New Ulm Middle School Science, technology, engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Teacher Amber Gremmels gave the board a summary of the current program.

The middle school has begun using exploratory STEM programs for 5th, 6thand 7th grade. In 8th grade, STEM is offered as an elective and STEM enrichment is for 7th grade and 8th grade.

Middle School Principal Michelle Miller said the goal is to align with the high school career pathway program involving the Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway.

Gremmels said the middle school classes start with the assumption students have no STEM skills, but will learn through problem-solving projects. Currently, students are working to design some type of alarm system. In order to complete this task, students must learn how to use different hardware and sensors.

Students in New Ulm Middle School’s Project Lead the Way course work on alarm based projects. Easton Neuman (left), Cooper Berg (center), and Jackson Andert (rigth) program an alarm that gets triggered to play sound and make a face when it's shaken. Photos by Amber Gremmels.

“What are all the ways [a sensor] can get information and what are all the ways they can send it out,” Gremmels said.

In order to design an alarm, students need to use algorithmic thinking. Gremmels describes this as setting clear steps with the software to create desired outcomes.

Gremmels said the program has been successful because it allows students to be creative. There is no one way to design an alarm system. Students are free to play with the software and the system they want. One of the challenges with the STEM program is moving slowly. Many of the students are eager to play with the different software and technology, but they need to show they use lower-level equipment before moving to the next steps.

Miller said there are plans for adding additional STEM courses. The school is looking for a STEM course that focuses on medical STEM.

Gremmels said there are many kids who develop interests in the health field and this course could be a strong starting point.

Miller said the school applied and received a $9,100 grant through Project Lead the Way (PLTW), an organization that helps develop STEM curricula for schools. This is a three-year grant that will allow Gremmels to continue training in different education courses and cover participation fees for PLTW.

The board also received a Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act update from Curriculum/Instruction Coordinator Amanda Thorson.

The READ Act went into law in 2023. The goal is to have every Minnesota child reading at or above grade level every year, beginning in kindergarten. The READ Act also is designed to support multilingual learner and students receiving special education services.

Thorson said the READ Act is designed to make sure schools are providing the best education for all students regardless of any barriers they may have.

A recent update included dyslexia screening requirements for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Thorson said there are two reading screenings. The first is a universal screen for all students followed by sub-screeners for students who are not reading at grade level. The sub-screeners also provide information on the characteristics of dyslexia.

Thorson clarified that schools cannot classify students with dyslexia because it is a medical diagnosis. Schools can identify the characteristics of dyslexia when communicating with parents.

The READ Act will require schools to screen students three times a year. Thorson said the district already screened three times a year in Kindergarten through middle school. The high school has implemented the screening starting this year.

Thorson said in part of the screening program, students will be asked to read nonsense words to help students with their decoding ability. It will help determine if a student is actually reading or memorizing words and context clues.

Thorson said after students are screened, schools are required to create instructional plans for students reading at different levels within the classroom. The school will also need to communicate with families about the screening process. Parents can expect to receive information about the screening as well as an intervention options for students performing below grade level.

School board election

The District 88 school board passed a resolution canvassing the returns of votes from the district’s general election on Nov. 5.

A total of 13,199 voters cast ballots in the election for the District 88 school board. Over 3,000 more votes were cast this year compared to the 2022 school board election.

For this election, the district was asked to elect four school board members. Candidates receiving the top four votes were Matt Ringhofer 6,408 votes; Christie Dewanz 6,305 votes; Jonathan Schiro 5,757 votes and Sarah Leslie 5,568 votes.

Paula Humbard received 4,578 votes. There were 263 write-in votes. Of the write-in votes, Michael Thom received the most with 62.

Having received the most votes; Ringhofer, Dewanz, Schiro, and Leslie are elected to four-year terms beginning the first Monday in Jan. 2025.

The next regular meeting of the District 88 School board is 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 in the District Boardroom, 414 S. Payne Street, New Ulm. The next study session is 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 with the Truth in Taxation meeting following at 6 p.m.