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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
Two teams, each consisting of five NRHEG “ProStart” students, were among 18 teams which took part in state-level competition at St. Paul RiverCentre on March 14.
Both teams received positive feedback from the panels of judges evaluating the appearance, flavor, cooking skills and menu design of their work. Among the 90 students participating, NRHEG junior Peyton Curtis was one of four recognized in the “knife skills” category. Each of the winners received a set of five culinary knives. Curtis explained that judges watch for smooth, even cuts made in compliance with expected safety techniques and which lead to consistent, equal-sized finished pieces. His words were “precision, consistency, and form.”
When asked why “knife skills” was important enough to be its own category, Curtis said, “I think it’s because you can’t be a really good cook unless you have good knife skills. It’s one of the first steps to preparing good food.” Curtis mentioned that he frequently cooks at home, and perhaps that practice was helpful to him in catching the judges’ attention.
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By TRISTAN GEHRING
Staff Writer
The Pines Retreat Center along Highway 30 east of Ellendale is now officially open, and started taking bookings at its open house the afternoon of March 9. Approximately 165 people attended the open house. The crowd consisted of area residents and out-of-state visitors. The establishment’s first retreat date is booked for April. In 2023, Bev and Jim Dobberstein purchased what was once the Whispering Pines Supper Club, which had since been renovated into a house. The main building has now become The Pines, a retreat center for crafters of all stripes. Bev Dobberstein explains that, since she is a quilter, many of the stations are very suited to quilting tasks. However, she welcomes all ages, crafts and levels. The only limit is the crafters’ imagination.
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After nine years of service, SaraJo Vulcan is leaving her position as Assistant City Administrator in New Richland to become Deputy City Clerk in Janesville. “It wasn’t an easy decision to get a new job,” she said of her time in New Richland, citing career growth as the reason she ultimately made her choice. About her new job, she says, “It’s exciting for career advancement - I’ll be learning more about city government.” Vulcan is pictured receiving a plaque from with Mayor Chad Neitzel. Photos by Tristan Gehring
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Meeting room filled to capacity; sixth-grade staff cut may lead to class sizes of 30 students
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
NRHEG School board members voted in reluctant favor of proposals to reduce teaching staff for the 2024-25 school year during their regular meeting the evening of March 18. The Ellendale media center had no open seats as the board voted not to renew the contracts of non-tenured kindergarten teacher Nicole Seberson and high school math teacher Randy Muske; to reduce the third-grade teaching staff by one individual; and to place only two teachers in charge of next year’s sixth-graders, leading to potential class sizes of about 30 students–at least 10 more per classroom than are currently together.
The vote to reduce the sixth-grade staff was especially reluctant, with three of the seven board members responding “nay.”
Five individuals’ statements were shared during the public comment portion of the evening’s meeting. Teacher Mark Domeier urged board members to “walk a mile” in the middle school teachers’ “shoes” before finalizing a decision to reduce sixth-grade teaching staff.
Current sixth-grader Emily Delacruz told board members that students her age “get noisy” and “have a hard time sitting still.”
She went on to say that, as difficult as it might sometimes be to concentrate this year, she has trouble picturing what it would be like with “another 10 to 14 students in our rooms.” She asked, “Why do [next year’s sixth-graders] deserve less support than we have gotten?”
Fifth-grade teacher Marcus Fischer could not be present at the meeting, but sent written notes to be shared by fellow elementary instructor Jennie Bunn. He expressed concern about whether, with the big move from the elementary to the secondary building, and with a significant number of students who are not “at grade level” in reading and/or math, “I hope you think of other ways to make reductions that are not directly impacting the success of our students.”
Recognizing that the administration’s recommendation to retain two teachers at the sixth-grade level is based on the fact there are currently only 58 students in the group, Fischer’s statement concluded, “I see more than a number. I see 58 students who need all of our support to have the best chance to succeed.”
Angela Gehrke told board members she was speaking in a two-fold capacity, both as the mother of two boys about to advance into sixth grade, and as a substitute teacher who sometimes supervises sixth-grade classrooms.
She shared that one of her sons has already asked to be home-schooled if he would otherwise be assigned to a class of 29 students. “My 11-year-old recognizes that is too many kids,” Gehrke said. “Shouldn’t the adults making decisions think about this very seriously?”
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Progress continues on Ellendale Mural
Artist Chandler Anderson works on the “meat and potatoes” of the new Ellendale mural: three of the town’s most revered residents. The 12-foot-by-10-foot mural is being painted inside, then will be installed this summer in the outdoor community garden. Anderson will add buildings, a train, and more detail before finishing the piece later this month. Photo by Kay Fate