Luverne Public Schools spent almost $17 million in 2022, according to district auditors.
Justin McGraw with accountants Conway, Deuth and Schmiessing in Litchfield presented the information via zoom for fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, Thursday night at the school board’s first meeting of the new year.
Luverne schools spent $16.96 million dollars during the 2021-22 fiscal year, primarily due to the purchase of technology and the finishing of the middle-high building remodeling project.
During the 2021-22 fiscal year, Luverne received $16 million in revenue or just under $1 million less than the district spent.
“We knew we had to spend some money with the project,” said Superintendent Craig Oftedahl. “The board wanted to reinstate some of the things cut out of that project — to bring some of that back to what the board envisioned — we felt we shouldn’t short-spend.”
Money was spent in 2021 to replace boilers at the elementary school, regrade elementary playground equipment, continue terrazzo flooring in the new middle-high school commons and add a new server and teacher computers for the district.
“We used a lot of restricted funds that the state set aside for capital outlays and LTFM (long term facility maintenance),” said business manager Tyler Reisch. “Instead of taking it out of unassigned balance, we used restricted funds.”
The district has $3.2 million in its restricted fund and $7.6 million in unrestricted funds, according to the audit report.
Another year of deficit expenditures is expected for the 2022-23 school year, as the district finishes facility projects.
“We haven’t deficit-spent like this in a long time,” Oftedahl said. “We’re hoping after this year — the lines (of expenditures and revenues) — we’re hoping to see some mergence.”
The district anticipates receiving $15.4 million in revenues by June 30, 2023, but spending $16.5 million, primarily on upcoming parking lot repairs.
Overall, McGraw said the district’s financial statements “presented fairly,” the accountant’s highest rating.
He said like other school districts, the “lion’s share” of general fund expenditures is for salaries.
For the 2021-22 school year, Luverne spent $12.5 million on salaries, $2 million on purchased services, $1.4 million in supplies and materials, $592,000 in capital improvements and $293,000 on other purchases.
McGraw commended local personnel for bringing the food service fund out of a $17,841 deficit in 2021 to end at a positive $98,780 in 2022. Food service is also expected to continue a positive balance in 2023.
“By taking advantage of the National School Lunch Program in 2022, you really buoyed that fund balance,” he said. “That’s a good recovery.
“Now that you’re returning to paid lunches, you may not see large jumps (in the future) like that.”
The community service fund stayed within budget, spending $134,011 for the 2021-22 school year while the balance for the building construction project fell to $96,717. The construction budget is expected to be at zero by the end of this current fiscal year.

Meetings
Beaver Creek Township Board will meet at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, in the township hall in Beaver Creek. Note the time change.  
 
Nutrition Assistance for seniors Feb. 2
Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors 60 & older, sponsored by A.C.E. of SW MN, will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, as a drive-thru distribution in the parking lot off Maple Street on the east side of the Generations Event Center. Pre-registration is required by calling Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064.
 
H-BC FFA chili cook-off postponed
The Hills-Beaver Creek FFA Chapter's chili cook-off and silent auction fundraiser scheduled for Feb. 6 has been postponed. A rescheduled date has not been determinted.
Chili cook-off participants are sought. Call 507-962-3240 ext. 33 to enter the cook-off.
 
School music programs Feb. 10
Luverne third- and fourth-grade students will present their music programs Friday afternoon, Feb. 10, in the performing arts center. Third-grade students will perform "Summer Camp" at 1:15 p.m. and fourth-grade students will perform "Hawaiian Beach Party.”  
 
Sno-Masters rides Feb. 4 and Feb. 11
 The Rock County Sno-Masters are planning two rides for February.
The Memorial Ride for Terry “Butch” Con­nell will be Feb. 4. This is not a poker run. Any vehicle is welcome. Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the Sno-Masters clubhouse at 206 SE Park St., Luverne. Route includes Bea­ver Creek, Hardwick, Trosky, Hardwick, Take 16 and Howling Dog in Luverne and back to the clubhouse. A meal will be served. Bring­ your own beverages. A bonfire will be outside the clubhouse.
On Feb. 11, the Sno-Masters will host a Fun Run (poker run). All vehicles welcome. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the clubhouse.  Stops include the Ea­gles Club (Luverne), Take 16 (Luverne), Hardwick, Trosky, Beaver Creek, Hills and the Luverne Country Club. Five stops are neces­sary for a hand. Bring your own beverages.
 
