Old Homepage

The Minnesota Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act is a legislative initiative created to help Minnesota students become better readers. Its goal is to ensure that all students, regardless of their background or learning abilities, have the skills necessary to achieve academic success, with a strong emphasis on reading proficiency from an early age.  

Here’s an overview of how the READ Act will impact reading education: 

1. Focus on the science of reading: The READ Act mandates a stronger focus on developing reading skills in early education, ensuring that reading instruction is based on the science of reading. This means students will receive evidence-based instruction tailored to support reading development. 

2. Early intervention: A key component of this initiative uses assessments and screenings to identify students with reading challenges early on. Early intervention will allow us to implement supports and address any difficulties before they become a significant barrier to learning. 

3. Help for everyone: The READ Act acknowledges and addresses the diverse needs of Minnesota’s student population, those who speak more than one language at home and those who have a harder time learning than others. Students will receive specialized instruction and support tailored to their specific learning needs, helping them achieve their reading milestones. 

4. Additional Training for Teachers: Teachers and identified staff will receive approximately 50 additional hours of training. The training being utilized is Online Language and Literacy Academy by CORE Learning, one of three state-approved programs through the MN Department of Education. As a result of the training, teachers and staff will be better equipped with the latest strategies and knowledge in reading instruction, directly benefiting the quality of education students receive. 

The Minnesota READ Act’s goal is to ensure that all students learn how to read well. This is an ambitious and positive educational step as it will enhance teacher knowledge and reading instruction, provide timely support and interventions for struggling readers and give teachers additional resources and tools to help students learn best practices.

Dassel-Cokato Schools has partnered with Trex Company in the NexTrex Recycling Challenge. Each school is being challenged to recycle 1,000 pounds of plastic recycling within a 12-month period. Upon meeting that goal, each school will receive a FREE TREX bench! Drop off your plastic recycling in any school building throughout the school year. Click the image for more details about what types of plastic are acceptable.

**Reminder - Softener Salt Bags are great to recycle and can add a lot of weight!**

Updated 1/29/24

Summer is moving quickly, and before we know it, September will be here with the start of another school year! An essential part of a successful school year is ensuring that each family has accurate and updated account information. Beginning this year, all families are asked to complete an online student and family certification process through Infinite Campus (Parent Portal).   Please complete the certification process by Thursday, August 10th.

To access the online student and family certification process:

1. www.isd466.org > click on Parent Portal

2. In the left-hand column > click on More > Online Update and Registration
   
   

The survey will collect and update information in the following areas:

• Household and emergency contact information help school buildings with student safety. Please gather parent/guardian contact information, student demographic and health information, and emergency contact information (other than parents/guardians). 

• Transportation information needed to build fall bus routes and times. In order to ensure each family’s transportation information is accurate for the coming school year, please complete the online annual student and family certification survey by Thursday, August 10th. Among others, changes could include:

  • A new home address

  • Changes to daycare.

  • First year riding the bus.

  • A new student driver/ riding with siblings.
    
    *Transportation requests and/or changes received after August 15th will be processed after the start of school.

• Technology access information gathers household device details and internet access. Student device agreements are required for all grades 5-12 students and can be signed and uploaded during this process.
  *Device fees will be added to student accounts closer to the start of school.

• Medical information provides documentation of medicines, medical conditions, doctor’s orders, and immunization records. For more information www.isd466.org/domain/58.
  *Required student sports physicals are submitted during the activities registration process.  Please contact the Activities Office with any questions 286-4100 ext. 1811.

Thank you for helping ensure a successful start to the school year!

MN Dept. of Labor and Industry's (DLI) Building Plan Review Unit reviews construction plans and specifications for new, additions, and remodeled buildings against building code provisions related to fire and life safety. The MN DLI recently alerted us about a fire suppression issue discovered during a preliminary plan review for the bond project.  Building and Plan Review Unit lead, Ryan Rehn, provided that public buildings need to meet one of two requirements: either a building is divided into 14,500 square foot areas with firewalls, or a building is fully sprinkled. Dassel-Cokato was granted an exception to this rule in 2004 for the PAC construction and allowed to have a combination of the two systems. The state of MN has since stopped granting this building exception. 

A combination of two fire suppression systems could allow a fire to begin in the non-sprinkled portion of a building (our current middle school) and grow to a size that overwhelms the firewall. It could then be large enough to overcome the sprinkler system within the high school and put the remainder of the building at risk. Therefore, large buildings must either have additional firewalls to slow the progression of a fire or be completely sprinkled to stop the fire from growing too large.

This issue should have been identified in 2016 when the weight room was built.  Documents submitted to the state on behalf of the school district incorrectly listed the middle school as being sprinkled. The error was undiscovered until a few weeks ago when current plans were compared to those from 2016.

School Board Chair Andy Engh and Vice-Chair, Dave Sangren have been actively involved, along with members of the SitelogIQ team, Mr. Rehn from MN DLI, and myself, in determining a solution for moving forward.  The MN Dept. of Labor and Industry has assured us that this will not delay the current construction project.

Mark Raymond
Superintendent

New years bring about new beginnings, specifically the opportunity for focus groups to begin discussing and planning the educational projects of the bond. Over a period of four days, eight groups were brought together for these kick-off meetings.

GROUP 1 - SPED/DCD

Staff described a need for flexibility, storage, and the ability to teach life experiences. The ability to maximize student opportunities within the square footage will require careful consideration.

GROUP 2 - HS OFFICE

The flow of patrons and efficiency of the workflow will be the two main focus areas regarding the front high school office area.

GROUP 3 - ELEMENTARY PILOT PROJECTS

Groups of staff from each building met to discuss potential pilot projects. Repurposing computer labs could provide further student opportunities and was a discussion had by both schools.

GROUP 4 - CTE/AG

In the MS industrial technology classroom, a primary need focuses on separating various projects occurring throughout the year. Sawdust and computers do not work well together long-term. A desire for additional square footage was also brought forward. High school CTE/Ag groups discussed shop layouts in correlation to classroom project needs and equipment functions.

GROUP 5 - HIGH SCHOOL FACS/SCIENCE

Flexible spaces with mobile storage capabilities were areas of discussion in the science and FACS classrooms. In these classes, having workstations that are conducive to a variety of projects is important as units change frequently.

Input received from these focus groups will be used to help develop conceptual designs into schematic designs. From general ideas to floor plans, these ideas will begin to formulate as SitelogIQ architects and engineers work to bring ideas to realization. In the coming weeks, preliminary plans and/or plan options will be brought back to these focus groups for initial thoughts and feedback.

These educational projects are scheduled to be completed in the spring and summer of 2024. Mechanical projects will occur this summer, along with the MS stem room.