Industrial arts and CTE classes discussed by Herreid School Bd.


The Herreid School Board received reports from CEO Lance Vander Vorst about his meeting with the Herreid Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) and a recent Wolverine sports cooperative meeting at their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 15.

At the invitation of HEDC President Kevin Wientjes, Vander Vorste had attended a recent HEDC meeting to review the industrial arts and consumer and technical education (CTE) classes that the school district offers. The HEDC noted current and future needs in the community, including in areas such as electrical, plumbing, auto body work, carpenters, etc.

At the meeting, Vander Vorste shared some background as to why “shop” classes had almost ceased to exist in the district a few years ago. He noted the shift in graduation requirements as set forth by the state, with an emphasis on four year university education and/or preparation for state-mandated standardized testing, as one reason for the decline.

He also said that student interest in the program at that time had declined and that there was a lack of qualified teachers in the industrial arts field. He also added that prior administrations had not focused on reviving the industrial arts program.

Vander Vorste said that recent school boards, including the current school board, expressed an interest in reviving the industrial arts, industrial technology and CTE classes. “They considered it a high priority,” he stated.

That new emphasis resulted in more student interest in the programs, and recent graduates began going to technical and trade colleges to get degrees in related fields. Current and recent administration and academic counselors also made industrial arts and CTE classes a focus of the district’s curriculum. Those programs also received renewed interest from the parents and other community members.

Vander Vorste said the Herreid School District has done several things to bring back the industrial arts and CTE classes, including adding two class periods to the school schedule and utilizing a modified block schedule to allow time for those classes. The district also added a school requirement of CTE classes for all students in grades 6-11.

The district hired an additional CTE/industrial arts instructor and also utilized alternative certification methods to allow current CTE instructors to teach even though they may not have a teaching degree.

The district has put a renewed focus on informing students about technical colleges and the related job market opportunities that are available. As an example, some students from the district had just toured the North Dakota State College of Science at Wahpeton, N.D., to see first hand classes that are available and related job opportunities. They have also allowed students to “job shadow” businesses in the community and/or promoted “work to school” opportunities.

Vander Vorste said the community has been extremely supportive of this new emphasis in various ways, including donations to school organizations such as the FFA chapter. “We have received a lot of ‘Thank yous’ from community members concerning the new emphasis on industrial arts and CTE programs,” he stated.

“It’s really good for both the school and community if Herreid High School graduates either stay here or come back following trade school to work in or start a new business,” Vander Vorst concluded.

Vander Vorste noted some highlights from the Wolverine co-op meeting that was held Dec. 8, including:

• There will be one awards program, which will be held in Selby this year, as it is their turn in the rotation.

• Trey Sayler, Trevor Sayler, Tray Hettick, Brandon Begeman and Chance Gregg were all recognized as being All-State Football selections.

• The possibility of adding basketball cheerleading was discussed. The co-op board was in favor of allowing basketball cheerleading as a co-op activity, and the idea will be brought to each individual school board for possible action.

• The South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) is considering adding girls fast pitch softball as a state sanctioned sport. SDHSAA will hold further discussions on the proposal at a future meeting.

In other business, the board:

•Heard that the Herreid School Board had been awarded the Silver Level Board Award from the Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD) for the past school year.

• Received a letter of resignation from Clayton Randall for the Junior High boys basketball position. The board moved to accept the resignation. Selby Area School Superintendent Lenny Schroeder had expressed interest in the position, and the board moved to approve hiring Schroeder as the Junior High boys basketball coach.

• Heard that Gov. Kristi Noem has proposed a six percent increase in K-12 public school funding for next year, as well as $17 million for SD technical schools to focus on workforce training. The proposals will be discussed in the 2022 legislative session that begins in January.

• Reviewed the possibility of basketball cheerleaders as discussed at the recent sports cooperative meeting. Six girls from Selby Area were interested, but no girls from Herreid had expressed interest in the program. Following discussion the board moved to approve allowing cheerleaders for the Wolverine home basketball games for this year and to hire Annette Hein as the cheerleading advisor.

• Discussed options for the vision and dental insurance that is offered to staff members. When the district switched health insurance providers a year ago, the old vision and dental policy through VSP had inadvertently been continued for the district. Staff members who use the insurance had recently compared the VSP policy with the policy that is offered through the new insurance provider and agreed they would prefer to stay with the VSP policy. Following the discussion the board moved to approve offering the VSP policy.

• Approved two new open enrollment applications. Each one was for one student.

• Heard from Business manager Wayne Hanson that several staff members wanted to thank the board for paying for their Christmas meal. CEO Vander Vorst also reported that staff members wanted to express their appreciation to the board for developing the sick leave bank. Some staff members have used days allowed through the sick leave bank.

• Set the next regular board meeting for Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 8 p.m.

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