Entries due Feb. 11 for March 4 Generations Puzzle Tourney
Generations will host its annual Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 4, in the Generations building on South Estey Street in Luverne.
Entries are accepted in 300-piece two-person teams, 500-piece two- or three-person teams or 300-piece youth (eighth-grade or younger) and adult teams.
Registration and payment may be mailed to or dropped off by Feb. 11 at Generations, attn: Puzzle Tourney, 105 S Estey, Luverne, MN 56156.
Generations hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact Corrine Bonnema 507-920-3802 or email livewellagewell100@gmail.com
 
Virtual author tour in February
The libraries of the Plum Creek Library System will offer “Wrapped in Reading Author Tour,” a series of four virtual programs in February.
Feb. 7 will feature mystery writer Jeanne Cooney, Feb. 14 Lorna Landvik, Feb. 21 paranormal researcher and author Chad Lewis, and Feb. 28 mystery thriller writer Brian Freeman.
Preregistration is required for each of the free programs at https://tinyurl.com/Plum­creekvirtualauthortour
For more information contact the Rock County Library at 507-449-5040 or rocklibrarystaff@gmail.com.
 
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
Catchers and pitchers (experienced or new in grades K-8 can learn and practice skills at a four-session Softball Camp starting Feb. 16. Sign up by Feb. 6 at the lower fee of $40.
Students (grades K – 3) can join a Blue Mound State Park Naturalist to identify wildlife species through evidence left behind during Animal Tracks and Scat: Who Left That? on Feb. 7. Fee is $5.
Learn tips and techniques to shovel snow safely and prevent injury at Protect Your Back While Shoveling? Snow Problem! on Feb. 8 at Prairie Rehabilitation. Fee is $5.
 Kids in the Kitchen (grades K-6) will make Valentine’s Goodies on Feb. 9. Fee is $21.
Students in grades 3-5 will work in teams to create a robot that pushes, shoves and disables other robots during competition in Sumo Robotics on Feb. 9. Fee is $20.
 Register by Feb. 10 for the ACT Prep class on Feb. 21. Fee is $125.
 Ages 0-5 with an adult will enjoy Open Gym on Feb. 10. Registration is required, but there is no fee.
 
Free tax preparation at library
AARP volunteers will offer free tax preparation for low-income individuals and seniors at the Rock County Library on Mondays starting Feb. 13 through April 15.
Call 507-449-5040 for appointments. Bring documents, including last year’s tax return and a form of identification to document social security number. Tax returns for 2021 will be prepared if requested.
 
Library Happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
Story Time with Bronwyn is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. Fridays now through April 28. Stories and make-and-take crafts are the same at either event.
Winter Book Club meets at different local restaurants during February and March.
The 50 State Challenge for adults and older teens is currently underway where patrons are encouraged to read a book set in one of each of the 50 states through Jan. 1, 2024.
The annual Plum Cleek Library System winter reading program, “Get Wrapped in Reading,” goes now until March 31.
Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Take 16 in Luverne. Team registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reminiscence Kits are available featuring various topics such as gardening, pets, baking, sewing, farming and hunting. The kits are designed to use with a loved one experiencing memory loss, encouraging the loved one to open up about activities they once loved in the past.
 
Community Ed announcements
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
ECFE Classes for children ages 0-5 years and parents offers information and support to parents and provides activities for parents and children to explore together through classes that meet once a week throughout the school year. 
New Residents: Census Information Needed for Preschool Children. Call 507-283-4724 with information for children ages 0 to kindergarten. The school district uses the information for planning purposes, mailing out information on school events, including the state-mandated Preschool Screening for all 3-year-old children.
 
Food Shelf evening hours
The Rock County Food Shelf is now open for an additional evening shift from 5 to 6 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Call Mary at 507-227-5548 or Katie at 507-227-3531.
 
CoffeeBreak Bible Study meets Tuesdays
CoffeeBreak Bible Study meets each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. There will be StoryHour Bible stories and playtime for ages 3 to kindergarten, and a nursery is available. It’s free for all faiths and no prior Bible knowledge is necessary. Call Kristi Stroeh at 507-227-5102 or email atkristi.stroeh@hotmail.com
 
A.C.E. respite care available, volunteers needed
A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers respite care services in Rock County for those needing a break from caring for a loved one.
The respite program offers short-term (1-3 hours), temporary care for families and caregivers by providing a brief period of reprieve from the daily cares they provide to their loved one.
Volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers to give them time for themselves, relieve their stress and help them remain healthy.
Respite care volunteers are also needed. Trained A.C.E. volunteers provide respite care to family caregivers of adults age 60 and older who are suffering from long-term health conditions.
Contact Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064 or ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.

Business manager Tyler Reisch (far left) swears in new Luverne School Board members (from left) Mike DeBates, Zach Nolz, incumbent Eric Hartman, and Randy Sasker Thursday night, Jan. 26, in the district board room. New officers for 2023 include chairman Tim Jarchow, vice chairman Eric Hartman, secretary David Wrigg and treasurer Mike DeBates.

