Mary Amon News Today

The Willmar School Board approved a referendum, to be held on Nov. 7, when district residents will cast their ballots on two questions.

Voters will be able to decide whether to approve a new funding levy and separately a bond to build a new gym at the Willmar Middle School.

Nearly 50 students graduated from Willmar's smaller high school, the Area Learning Center, Thursday afternoon. Graduation for Willmar Senior High will be June 4.

Willmar Public Schools' meal program, particularly in elementary grades, has very high participation and that fact should help in planning for the fall, when Minnesota schools will provide meals to all.

Finding more physical education space at Willmar Middle School is proving difficult. School officials have proposed closing the pool, but not everyone likes that idea.

The Willmar Middle School pool may still close, but the School Board wants more information before a new gym is developed over a filled-in pool.

The need for paraprofessionals is prominent in area school districts, and they need teachers, coaches, drivers and substitutes of all types. It's a problem that affects school districts and many employers, particularly in Minnesota, which has four job openings for each unemployed person.

Willmar Public Schools has received an audit that indicates a strong position but concerns moving ahead and losing federal pandemic relief funds. The district also acknowledged gifts and donations totaling nearly $94,000.

A report on the annual audit and canvassing the vote from the Nov. 8 election are on the agenda for the Willmar School Board at 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Willmar Education and Arts Center.

Mary Amon, Randy Frederickson and Jay Lawton were re-elected to the Willmar School Board in Tuesday's election. They will serve four-year terms.