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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Ely, St. Louis County districts talk collaboration

Keith Vandervort
Posted 6/20/19

ELY – School board members here met last week with representatives from the St. Louis County School District to discuss possible “bottom up” collaboration options to enhance educational …

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Ely, St. Louis County districts talk collaboration

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ELY – School board members here met last week with representatives from the St. Louis County School District to discuss possible “bottom up” collaboration options to enhance educational opportunities for students in both districts.

ISD 2142 superintendent, Reggie Engebritson, and school board member Chris Koivisto met with ISD 696 board members last Wednesday to talk about educational experience enhancement and teacher-sharing options, rather than “top down” administrative leadership or district-office sharing. The discussion was a continuation of collaboration efforts initiated this spring by Ely board members to tap into available funding by the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation for a facilities renovation project that could cost as much as $12 million, and require a voter-approved bonding referendum.

Earlier this spring, Ely officials listened to lobbyists Gary Cerkvenik, Jeff Anderson and St. Louis County Commissioner Paul McDonald on the importance of superintendent-sharing and collaboration efforts with other Iron Range school districts that could catch the attention of IRRR officials when it comes to disseminating funding.

Marsnik and Abrahamson then met with their counterparts, Engebritson and board chair Dan Manick at ISD 2142, to gauge interest in an administrative-sharing concept. The idea received a cool reception from many members of the ISD 2142 board. Several members of the ISD 696 school board also questioned the wisdom of working with an absentee superintendent.

Abrahamson said both school districts “moved beyond” the superintendent-sharing idea and other “top down” initiatives. “There is the option of collaborating from the bottom up, and that could take quite a long time, six months to a year, to flesh out,” he said. He proposed an arrangement where both districts would capitalize on their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.

“We have been very deliberate about not wanting to cut staff,” Abrahamson continued. That is not the intent. The intent is to broaden opportunities for kids.”

Koivisto, who represents ISD 2142’s Babbitt and Embarrass attendance area, said some sharing with ISD 696 is already happening, including a German teacher, and swimming and hockey activities. “To be honest, sharing a superintendent is not on our menu right now,” he said, “based on our already sharing a superintendent with Mt. Iron-Buhl.”

Koivisto noted that Northeast Range and the Tower Elementary also already share a principal. He was more in favor of sharing individual courses with ISD 696. “We all have a limited number of students, but we too are trying to enrich their opportunities,” he said.

Marsnik noted that career academies are gaining in popularity in Virginia, Eveleth and Hibbing. “That’s where the trend is and should be one of our major areas of emphasis when two districts get together,” he said. “We don’t have the resources nor the students to do that on our own, and you are probably in the same position. This could benefit both districts.”

Omerza pointed out that he heard from discussion with Cerkvenik that collaboration monies from IRRR should be based on bottom-up rather than top-down options. “We should focus on helping the kids and expand their offerings,” he said.

Engebritson said both districts already share staff training and principal meetings to look at common schedules and ways to work together. “Teacher-wise, we have been coming together for professional development for the past six years to cross boundaries and get to know each other,” she said.

ISD 696 board members Rochelle Sjoberg and Heidi Mann both stressed their opposition to sharing a superintendent with another school district. “I really don’t think we need to spend any more time worrying about that,” Mann said.

Marsnik said the two school districts are in competition for kids and Ely has to “take a hard look at curriculum or we’ll be losing kids. We’re going to have to do something, and if we work together we can offer more.”

Engebritson responded, “Let’s keep talking.”