Featured photo of Jan Malcolm, MDH Commissioner. State health officials are recommending all students, teachers and staff wear masks while indoors at school this fall. The CDC guidelines say all people 12 and older should get vaccinated for COVID-19, masks should be worn inside school buildings regardless of vaccination status, and those who are not…
Bemidji State University’s Niganawenimaanaanig Indigenous Nursing Program will continue to receive grant funding in its pursuit of supporting Indigenous student nurses and diversifying the nursing profession. The program, translated from the Ojibwe to “we take care of them,” was initially awarded a $2 million grant four years ago from the US Department of Health and…
The Bemidji School District will go forward with a referendum election. This would be a special election, and all voters within the district will receive a notification, according to district staffer Krissi Fenner. Fenner said the district receives about 60 percent of its revenue from the state, 4 percent from the federal government, and the…
The Bemidji School Board will further explore an operating referendum request during their meeting Monday. According to the results of a community-wide survey, the district is fairly confident that a referendum would pass. The last operating referendum that was approved was in 2014, which was a $180 per pupil, 10-year levy that supports day-to-day operations…
Bemidji State University’s multi-year tiny house project is now finished. The eco-friendly, student-built project started in Fall 2017 after BSU’s TAD students developed tiny house design concepts. After surveying BSU alumni to gather feedback on amenities, students began constructing under the guidance of Professor Tim Brockman. BSU’s sustainability office consulted often to ensure the final…
The Minnesota Legislature passed what it has called the biggest increase to e-12 education in the last 15 years, and Superintendent Tim Lutz says while the district is thankful for the increases, in the big picture, the district is still heading into financial trouble. The 2 percent per-pupil funding formula was increased, and Lutz said…
Assistant Bemidji High School Speech Coach Anna Hamann received her first coaching diamond from the National Speech and Debate Association. Head coach Tom Lucas recently achieved double diamond status, so both were recognized during a ceremony Sunday night. Lucas has been coaching BHS Speakers since 2006, and Hamann has since 2008. Beginning today, BHS Speaker…
The Summer Food Service Program will resume next week. Bemidji Area Schools Food Services is partnering with the US Department of Agriculture to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students 18 years old and younger. Seven locations will be providing lunches Monday through Thursday mornings, with a bundled meal offered Thursdays.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith is introducing legislation that would help high school students along the path to high demand fields, very similar to Bemidji High School’s Career Academies. Smith said that the bill would help districts that already have the framework, like Bemidji, to continue to do these programs with federal funding. Listen here for…
Eight teachers were re-hired by Bemidji Area Schools during their meeting Monday. District staff advised the board that thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan–the third round of COVID-19 related relief funding from the federal government– they were able to address class size concerns going into the next school year. One reading intervention teacher’s…
