by April Scheinoha
Editor

Lincoln High School students hope to get a Close Up view of Washington, D.C., and New York. At its meeting Monday, April 28, the Thief River Falls School Board heard a presentation about the hands-on civic education program.

Close Up provides students an opportunity to discuss key domestic and international issues with members of Congress and their staff; Washington, D.C., insiders; and other leading policy experts. They also attend small group workshops that encourage them to connect what they saw in Washington, D.C., to what they are learning at school. The students also have an opportunity to visit significant historical sites.

LHS senior Kayleen Hoglo spoke about the educational benefits of Close Up. She shared how it aided her while competing in the category of Discussion for the Prowler Speech Team. Hoglo noted the trip enabled her to ask questions of various Washington, D.C., insiders. She was then able to cite those sources while competing to solve the world’s current issues.

LHS social studies teacher Dale Rystad serves as the chaperone for Close Up. He said they hope to add New York to the itinerary. He said students would be able to go to the United Nations, tour Ground Zero and see a Broadway show. Adding New York to the trip will lead to three additional days and about $1,000 in cost. With New York included, the inclusive cost per student would be $3,140 for the trip, which would be slated for March or April 2026.

In years past, the Close Up trip was offered every year to LHS juniors and seniors. However, in the future, the trip will be offered every other year to LHS sophomores, juniors and seniors. Rystad noted this would allow students more time to fundraise.

School Board is expected to consider the trip at an upcoming meeting.

In separate motions, the School Board accepted the retirements of Diane Johnson and Julie Kragness, Title I teachers at Challenger Elementary School.

Johnson has been employed with the school district for 28 years. Previously, she served as a music teacher at the school.

Kragness has been employed with the school district for 24 years. Previously, she served as a classroom teacher at the school.

The board approved the administration’s recommendation to issue a contract for the 2025-26 school year to Dane Froiland. That contract resulted in tenure being granted. Froiland is the district choir director.

Board members approved the termination and non-renewal of the one-year only teaching contract of Will Anderson at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Anderson is a first grade teacher at CES.

Superintendent Dr. Chris Mills explained that the position was funded through a fundraiser. He said Anderson will have the opportunity to apply for any open positions in the district.

The board congratulated various individuals, including:
• Josh Watne, who accepted the position of Franklin Middle School principal, beginning in the 2025-26 school year.

• FFA students who qualified for state, including Dairy Cattle Evaluation – Alannah Fitzgerald, Alyssa Foster, Aveah Hanson and Kameron Pilcher; Floriculture – Quincee Bergee, Eileen Chen, Betsy Geiser and Daphne Lundberg-Cameron; Poultry – Brianne Ellison, Briley Olsonawski, Natalia Zoller and Samantha Zoller; and Crops – Ryan Flaagan, Kaleb Mehrkens, Casey Nelson and Rebecca Vogel.

• The Prowler Speech Team on their Section 8A championship. Section champions were Javyn Eidelbes in Prose, Brooke Drevlow in Great Speeches, Fitzgerald in Drama, and Venus Nicholson in Humor. Other medalists who moved on to state included Andraya Bakken in Storytelling, Hoglo in Discussion and Allison Johnson in Poetry.

• The LHS Chamber Orchestra for earning a superior rating at the Minnesota State High School League String Solo/Ensemble. Also earning a superior rating were soloists Shelby Green, Hoglo and Angela Li; and the duet of Green and Alora Green. Earning excellent ratings were soloist Bethany Crandall, the duet of Dawson Erickson and Li; the trio of Erickson, Dylan Lane and Ian Grzadzielewski; and the quintet of Sebastian Baltierra, Shelby Green, Gwenyth Hagen, Hailey Leatherwood and Mickaela Renwick.

The next School Board is scheduled Monday, May 12 at 6 p.m. at the School District Service Center.