by April Scheinoha
Editor
The Thief River Falls School District may be going back to the future when it comes to driver’s education. At its meeting Monday, Aug. 25, the Thief River Falls School Board heard about discussions for the district to take over driver’s education from Northwest Service Cooperative. Years ago, it was the cooperative that took over such responsibilities from the district.
The cooperative only offers driver’s education to students in the Thief River Falls School District. Superintendent Dr. Chris Mills said it has at times offered Behind the Wheel to students from other districts.
The current driver’s education teachers plan to retire soon, and two Thief River Falls teachers plan to be trained to offer driver’s education. The cooperative and the district are splitting the $5,000 to train each teacher.
Mills said the cooperative wants the district to take back the program if it works for the district. He added that it costs about $50,000 to operate the program, which cash flows. Discussions are expected to continue.
Mills provided a summary of a visit to the Moorhead High School Career Academy. Mills, Lincoln High School Principal Kayla Lian, Agriculture teacher Katie Shaw and Industrial Technology teacher Matt McGlynn toured the facility, which provides career and technical education.
The district is working on a possible endowment for career and technical education, Mills said.
School Board Clerk Mike Spears talked about the need for bus drivers. Spears, who drives school bus for the district, noted the district is again experiencing a shortage of bus drivers. As a result, both mechanics will be driving school buses again.
Erin Wayne, LHS science teacher, outlined plans for her environmental science students to participate in River Watch. As part of the program, the students will take water samples in the Thief River and Red Lake River watersheds. They may test for such things as dissolved oxygen, water temperature, conductivity, pH and turbidity. Water samples will be taken once a month over a three-month period. The district previously participated in this program, which is sponsored by the Red Lake Watershed District.
“It really is a terrific program,” said Mills, who noted it may set some kids on the path toward careers in natural resources.
Shaw presented details about a recent nine-day student trip to Italy. As part of the sustainable agriculture tour, the group toured cattle farms, a vineyard, a cheese-making facility, a fruit orchard and processing facility, and an olive grove. The group also participated in a pasta-making class. Afterward, the group ate the pasta. Besides touring Italy, the group also had the opportunity to spend some time in Monaco.
Shaw spoke highly of the students who attended the trip. “They met and exceeded our expectations everywhere we went,” she said.
Shaw hopes to bring students to Ireland as part of another agricultural trip in summer 2028. If the trip were approved, current freshmen and sophomores would be first given the opportunity to attend the trip to Dublin, Kilkenny and Galway to see such things as oyster and seaweed farming. Current eighth graders may also be given the opportunity.
The 10-day trip is estimated to cost $5,000 per student. A minimum of six students are needed in order to have the trip. The board is expected to consider the trip at a future meeting.
The board accepted the retirement of Kristy Hanson. Hanson has been employed as a special education paraprofessional at Challenger Elementary School for 25 years.
School Board congratulated and welcomed 2025-26 student school board representatives Mika Bernier, Ellie McDermott, Kaleb Mehrkens and Ike Olson. Bernier and McDermott provided an update on student activities. Bernier noted that LHS has moved to a new schedule this year in which it uses block schedules Wednesdays and Thursdays.
McDermott provided an update on Key Club. The service organization assisted with Haircuts for Kids in which 16 haircuts were provided by two hairstylists. Key Club also provided helmet safety tips at the Pennington County Fair and, along with the National Honor Society, it provided tours to freshmen and their parents during freshmen orientation.
Mills complimented the support provided to the Back to School Night hosted by Challenger Elementary School, Nexus Church and the Free Church. He called the community support unbelievable. The community provided free clothes and school supplies. A free meal was also provided to attendees.
The next School Board meeting is scheduled Monday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at the District Service Center.