Lots of activities have taken place already during the first month of school in the Litchfield School District. Enrollment is also up some compared to last year.
Superintendent Susan Burris says they were up about 10 students at the beginning of September. She says the year is off to a great start – the new tennis courts are already being used, bus safety training has been completed with Hicks Bus, and she’d like to thank everyone who attended the welcome conferences, and the open house at Litchfield High School.
Burris says the Character Counts program has begun at Lake Ripley Elementary and the students there are ending their fundraiser this Friday, so if they reach a certain amount, they will get to pour blue slime over Principal Olson. She says Dragon Week, formerly known as homecoming, is coming up next week in the Litchfield School District.
Burris says 75 people attended the showing of “Screen Agers” last week in the Litchfield High School Commons. She says the Litchfield High School fall musical, “Footloose,” can be seen in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium October 31st, November 1st and 2nd at 7 p.m. and on November 3rd at 2 p.m.
The Litchfield School Board met last night and approved of two new positions. The District will be hiring an additional Lake Ripley Elementary School Special Education paraprofessional, and a Dragons Kids Club Enrichment Coordinator.
Litchfield Community Education Director Grant Solem says the Dragons Kids Club position will be 30-hours per week and the person will need to be available in the summer months. The School Board also approved of the Athletic Trainer contract for 2024-25 with Meeker Memorial Hospital.
The Litchfield School Board has certified the preliminary fiscal year 2026 – payable 2025 – levy of nearly 6.7-million-dollars ($6,680,892.20). Business Manager Jesse Johnson says it’s an increase of $358,023.74 or 5.66%, and it can be lowered during the December 9th truth-in-taxation hearing.
The Litchfield School Board approved of a resolution last night accepting donations including $1,000 from Meeker County Farm Bureau for Litchfield High School for the FFA Nationals, and $200 from the Litchfield Kiwanis Club for Litchfield Middle School for Special Education Books.
The Board welcomed Student Council President Allie Kargas and Vice President Addie Zens to their table last night. Kargas presented information about Dragon Week next week and told about the various dress-up days for each day of homecoming. Zens spoke specifically about the October 4th events which will include a pep fest, powder puff game, coronation and football game. The Litchfield School Board will meet next on Tuesday, October 15th. The Board has a transition meeting that evening with a member of the Minnesota School Board Association.
The 45th annual Meeker County Ducks Unlimited Banquet will be held tomorrow evening (Thursday) at the Litchfield Eagles Club. Doors will open at 5:30 and walk-ins are welcome.
Chapter Chairman Ethan Jenzen says the banquet is just a fun way to get together, enjoy a meal and raise funds for Ducks Unlimited. He says they mainly raise money with their raffles and they have a large variety of prizes – thanks to many local donors.
Jenzen says Ducks Unlimited nationwide has accumulated 16-million acres since 1937 for wetland restoration and conservation efforts to help several species of animals. He says the money they raise locally helps with local land conservation projects and they work with other organizations.
Jenzen says the waterfowl hunting season began last Saturday and he’s enjoyed the sport ever since his dad got him started as a kid. He says there’s also an event at the Muddy Cow on Sunday – Bingo at 1 p.m. – to help the Green Wing organization. For more information about Thursday’s Ducks Unlimited Banquet, go to the Meeker County Ducks Unlimited Facebook page.