Generations will host its annual Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 4, in the Generations building on South Estey Street in Luverne.
Entries are accepted in 300-piece two-person teams, 500-piece two- or three-person teams, or 300-piece youth (eighth-grade or younger) and adult teams. Fee is $50 per team, with proceeds benefiting the Generations General Fund for ongoing expenses.
Each team will be provided a puzzle to complete and table space to work on. Puzzlers may bring sorting trays. Teams will be allotted three hours to complete their puzzle.
Puzzling rounds start promptly at 9 a.m. Check in at least 15 minutes prior to start time.
First and second places will be determined by puzzle completion in the shortest amount of time. If no team is finished in three hours, puzzle judges may determine winners based on a count of unattached pieces.
All decisions of puzzle judges are final, and they reserve the right to make changes to any division.
Entry forms and fees must be received by Feb. 11 so that puzzles can be ordered. A limited number of teams will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Puzzlers may bring snacks to share, and water will be available. Pizza and soda will be served around noon.
Watch the Generations (formerly Luverne Senior Citizens) Facebook page for updates or changes due to weather. (March 11 is the back-up day in the event of poor weather on March 4.)
Registration and payment may be mailed to or dropped off by Feb. 11 at Generations, attn: Puzzle Tourney, 105 S Estey, Luverne, MN 56156.
Generations hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information, contact Corrine Bonnema 507-920-3802 or email livewellagewell100@gmail.com

Beginning Feb. 13, students at Hills-Beaver Creek Public Schools will be in class 15- to 16-minutes longer each day.
The extended school days continue through the rest of the school year.
Since Dec. 9, H-BC students have missed five days of school due to weather conditions.
The five missed days are in addition to the five days designated as e-learning days, bringing H-BC to the maximum number of days allowed by the state each year.
E-learning days are considered student contact days and are counted as a full day of school.
Two of the missed five days were already planned as early dismissal days and won’t have to be made up by students or staff.
However, three days will have to be made up by students and staff.
The extended day plan will make up the three lost days.
“This proposal doesn’t add days to the student calendar,” said School Superintendent Todd Holthaus.
The last day of school for students stays at May 26.
By state statute, students are required to attend 165 days of school. Under the expanded day plan approved by H-BC board members Jan. 23, the plan allows for 169 days.
“Yes, there will be more snow days,” Holthaus said. “And we have to deal with them as they come.”
Elementary students will attend classes 15 minutes longer each day. School begins at 8:15 a.m. and will now last until 3:30 p.m.
Secondary students begin class at 8:05 a.m. with classes ending at 3:18 p.m.
“The essence for optimal learning is having our teachers in front of students,” Holthaus said. “I think students will be better served (with the lengthened school day) than adding days to the end of the school year.”

Feb. 6-1o is National School Counselors Week, a time to focus attention on the contributions of school counselors in education.
Sponsored by American School Counselors Association, the week highlights the impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
According to Luverne Elementary School Counselor Marie-Atkinson Smeins, children are experiencing a mental health crisis and her office visits for anxiety and sadness have dramatically increased.
“Yes, school counselors can make a big impact in the lives of children,” she said.
School Counselors Week coincides with 130 children’s organizations calling on President Biden to declare a national emergency in response to America’s youth mental crisis.
Mental health-related hospital admissions for people under 20 increased 61 percent since 2016, according to Clarify Health Institute. 
It’s attributed partly to the pandemic, but prior to 2019 nearly 8 million children between 6 and 18 reported at least one mental health condition, according to JAMA Pediatrics.
Youth depression and anxiety has been attributed to cyberbullying, traumatic experiences, marginalization, school shootings and more.
Now its recommended that all children ages 8 to 18 have routine screenings for anxiety, and many are advocating for more access to school counseling. 
School counselors help K-12 students with academic, career development, emotional and social challenges, and they’re also trained to recognize mental health warning signs.
Dr. Cameka Hazel is a professor of school counseling and behavioral sciences.
 “School counselors can be a critical line of defense against worsening mental health conditions,” Hazel said, advocating for more school counselors.
Atkinson-Smeins agrees.
She is assigned roughly 500 students, while the ASCA recommends a counselor for every 250 students. 
“I could do so much more if my ratio was 1 to 250,” Atkinson-Smeins said.
“Expanding access to counselors and lower ratios would be helpful.”
The average ratio nationwide is about one counselor to 400 students, and at least 20 states don’t even have school counselors.
“If the federal government provides mental health money for schools to use to hire school counselors, in the end it benefits children,” Atkinson-Smeins said.
“I believe in working with a team of professionals to help children.”
She said this team of professionals could include a teacher, principal, social worker, school psychologist and others. “When we work together, the end result is that children benefit.”
In October the Biden Administration released an additional $280 million for schools to use for mental health.
“These funds are a welcome start, but we need additional action,” Hazel said. “Nationwide, all schools should be required to provide counseling services to their students and maintain appropriate counselor-to-student ratios.”
She said state curriculum designers should incorporate social and emotional learning as standard practice for K-12 students.
“The youth mental health crisis is all around us,” Hazel said. “Expanding access to school counselors could make these tragedies far less common, while giving students the support, guidance, and care they need to flourish.”
Meanwhile, she said improving youth mental health will mean a healthier future as they become adults.
“If we're to have any hope of reversing the alarming improve access to school counselors,” Hazel said.
Atkinson-Smeins can be reached at m.atkinson-smeins@isd2184.net
More information about School Counselors Week is at schoolcounselor.org

