With some technical difficulties, the Perham-Dent School Board met remotely Wednesday, April 22, via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Discussion about graduation and prom for the senior class of 2020 dominated the meeting. The school board wants to honor the graduating seniors, and they are still working on a plan on how to do so. Graduation exercises were set to take place on May 22. The board discussed the possibility of video of the commencement speakers for the graduating seniors, allowing families to schedule 15-minute sessions at the school to take photos, and then having a commitment ceremony with as many participants as possible during summer. However, the possibility of prom being pushed back into the summer seems highly unlikely.
- Superintendent Mitch Anderson reported that distance learning is going well. The schools are prepared if the school year ends with distance learning.
- The 549 Family Foundation is generously covering the cost of the senior tribute signs that will soon be going up around town to honor the graduating seniors.
- The school breakfast and lunch program served 11,194 meals from March 18 to 31, and 25,301 meals from April 1 to 22. As the Perham-Dent district is an open site they are able to provide all children, regardless of school or free and reduced status, up to age 18, with breakfast and lunch. The meals have been provided in a grab-and-go style and have been unique each day.
- In May the board will decide if spring coaches' salaries will be paid or not. Coaches' salaries are already part of the school budget if school resumes and spring sports are able to start coaches will be paid in June as usual. However, many of the coaches have been giving their student-athletes daily at-home workouts to do and remotely checking in on the welling of the students. With the coaches' salaries already in the budget and the dedication to the students that the coaches have shown through this crisis there is still a possibility that returning coaches will be paid for the season.
- The board passed a resolution allowing them to meet remotely over teleconference during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The next regular school board meeting is Wednesday, May 13.
