September 27, 2021
The Star
Page 7
Policy
(Continued from Page 1)
want to keep kids in school and the doors open.”
After passage of the new requirements, Gourneau
added that vaccinated students and staff have “no wor—
ries” if they come into close contact with a COVID—pos-
itive case. He also said those who voluntarily wear masks
could also justify not being quarantined in a similar inci-
dent.
During discussion of the “what ifs” the principal added
that the school could find itself liable ifit’s not following
N.D. Department of Health’s COVID guidelines.
"There’s about 10,000 hypothetical situations,” said
Jim Odden, board member. “We’re not going to account
for each and every one of them.”
Odden moved and Knudson seconded to add mask re-
quirement to the Health and Safety Plan for 2021-2022.
Roll call vote: Boucher—no; Pederson-no; Letvin-no;
Odden—yes; Knudson—yes. Motion failed.
The school district has yet to implement its own
COVID testing, such as the Binax, which is being used by
other schools in Rolette County. The Binax test involves
a swab of the lower nostril. In a study prior to its FDA
approval, the test correctly gave a positive results 84.6
percent of the time. In the same study, it correctly gave a
negative result 98.5 percent of the time.
At last month’s board meeting, Sherwin shared letters
from several teachers with concerns regarding the re-
moval of the school’s the mask mandate, due to the
COVID-l9 Delta variant. The school’s revised Health
and Safety Plan for 2021-2022 removed the hybrid learn-
ing model and a portion of a mask requirement under cer—
tain conditions.
The board discussed several aspects of the matter in-
cluding concerns about the rising Delta variant of
COVID- l9 and not requiring masks.
There was also discussion on personal choice when it
comes to wearing masks and whether or not to require
masks for those under. the age of 12, who cannot receive
a vaccine yet.
Superintendent
(Continued from Page 1)
A couple days after the formal an-
nouncement, Sherwin said the deci-
sion to leave at the half-way point of
the 2021-22 term fit with his feelings.
“Sometimes you just know it’s
time, right?” Sherwin said. “While
COVID definitely put a strain on
schools, parents, students, and teach—
ers, it was physically and mentally
exhausting for administrators. Also
times change, this is my 37th year in
education. I actually student-taught
in Rolette so I can tell you how dif-
ferent teaching, parenting, and ‘the
world’ is now from my start.”
The superintendent added that R0-
lette School is currently full of new
Commission’s narrow vote decides vacation issue
By John Rosinski
Of The Star
A narrow vote to not extend vacation and personal
time highlighted last week’s regular county commission
meeting.
At issue was more than 50 unused hours of vacation
time for commissioner and county employee Archie Met-
calfe and employee Dennis Halvorson. County'employ—
ees are notified on their respective pay stubs how much
vacation time they have used and how much time is re-
maining, but Metcalfe acknowledged he wasn’t paying
attention. His cutoff date to use it or lose it ‘was earlier
this month.
Commissioner Allen Schlenvoght moVed to extend the
vacation time until December but the idea was met with
caution by commissioner Henry LaRocque.
“This could open up a can of worms and other em-
ployees could do something like this,” LaRocque said.
Commissioners Schlenvoght and Eldon Moors voted
to approve the motion while LaRocque and commissioner
Craig Poitra voted against the extension. Metcalfe ini-
tially opted to abstain from voting citing a conflict of in-
terest since he is also a county employee. The
commission started to talk about bringing in Rolette
County State’s Attorney Brian Grossinger to help settle
the issue, but then Metcalfe ended the debate.
“If I have to vote I vote no,” Metcalfe said. “It’s my
own fault and a mistake on my part.”
Metcalfe has-started using vacation time while he at-
tends commission meetings. He said he initially didn’t
take any time to try and avoid any conflict of interest con—
cerns, but said he’ll continue to use vacation time moving
forward.
District 9 Representative Marvin Nelson met with the
commission to discuss'the census and the impact it will
have on congressional districting and federal funding.
