RIVER FALLS – A River Falls School District parent made a unique proposal to the River Falls School Board at its Sept. 19 reg – ular meeting: Having winter vacation instead of summer vacation. During public comment time, Kimberly Borgerson asked board members to bear with her as she presented what she termed a "total ly radical” idea, which is to have winter va- cation from late November through March 1. Borgerson said eliminating summer vaca –

tion and having it in the winter could miti – gate many winter challengers, such as illness spread, snow days, traveling on wintry road, and the psychological toll winter has on kids with the short, dark days.

"In the summer, kids can do things in the afternoons and evenings," Borgerson said. "Winter mornings are dark." As for family summer vacations: Why not have a longer 4

th of July break, she suggested. "This would give kids the opportunity to explore more outside winter activities," Borgerson said. "I can understand that this idea can seem like an initial shock to the system seeing as summer vacation is all we know, but both science and logic tell us that the way of living may no longer be viable to the health and well-being of our society or community." The board doesn't discuss items brought in public comment, but President Stacy John – son Myers said she was certain the idea had never been brought up before. Personnel

The board approved the following person –

nel changes:

• Employment of Amanda Whipkey as 1.0 FTE English-language arts teach – er, RFHS, eective Aug. 25 (replacing Amanda Haugland). Whipkey earned her bachelor's degree from Winona State Uni –

versity and her master's from UW-Supe –

rior.

• Employment of Timothy LaVold as a fulltime long-term substitute science teacher, MMS, eective Aug. 25 through Nov. 1 (for Nate Brown).

• Employment of Amy Maes as 1.0 FTE kindergarten teacher, Greenwood Ele – mentary, eective Aug. 25 (new position). Maes earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona and has 21 years of experience in Tucson.

• Transfer of Ruth Jilk from 0.5 FTE Chil – dren's House teacher to 0.5 FTE reading intervention teacher at RFPME, eective Aug. 25 (replaces Kara Rowan).

• Increased employment of Stephanie Thompson from 0.5 FTE to 1.0 FTE Chil – dren's House teacher, RFPME, eective Aug. 25 (replaces Ruth Jilk).

• Hiring the following short-term on-call substitute teachers: Theresa Riewestahl, Mary Zimmermann, Auna Hildahl, Molly Putzier, David Schmidt, Casey Eckardt, Jennifer Knoeck, Amber Millenbah, Me –

gan Loga, LuAnn Foster, Lori Edmund son.

• Resignation of Kara Rowan as part-time reading intervention teacher, RFPME, ef –

fective Aug. 20.

Other business

The board approved the following second readings:

• Revised school board policy 110 Mission Statement and Philosophy of Education

• Revised school board policy 111 District Educational Goals

• Revised school board policy 342.2 Class Size Guidelines "I want to remind everybody how import –

ant these class size guidelines are," said John – son Myers. "It helps us to align our finances to meet the needs of classrooms so that we also know when we need teachers and para support."