Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon - Terry Anderson, speech language pathologist with the Early On program of the Gogebic Ontonagon Intermediate School District, explained the program to the Ontonagon Area Board of Education Monday.
Anderson explained she works, under a grant, for children zero to three years old, who have a delay of 20 percent in language or speech ability. Presently she is working with eight families in their homes between White Pine, Greenland, Mass City, Rockland and Ontonagon. Referrals to the Early On program are made by families, the Department of Human Services, or physicians.
Since the grant only permits home visits up to three years old, Anderson said that parents of older children can contact the Ontonagon School and indicate that extended need.
Vicki James of the Ontonagon Museum and Historical Society brought to the attention of the board the need for help in assisting the Summer Intern Program of the Society and the Smackdown History competition of the Copper Country.
She said the Historical Society obtains a grant for the intern program but can no longer do it without some help from the school in recruiting students. Four students are hired and trained on the history and highlights of the county and serve as guides at the lighthouse or at the museum. The program runs for 6-8 weeks, Mondays through Fridays and four students are needed. At the end of the summer, the students each receive $1,000. James said the interns travel throughout the county becoming acquainted with the various tourist sites and their origins. "We have a lot of fun," James said.
James also spoke of the History Smackdown competition in the Copper Country each year. James is looking for a teacher or teachers to assist in training one or two student teams along with a regular competition coach. Both James and Bruce Johanson are coaches, but need others to assist.
In other action the board:
-Accepted the resignation of Julia Belej as secondary special education teacher. The position is posted.
-Will seek bids for financial audit services for 2018 through 2020.
-Approved the 2018-2019 school calendar, with school starting the day after Labor Day.
-And approved first and second readings of Neola Policies. Superintendent Jim Bobula noted the board should look at the policy concerning weapons in school and discuss if there are any changes needed.