For years Rolette County was also a stand-alone con-
greSsional district. It was the only such county/district in
P
the state. After the most recent census showed a signifi-
cant decrease in population, Nelson said the District 9
may expand beyond the borders of Rolette County.
Nelson indicated state officials want each district to be
comprised of roughly 16,000 residents, or about 4,000
more than who currently reside in Rolette County. Nelson
added the expansion could occur to the west and include
Bottineau,the east to include Langdon, or the south to in—
clude Rugby.
Nelson explained the redistricting will be announced
sometime in November.
“It’s really a disastrous deal for the county,” Nelson
said in reference to the most recent census data. “Were
stuck .with this for now.” '
Nelson said county officials could appeal for a new
count in‘ a few years but it would be at the‘cost of the
county. He added Williams County conducted a recount
a few years ago following a steep increase in population
due to the oil boom. .
Local census officials have said the county was un-
dercounted for a number of reasons. Chief among them
was packets used to record residents were not sent to post
office boxes. The change affected several residents liv—
ing on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation.
Another contributing factor was COVID-19, which
impacted how much outreach officials could conduct.
Lastly, the board heard an complaint from Becky
Gustafson involving the removal of some dirt from a sec—
tion line near St. John. '
Armed with legal documents and highlighted opin-
ions, Gustafson argued the county stole some dirt and she
wanted it returned.
Commission chairman Eldon Moors said the county
was in compliance when it removed some dirt from be—
neath a section line. A
No action was taken on the matter but Grossinger is
expected to study the issue and bring a recommendation
to the board at an upcoming meeting.
staff members and board members.
“I felt it was time for the school to go
in a direction that I may be hesitant
with,” he said, adding the mantra of
“old dogs don’t learn new tricks,”
mentality could posSibly hinder
progress. .
Sherwin said the onset of COVID
during the last school year and its
persistence into the 2021-22 term
also played a role in the decision.
“I triedto be neutral regarding
COVID,” the superintendent said. “I
don’t believe health issues should be
made into a political issue. Nation-
ally it has become sadly intertwined.
If COVID had any part of my deci-
sion to retire, it would be for that rea-
son. l don’t see politics,I see faces of
students and staff.” ‘
Rolette School did have a recent
issue surrounding the coronavirus
and debates at board meetings re-
garding policies and procedures
going forwardsAs with many Schools
around the country, masks were an
issue that at times divided the board
and district patrons. ’
Sherwin called the last few
months “challenging” and “tough.”
He said recent school board meetings
made him realize that there was
never going to be a good time to re-
tire.
“The time was right. Things
seemed tough, yet the school is in a
good place with staffing, money, and
Mr. (Levi) Gourneau, the new prin-
cipal,” Sherwin said. “I’ve worked in
five school districts, two states and
taught seven different grades. I’ve re—
placed staff and I’ve been replaced.
Rolette School will be just fine.”
Sherwin also emphasized that the
choice to leave mid-term was his
alone. “This was strictly my decision,
and I know the board was somewhat
surprised,” he said. “It wasn’t my in-
tention to finish mid—year, but I thank
them for understanding that it was
time.” *
Sherwin did hit the “rule of 85”
which adds his years of experience
and age when it comes to retirement
limits for educators. “I hit that a cou-
ple of years back,” he said.
As Sherwin prepares to depart he
said the school will face some chal-
lenges in the years ahead, most of all
enrollment issues.
Learn more: utma.com
Wade Sherwin will be Rolette School’s superintendent until
December 31, when he will officially retire.
along the southern edge of Rolette
County, near a current wind farm lo-
cated in northern Pierce County. It
would have an approximate 12,000—
acre footprint with as many as 47 tur—
bines. Original plans called for each
turbine to provide 2.2 kilowatts of
energy but that could be significantly
increased thanks to changes in tech-
nology.
