The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District plans to take a "business as usual" approach toward making up classroom time lost due to inclement weather.

The possibility of using virtual instruction to minimize lost "snow days" was discussed at the Oct. 19 school board meeting. Superintendent Patrick Carlin said H-M-S could make up lost time on the dates already scheduled, or online learning could be utilized as an alternative, especially later in the year.

Carlin said there would be issues with coordinating how and when online learning would occur, but it could be done.

"We need to be consistent," Board Member Ryan Haack responded. "We don't do virtual because it's convenient for us. We do what's better for our students."

"I'd just as soon stay with the standard snow days," Board Vice President Scott Vollink added.

Carlin said that conversations with area superintendents indicate that a majority of districts do not presently plan to operate with virtual snow days.

• Shared social worker considered

An area district offered to share the services of a social worker. According to discussion, that person would be scheduled one day a week at H-M-S.

Under state law, schools are eligible for additional spending authority for this type of sharing. Carlin said H-M-S would receive the equivalent of three additional students, or approximately $20,000.

"It will be about a wash if we do it," he noted. "This would essentially give us a free employee one day a week with the revenue this generates."

Carlin suggested that a social worker could work with a limited number of at-risk families or focus on other specific duties determined by the district.

"It's not costing us anything and we can opt out after Year 1," said Board President Scott Heetland.

The consensus was to pursue the matter further. Board members also asked to see the social worker's job description.

• Crowds, growth plans

In light of continuing COVID-19 positivity rates in O'Brien County, Carlin asked the board if H-M-S should consider limiting crowds for home basketball games.

"My concern about basketball is that it's tighter quarters and greater attendance," he said.

According to discussion, Fuller Digital Solutions currently broadcasts H-M-S athletic contests online and are being asked to expand that to include all school events.

Heetland said the online option gives those who feel vulnerable to the current situation another way to see games.

"I feel we don't have to change anything," he said. Other board members agreed.

The board learned that certified staff at the elementary are connecting their professional growth plans to H-M-S's professional development, and are also setting goals and developing specific steps to complete the plans.

Principal Cathy Jochims said the added goals "keep up a different level of learning for a teacher."

Elementary students tagged and released 63 monarch butterflies to begin their migration to Mexico. H-M-S is also applying to participate in a program that provides balance bikes and helmets to students. They would be used at the kindergarten level.

"Draw the Line, Respect the Line," is a refusal, role-playing curriculum geared toward sixth graders. It focuses on saying no to drugs and alcohol, and on relationships among those at that age level.

Principal Mark Dorhout said the middle school staff is still adjusting to operating in a new environment.

"It changes how we process everything," he said. "It's going well, but everything is new."

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic in terms of social distancing and virtual education also alters how the 5-8 building operates.

"It's always at the forefront of our decision-making," Dorhout said.

The number of people following H-M-S's Facebook page has consistently grown. Principal Nathan Hemiller said 180 people followed the page three years ago. That number grew to 495 in 2018-19 and to 719 last year. So far this year, nearly 1,000 people are following H-M-S on Facebook for updates on what's going on in the district.