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out and making a difference," he said. "This year they have wanted to do Cracker Barrels." Thorson said he that hopes the board will reinstate some field trips. "We missing going to Pierre during the legislative session. As educational as that would be, I would hope the board would reinstate the trips. Also going to the EROS data center in Sioux Falls. Until you see those things first hand, it's not the same," he said.
• Shaun Wanner talked about the courses he teaches. He said that one thing he is having the students do is doing some of the teaching. The Honors History class did a Decades Presentation and will be working on Native American Cultural Presentation. "Its allowing the students to work in groups and share their ideas," he said.
• Superintendent Joe Schwan reported that the legislature passed a law allowing the start date of the school year, if it is before the Tuesday after Labor Day, can be referred to a vote. In the Groton district, it would take about 125 signatures, which reflects 5 percent of the registered voters in the last election.
• The Highway Patrol no longer wants to do bus inspections. Schwan reported that there are other avenues available for bus inspections. They are considering sending Loren Bahr to a free inspection school, not to fully inspect Groton's own buses, but to know what to look for during the inspection. It would make available for a swap with another district where Bahr would go to another school to inspect buses and their person would come to Groton to do its inspections.
• Two more students were enrolled in the Groton Area Elementary School, according to Elementary Principal Dan Dalchow. One more student came in kindergarten and one in second grade. The current junior kindergarten classroom is too small and Dalchow said they will be looking for a location change. The current classroom will fit 16 students and next year, there will be 24 students in junior kindergarten. It was proposed to relocate Title into the Intervention Room and then put JK in that Title Room. There will be 38 students in kindergarten. He also reported that the BAGS for Tomorrow program is sending home 25 food bags at the end of each school week to students in the elementary and middle/high school. The D.A.R.E program will begin April 22 with the fifth graders, sponsored by the Groton Police Department and Poet.
• Anna Schwan, middle/high school principal, reported that there is a new student in the seventh grade. She reported on the Smarter Balanced Assessment program. The CTE programs approved for next year are FACS, Tech, Business and Ag.
• The board decided to advertise for a 2014 John Deere mower with broom attachment and mulching kit.
• The following resignations were accepted: Aaron Helvig as head volleyball coach, Scott Thorson as assistant wrestling coach, Gabe Kjellsen as assistant boys

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