Nome Schools continue to deliver education in person

The Nome School Board met on Tuesday, Nov. 10 and dealt with a number of issues, some related to the COVID-19 pandemic and some not. They passed three action items. The first was the approval of the audit for the 2019 to 2020 school year. The district got a good audit. The second action item was the approval of the Board of Education District Priority for 2020 to 2021. This helps the district identify priorities for the school year. It passed unanimously. “I’d like to say I feel like this is a historic year because we’re prioritizing our Inupiaq immersion program,” said Board Vice President Barb Amarok. “Something like this couldn’t or wouldn’t have happened for many years during the past. I’ve very excited that we’re doing this.”

The third item was a district-wide re-keying project. The contract goes to Able Locksmith as vendor at an estimated cost of $33,000. It was also approved.

The meeting began with an approval of October’s disbursements in the amount of $1,459,033.47.

Students of the Month are Atlas Boeckmann at ACSA, Cory Wells at Nome-Beltz Middle School and Sheldon Kunayak Ozenna at the high school. October Teacher of the Month is Gracie D’Antonio. Support Staff Member of the Month is Toby Higginson.

In the superintendent’s report Jamie Burgess announced that they are making progress on the teacher apartment building.

In the principal’s report Lisa Leeper of ACSA reported they are having an open enrollment period to for fifth grade applications. “At the beginning of the year there were quite a few changes to enrollment with students going to home school and virtual school,” she said. “That left us with openings. We couldn’t go into the school and talk to the kids like we normally do.” At conferences this year, teachers wanted to see the parents in person and were gratified that they were able to meet most.

NBHS Principal Jay Thomas was next up. “Stephan (Anderson) talked about us doing the best we can to not make this feel like a year that’s not real,” said Thomas. “That’s one of the challenges that we gave to our senior class is that this is their senior year. We want to do as many things as we can to make that grade, and not use COVID as an excuse to just coast along. I think they’re being challenged equally if not more than they have been in the past. This senior class is doing an outstanding job academically and we’re real proud of that,” Mr. Thomas said.

He reported some of the students who were having trouble before the pandemic are struggling now as well. The school had an assembly with correct social distancing for Indigenous Peoples Day. They are short handed in staff with special education positions they haven’t been able to fill. That puts more pressure on the SPED staff members. And there are maintenance positions that need to be filled. He praised the volleyball team for being able to play. They were the only school in the region to do so. The cross country team ran time trials until the final mass start race. Four runners went to the state meet at Kincaid Park in Anchorage and ran well. E-sports is growing with more students wanting to try it. “They’re not just winning right now,” he said. “They’re winning big. That is a skill that is transferable in today’s workplace.” Over 50 percent of the parents came participated in Parent-Teacher conferences recently. Because of COVID it was not possible to have the Halloween Junior Carnival. The idea came up to sell Carnival in a Box and $5,000 dollars was raised, more than is usually raised by the carnival itself. “The work the junior class did was a great idea for a fund raiser and families that bought them gave good reports,” he said.

“I’m just amazed at how much you’ve been able to do under these strange circumstances that we are having,” said Board Member Nancy Mendenhall.

Nome Elementary School Principal Elizabeth Korenek-Johnson reported that hearing and vision screening is going well. Since kids go through growth spurts, the screenings are very helpful. She also reported that COVID is tough on teachers this year. They are under unrelenting stress and they are responsible for a lot. “We’re trying to boost morale with whatever we can do,” said Mrs. K-J. Tutoring has started for students in grades three through five and it is going well. Mrs. Keller’s Inupiaq Spelling Bee has the kids excited. And the Rotary Club came with dictionaries, which was much appreciated by the students. “We were really excited to see how far above and beyond the fourthgrade teachers went for Indigenous Peoples Day,” said Mrs. K-J. “The kids were interested in everything the speakers had to say. When we do things that are relevant for our kids they are really engaged.”

In the second opportunity for public comment high school teacher Rebekah Albertson stepped up. “I am super thankful to see my kids on a daily basis,” she said. “We’re all really thankful we can see our kids face to face and support them. I’m really proud of our students for keeping the spirit up in the high school. Especially Stephan (Anderson) and the crew he’s recruited.”

The next meeting will be a work session on Nov. 24 at 5:30 p.m. The regular meeting will take place on Dec. 8.