Principal for a Day: Local Representatives Visit Verndale School
- 19 minutes ago
- 1 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
Two state lawmakers recently spent time at the Verndale School as “principal for a day,” hearing firsthand about successes in the district and mounting concerns about funding.
Representative Mike Weiner visited the school on December 9, and Representative Krista Knutson on December 18, after being invited by Principal Katie Bolland.
Superintendent Jeannie Mayer used the visits to showcase Verndale’s strengths and outline the district’s top legislative priorities.
The day included an overview of demographics, vision, core values, and big goals, classroom walk-throughs, and a debrief with the lawmakers about what they observed.
Verndale Public School serves approximately 485 students and provides a range of academic and support services within a rural setting. The district reports that 26% of students receive special education services, 0.4% are English Language Learners, and 1% are identified as homeless, with approximately 56% of students being open enrolled.
Staffing includes 43 teachers, two administrators, two licensed counselors, a part-time instructional coach, and 41 hourly support staff. The district also contracts specialized services through Freshwater Education District, including speech and language, psychological, therapy, vision, and business services...
