or nearing retirement age. Minnesota currently leads the nation in preparing students for vocational careers and having that workforce available could lead to more economic development in the future. Smith said there are already $7 billion in economic development projects on the drawing board for northeastern Minnesota.

The St. Louis County School District offers ALI courses at all of its high schools and has plans to expand ALI offerings. In the meantime, it has leveraged about $37,000 in membership dues to ALI into $220,000 worth of equipment and other investments by ALI in its schools.

Board members voiced their support of the program, but board member Gary Rantala said one concern is the ability to obtained licensed vo-tech instructors. Smith acknowledged that is a concern and ALI is working to improve the situation.

In other business on Monday, board members:

•Heard from Superintendent Steve Sallee that the district was keeping tabs on legislation that might affect education. He expects to provide a more detailed report at a future meeting.

•Approved a change in the district’s Q-Comp program that will increase pay for mentors from $150 base pay and $150 for each person they mentor to $250 base pay and $250 for each person they mentor. In related action, the board approved the Q–Comp plan for 2015-16.

•Approved the disposal of an unused school car. The vehicle, which has more than 225,000 miles on its odometer and would require extensive repair work, will be sold for salvage.

•Approved a resolution to address concerns about the Indian education program raised by the district’s American Indian Advisory Board.

•Approved the elimination of the district office’s petty cash fund. The balance of $142 was deposited into the district’s general operating account in October 2014.

•Approved the strategic plan governance document.

•Approved a travel request by North Woods Choir teacher Marian Azzabi to take 27 members of the choir to the University of Wisconsin in Superior and the University of Minnesota in Duluth on Friday, April 24.

•Accepted the retirement of North Woods kindergarten teacher Deb Hill at the end of the current school year.

• Hired Mary Carlson and Kathleen Klassen as paraprofessionals at South Ridge.

•Accepted the resignation of Tower-Soudan paraprofessional Nicole Autio.

•Approved the terminations of South Ridge custodian Megan Vergin and North Woods custodian Chris Risberg.

•Accepted the resignations of North Woods assistant baseball coach Edward Chavers, Northeast Range assistant track coach Linda Kraines, Cherry assistant baseball coach Mike O’Bryan and South Ridge assistant track coach Katie Gokee.

•Approved additional time for the South Ridge dean, changing the position from a 0 .5 full-time equivalent to a 0.6 FTE.

•Placed the following teachers on special assignment for the 2015-16 school year: Kim Jirik as Q-Comp coordinator, John Jirik as dean of students at North Woods, Danny Boelk as part-time dean at Tower-Soudan and Jessica Bialke as part-time dean at South Ridge.