Verndale School Board: Planning to have graduation ceremony & Follingstad resigns
by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com
The Verndale School Board met virtually on April 6. Financial Report Business Manager Jordan Anderson relayed the Community Service Fund continues to increase. Anderson would like that fund to run close to the food service in the $60-$80,000 range and it’s sitting at over $93,600. Superintendent Paul Brownlow explained they will have revenue coming in from the city for summer rec and their preschool program. There are 16 families paying and they won’t be charged for April or May. They are waiting on direction from the Minnesota Department of Education(MDE), and may offer refunds which will bring the balance back down. Anderson asked if these funds could be used for the auditorium in some way. Brownlow suggested using funds for performing arts, possibly for different camps and summer school opportunities to help students get caught up. While funds can’t be used for building, they can be used for equipment. Meals Brownlow explained one of the big conflicting measures by the legislature has been what funding they will receive for food service. They instructed the school to run it just like they would for summer food so any student 18 years and younger would be eligible. Now they have been told, effective April 1, they need to be over 50 percent for free and reduced meals. They are at 49 percent and will send out some applications to families who may have lost jobs during this situation which would help them get over the 50 percent mark. . . .