The other girls recoiled in horror when Great Grandpa Gerald pulled back the plywood cover on his basement-based worm farm, but five-year-old Lillian leaned in, which is why she received a worm farm for Christmas.
Grandpa’s worm farm is contained in a 100-gallon stock tank and holds several thousand worms. Lillian’s worm farm is far smaller than Grandpa’s. It’s not a stock tank, or even a 5-gallon pail. It’s basically a canning jar with a little dirt in the bottom.
The worm farm kit came with yellow dirt and red dirt that Lillian says “goes under the normal dirt.”
And it had no worms.
The kit with all its supplies, for now, sits safely on a shelf in the pantry.
Lillian is taking her time looking for just the right worm, saying she plans to dig a fresh one from the back yard when the time is right.
She’s been using her kid-sized shovel to poke the frozen Indiana dirt under the trees in her back yard while she thinks about worm farming.
So far, the poking around has resulted in, “no worms at all. ’Cuz it’s winter.” But she continues the search saying, “I like to dig.”
Last summer, she found a lot of worms by using her special digging technique which involves “digging as deep as you can until you get a worm.”
She’s experimented with free-range worm farming on the patio.
“Once, I made a little home for them. I put some dirt on the table and some leaves and grass,” she explained. 
“I think they liked it, but I’m not sure. I couldn’t find any worms the last time I looked so I don’t think it turned out very well.”
Lillian is most excited about being the boss of her worm farm because “you get to do it all by yourself.”
When she eventually finds the five or six worms the worm kit will support, she’s not too concerned about caring for them and has a rather relaxed attitude about worm care.
She said, “I don’t even think they drink water. And they eat dirt. It’s pretty easy, mostly. You just have to make sure they don’t die.”

Question: I was wondering if you are stopped at a stoplight in the left turn lane and an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens comes in behind you (either in the turn lane or the lane to your right), what is the proper procedure? Thank you!
Answer: When it comes to encountering emergency vehicles while stopped at a stoplight and the only place to move is the actual intersection, it is best to stay in place and let the emergency vehicle maneuver around your vehicle, unless otherwise directed by law enforcement.
Otherwise, for an emergency vehicle, such as an ambulance, fire truck or police car, displaying flashing red lights and sounding a siren or bell approaches your vehicle on a two-way road, you must pull to the right and stop. If you are traveling on a one-way road, you must pull to whichever side is nearest and stop. If you are within an intersection, proceed through it before stopping. Remain stopped until all emergency vehicles have passed.
A law enforcement officer with probable cause to believe a driver has violated this law may arrest the driver within four hours of the violation. You are not required to stop if the emergency vehicle that is approaching you is separated from your lane of traffic by a physical barrier such as a fence, wall, or median strip.
You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober.  Help us drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.
If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848.  (Or reach him at, Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us)

The deadline is quickly approaching for farmers and ranchers to fill out the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts the census to capture information on our nation’s farms, ranches, and the people who operate them.
This year, Feb. 6 is the deadline for forms to be returned or submitted online at agcounts.usda.gov. Paper versions were sent out via mail in December.
To paint a full picture of agriculture across the country, operations large and small are asked to take part.
Farmers and ranchers in both rural and urban areas should participate, so long as their operations make $1,000 or more in revenue per year. 
Through their participation, producers provide information on their land use and ownership, production practices, income, expenditures, and their demographics. All personal data collected is kept confidential.
Results of the census, which will be released in 2024, not only help NASS maintain an up-to-date understanding of the agricultural industry, but also give producers a voice in the Department of Agriculture’s programs and decision-making.
Additionally, groups such as the Center for Rural Affairs use the results in analysis, studies and to encourage decision-makers to support key programs.
This information impacts conservation, crop insurance, value-added products, marketing and more.
On average, completion of the census takes 20 to 30 minutes, but the results have the potential to shape the industry for years to come.
We encourage producers to fill out their census by Feb. 6.