Intersection fixes near Worthington Middle School set to be done this summer

Kari Lucin, The Daily Globe, Worthington, Minn.
·2 min read

May 20—WORTHINGTON — Superintendent John Landgaard updated the District 518 Board of Education about the status of the intersection of Oxford Street and Crailsheim Road during its regular meeting Tuesday.

"It's a little different design, but they're going to do, at the (Worthington) Middle School, that turn lane headed west to try to get people off the shoulder of the road," Landgaard said.

At an earlier meeting the superintendent had indicated that Nobles County had expressed that it would delay the project until next year, but now the project is slated for completion before the beginning of the 2022-23 school year.

Landgaard also noted that he expected shifting one grade from WMS to the new Intermediate School would help alleviate some of the middle school's traffic issues.

Nobles County is also adjusting the roads in front of the Intermediate School, adding right turn lanes as well as a bus entrance.

During his report to the board, Landgaard said that contract negotiations with the custodians, secretaries and paraprofessionals are ongoing, and that the requests for salary increases had come in higher than expected — 15 to 30%, varying by group.

District 518 has struggled to find enough paraprofessionals for much of the school year, and paraprofessional positions are still open for application on the school's website.

Inflation may be a factor as well; in April, the Labor Department stated the consumer price index had increased 8.5% over the previous year.

In other news Tuesday, the board:

* Accepted donations from Rickers Photography for spring pictures' Nickel and Associates, Newman Trucking, Runnings, Karl's, Jessica Noble State Farm Insurance and Widboom Farms for prom; Bedford Industries, Worthington Optimist Club, Hy-Vee and Fareway for students' trip to the national competition for the Business Professionals of America.

* Approved an employee's request for sick leave due to pregnancy and two requests for child care leave without pay.

* Recognized newly-tenured teachers Joshua Beebout, Rhonda Bonnstetter, Kesia Dominguez Escalante, Carly Duffy, Kelli Esselink, Kari Gjerde, Sara Hartquist, Leyvi Hinojosa Guzman, Joshua Langseth, Keri Ling, Nicole Meile-Anderson, Austin T. Olson, Courtney Opdahl, Shaine Rasmussen, Jessica Read, Danielle Rosales, Morgan Rukstales, Austin Selvey, Jenna Slater, Olivia Weidert, Ruben Alvarez, Jr., Julie Filbeck, Sondra Hinnenkamp, Megan Rieken, Amanda Rueter and Bridget Smith.

* Approved an additional staff member for the summer weightlifting program.

* Approved a three-year service agreement with Daktronics for service of the District's video scoreboards.

* Approved putting surplus property up for sale, including some rowing machines, a nurse's bed and office furniture.