In addition to the potential sale,
. Wind Towers
(Continued from Page 1)
currently owns one half of the proj-
ect while E-Power owns the other
half. Together, the venture is entitled
Rolette Power Development.
Adding to Rost’s enthusiasm is an
energy sector that he described as
one that is on the rebound.
“The market has gotten very com-
petitive again,” Rost said. “We’re
able to compete with all other forms
of energy.”
Lastly, Rost said it is too early to
know for sure how much employ—
ment could be created if the wind
farm moves forward. He explained it
would create some full time posi-
tions, but that won’t be known until
more details are finalized.
“This is showing a lot of promise
and we look forward to sharing more
information as soon as it becomes
available,” he said.
“For the first time in years, the
school has a bell curve in its student
population,” Sherwin said. “The
larger classes are in middle school
and freshman classes. The elemen—
tary has small class sizes, and that’s a
sign of many rural North Dakota
schools.”
The superintendent said the
school’s ability to educate its .stu-
den‘ts’aiid provide quality aetiViti’és‘i‘S’
not in question, given the districts
achievements in both categories dur—
ing the past few decades. He credited
the commitment of both students and
staff for those accomplishments.
However, the dropping enrollment
numbers have Sherwin concerned for
the future. “Being able to teach a
class of under 10 may be a teacher’s
dream, but it is an administrator’s
nightmare,” he said. “Those numbers
can’t pay all the bills indefinitely.”
Sherwin recalled knocking on
doors a dozen years ago in Rolette,
introducing himself to families who
were sending their children to other
schools and encouraging them to en—
roll locally.
“The school numbers jumped dra-
matically. For a couple of years we
had over 175 kids,” Sherwin said.
“That was big, but it wasn’t so much
me as it was me being able to sell the
staff. Rolette has and had some
amazing teachers and support staff.
The greatest achievement is the peo-
ple I’ve been able to bring into the
school to teach .‘my kids.”’
Sherwin said it’s those kids that
he’ll miss the most after December
31. Ironically, the class of 2021
started kindergarten. in Rolette during
his first year at the school.
“That was a milestone. They
started and ended with me being a
pivotal person in the school,” Sher—
win said. “If I only focused on the
kids, I’d never retire.”
Recalling an interview. from years
ago, Sherwin said a Student in the
school quoted him as saying, ““I
loved teaching; I liked being princi-
pal; but I’m the superintendent.”
The superintendent’s job, how-
ever, is administration of the school
“and Sherwin said the‘challen’ges that
came with the position were difficult
at times. He said his evaluations
showed he was capable, but his heart
was and will always be the students.
“We’ve had to deal with sporadic
(reductions in staff). When money is
tight and student numbers are small,
we had to cut positions for the reason
of balancing books,” Sherwinsaid. “I
helped keep the school in the black,
but there were some stressful chal-
lenges to do so.”
From an emotional standpoint,
i Sherwin said the loss of a staff mem-
ber'and student during his tenure
were the “hardest days ever” at the
school “Gymnasiums are to be for
sports and plays and laughter. Sadly
we’ve opened those doors to say final
goodbyes,” he said.
After December 31, Sherwin is
considering writing a book, detailing
portions of his 37 year career in edu—
cation which has lefthim with “lots
of memories” and stories he thinks
are worth sharing.
“I may need to change names to
protect the innocent/and not so inno-
cent, but I’ve seen a lot,” the superin—
tendent said. “I’ve experienced a lot
from baby possums for show-n-tell to
kids crawling out of windows to es—
cape. All in all it’s been a good run. It
was definitely a career and not a job
so I was one of the very fortunate.”
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Border Power has also extended
lease agreements with landowners
for another three years. Rost indi—
cated the extension gives officials an
opportunity to continue to pursue the
wind farm.
Additional facilities could include
new gravel access roads and im-
provements to existing roads; under—
ground electrical collection and
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Border Power has also partnered
up with M-Power, LLC, which is lo-
cated in Finley, and operates a wind
farm in that area. Border Power LLC
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