Blue Earth Area school nurse Ann Crofton, above, tells the BEA School Board about a new emergency response program that will include staff training.

The Blue Earth Area School Board heard about a new plan for handling some medical emergencies, should they arise.

During the time for district reports during the School Board meeting on Monday, May 11, school nurse Ann Crofton gave the board members an update on a new Cardiac Emergency Response Plan.

“The state wants schools to have this plan,” Crofton told the board. “Unfortunately, we did not qualify for a state grant for this plan.”

However, she told the board that that was OK, for several reasons.

“Because we are so close to UHD hospital, and because we have such a speedy emergency response team and ambulance, it is not as necessary,” she explains. “Plus we have three AED wall units in our schools and two portable units that can be taken to places like ballfields.”

It is because BEA is already pretty prepared that the school district did not qualify for the grants, Crofton added.

However, part of the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan is that the school needs to develop a Cardiac Emergency Response Team.

“We do have some trained staff at the schools now,” Crofton said. “But they need to be more trained and they have to become certified.”

She says that the district needs to build a team that has at least five members, or 10 percent of the staff.

“We also need to have at least 50 percent of the coaches and phy ed instructors to be trained and certified, as well,” she added.

Crofton said that she is working on this building a team now, and the plan is to have it in place by this fall when school is back in session.

There was no lack of staff reports at the School Board meeting last Monday as their was information updates from several teachers and administrators.

Among the reports was one from high school art teacher Sara Albright and elementary art teacher Courtney Mattson.

Albright gave an update on all of the awards her art students had won during the year, as well as the activities of the BEA Art Club.

“Art Club meets one to two times a week, from October to May,” she said. “Many of those students are not involved in any other activities, so this is important to them.”

She added that she is sad to see the seniors go, as this group was very talented and involved.

Mattson explained what each elementary grade had accomplished during the year. She told about the progression of knowledge and skill that is made from first grade to fifth grade.

Both art teachers had a slide show presentation of the many activities and art work.

Albright also gave a report on all of the activities which Frankie the therapy dog had been involved with during the year.

“I am really proud of all the good things Frankie has done,” she said. “He has helped so many students.”

Middle school science teachers Heather Hernandez and Christine Hodges gave their reports which pointed out all of the successes of science students throughout the school year, particularly the annual Science Fair which had 76 participants.

“We 10 first place and 10 second place winners and five went on to regionals,” Hodges said.

The two also explained about some of the special projects, including STEAM and Exploration, BE-A-Quest, Zoology, Edible Lab and Phases of the Moon.

Other reports came from the superintendent and principals and the Curriculum/Instruction director.

Superintendent Mandy Fletcher gave an update on a $25,000 School Based Services Mini-Grant. It will be used to provide services for students with various issues, and will also provide training for a licensed clinical social wellness staff person.

Principal reports dealt with all the many end of year programs and events that keep May as one of the busiest months of the year.

Among those items are graduation on Sunday, May 24 at 2 p.m. and BEA Spring Carnival on Wednesday, May 20, in the high school parking lot from 4-7 p.m.

In other business at the meeting, the BEA School Board:

• Approved BUCCY Bag donations including one in memory of Roger Fletcher, one in memory of Bob Kaduce, from CFS/Land ‘O Lakes Foundation, Blue Earth United Fund, and Hope United Methodist Church.

Also a donation of $400 from Winnebago Manufacturing for Teacher Appreciation Week and $9,900 from Taylor Family Farms Foundation.

• Approved a report from Fiscal Services coordinator Alan Wilhelmi that concerned a 2026 GASB 75 Actuarial Valuation Report

• Approved several personnel changes including: new hires of Jayde Yeates as a high school English teacher, Patti Strukel as a high school social studies teacher and Jordan Kuehl as a high school ag teacher; resignations of paraprofessional Kryssie Gapol, elementary teachers Emma McLees and Kaytlyn Wensauer and Little Giants associate Amber Lein; contracts for accountant Ashley Olson and Building and Grounds supervisor Jim Wirkus; retirement for business teacher Holly Volgltance.