The Staples Motley School Board welcomed the new high school principal to the district and toured the renovations at the high school gym at their July 19 meeting.

Ryan Luft had been the middle school and high school principal at Southland School District since 2007. The district includes the communities of Adams, Dexter, Elkton, Johnsburg, Rose Creek, Taopi and their surrounding rural areas in southeastern Minnesota. He and his family are in the process of moving from Austin.

In his report during the meeting Luft told the board he has conducted a survey of the high school staff in an effort to see what their vision is for the school. He has also met with a few students.

Luft has reconfigured the high school office space to improve the flow of how he sees the office operating. He also has met with the office staff to discuss his schedule which includes being out of the office two days a week to observe in the classrooms. He told the board he wants to be “proactive” with issues as they arise and to keep the “focus on student performance.”

Jim Christoffersen, buildings and grounds supervisor, led the board on a tour of the renovation work at the high school gym after the meeting.

The old bathrooms have been taken out and the entrance area opened to create a large lobby area the width of the building. The new bathroooms had been roughed in.

The concession area was also defined. A new counter with a rolling door that can be locked will be installed.

The new flooring was expected to arrive last week. Pieces of the old floor are stacked in the cafeteria and are available for purchase.

The large center Cardinal emblem is expected to be auctioned at the All School Reunion Aug. 28 during Railroad Days.

In other business the board:

o APPROVED the list of extra-curricular coaches for the next school year with two abstensions. Brad Anderson abstained because he is on the list as a middle school golf coach. Ken Swecker abstained because he requested more information about the activities supervisor position held by Glen Hasselberg. Later in the meeting Activities Director Lynn Peterson said the title should probably be “event supervisor.” He will bring a list with the number of events and duties to the next meeting.

o HEARD a report from Natalie Linn, athletic trainer with Lakewood Health System about a concussion program she hopes to institute with student athletes. The program includes a symptom evaluation form with specific assessments, a baseline examination, an incident form and a list of activities a student must be able to complete before being able to return to competition. Peterson said he is working with Linn and with coaches to develop the process of who will be responsible for each segment of the plan.

o APPROVED the hiring of Sally Christenson as K-5 special education teacher at Staples Elementary.

o APPROVED the fee schedule for the next year with no changes from last year.

o APPROVED the physical education and health curriculum as presented at last month’s meeting.

o HEARD in the report by Jason Luksik, elementary principal, that summer school has begun with 121 students at Staples Elementary, 32 students at Motley Elementary and 48 students at the middle school. Kevin Olsen, middle school dean of students, later added that the special education summer school students in grades 6-12 were also at the Motley building.

o HEARD in Luksik’s report of a volunteer coordinator position being discussed with Lakewood Health System to get a process in place to train volunteers and do background checks.