Elementary Principal Jackie Bruns told the school board, Monday night, about the district's "Response to Intervention" (RTI) program that aims to keep students in the mainstream classroom and address learning needs.

RTI operates on the assumption that teachers are responsible for the education of all children in the school and that all students can make progress academically, she said.

Other points of the program are that teaching to the average student does not meet all student needs and that teachers may need to use additional resources to ensure student success.

Assessments and screening help the teachers identify which students need additional help. Teachers will monitor the progress of these students more closely.

"If a student is not making progress (then) we have not figured out how to teach them," Bruns said.

Teachers study a student's scores and progress, and offer additional instruction, if needed.

"It really is a way for us to help kids more quickly," Bruns said of RTI.

Superintendent Cathy Bettino commented that all of the districts in the Paul Bunyan Education Cooperative take part in RTI, and the Co-op recognizes PR-B's success in it.

In other board matters:

Flier commended for his work

Buildings and Grounds Director Karl Flier was designated as ÒEmployee of the Month.Ó Board Chair Garny Gaffey noted Flier's "leadership and dedication to Pine River-Backus, (and the) quality and high standards of his work."

Gaffey pointed to Flier's involvement in the district's heating project, the Area Learning Center building project and the ball field construction.

"He handles challenges and is a great example of our PR-B pride," Gaffey concluded.

PR-B gets school finance award

PR-B School Districct is a recipient of the 2009 School Finance Award from the Minnesota Department of Education

This is the district's sixth year receiving the award that recognizes schools with "sound fiscal health" and financial policies and procedures.

Crosslake Community School, Emily Charter School and Pillager Public Schools were also 2009 award recipients.

Brainerd, Pequot Lakes, and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Schools were not recipients this year.

High School seeks engineering certification

High School Principal Kristil McDonald noted that they are in the process of applying to become a Certified School of Engineering - through the Project Lead the Way program focusing on engineering, science and math. PR-B already offers PLTW coursework for grades 6-9 and electively for grades 10-12.

McDonald hopes that certifiers will visit the school in the spring or the fall of 2010 at the latest.

She also reported that several school districts have visited PR-B to see how they have implemented the program.

Board priorities reviewed

The board reviewed its priorities for 2009-10 including low student-to-teacher ratio at the elementary; offering a variety of electives and college credit opportunities at the high school; and providing appropriate instructional space.

The board voted to authorize the facility team and administration to move forward with research on walls and doors at the elementary as well as creating a centralized entrance for the district office. They will also research funding options to present to the full board.

Retirements upcoming

The school board approved five retirements, Monday night, for the end of this school year. Elementary teachers retiring include: Tom Medved, John Puleo and Deb Winn. High School teacher Randy Robb and Early Childhood Family Education teacher Nancy Johnson will also be retiring.