"Where Olmsted County News Comes First"

28

Should the Vikings be able to use the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium?

 Yes

 No

 I don't care


View Results

Comments

The Stewartville School Board honored Joyce and Cora Johnson with “Tiger Tokens” for their dedicated school spirit at their meeting on Monday, March 26.

The Johnsons are very active in supporting basketball and volleyball games. They live in Racine and have been longtime supporters of the community and Stewartville schools. “They have been supporters of our students and staff for a long, long time,” Dr. David Thompson, District Superintendent, said.

Cora created the first “Tiger mascot” that the school has ever had. “In 1973, I asked Mr. Knapp if we could have a tiger mascot,” she said. “He said ‘Yes, but I don’t think we can afford one.’” So Cora decided to buy the material and sew one herself. Her daughter, Vickie Jo, was the first one to wear the costume.

“When there was a parade, especially for homecoming, I got to wear the tiger suit down Main Street,” Cora said. “I was forty-five years old, I did cartwheels down Main Street. Everyone just loved that.”

Joyce was a pilot in World War II and flew a B-17, “flying fortress,” bomber. He has been a carpenter and milk hauler in the community for a long time. “We had a tail gunner whose brother was a fighter pilot,” he said. “He said that he would not want to fly a B-17 where you only get to fly straight and level, he would rather be a fighter pilot like his brother.

“So I peeled off and dove down and turned over the bomber,” he said. Pretty soon a voice came over the intercom from the tail gunner saying that he was convinced that Johnson was a good pilot.

In other action, the board approved the addition of three bus stops in the Hart Farm area of southwest Rochester. “We have had several requests to add these stops,” Dr. Thompson said. “We discussed this with you a couple of times in previous meetings.”

The new bus stops that will be added to the bus route next fall will be at the intersection of Hart Drive and Hart Lane SW; at the intersection of Hart Drive and Galileo Place SW; and, at the intersection of Galileo Place and Odyssey Drive SW. “This adds less than seven minutes to the route,” Dr. Thompson said.

Kristin King gave a presentation on the pilot online advanced placement chemistry program that she has developed. There are currently eight students taking the online course. She has used Moodle and learning management programs to develop the online learning environment.

“We are currently studying equilibrium,” she said. “I produce a two-minute video to introduce a concept and the students watch the video and then answer questions online. Students like the interactive notes and the instant feedback.”

“Students are allowed to work at their own pace, they don’t have to sit and wait for the rest of the class,” she said. “This is a college level class, it is very demanding. I want my students to do really well.”

The board also approved an extended-stay field trip for students to attend the FFA State Convention in St. Paul on April 22-24. “Our students have placed high enough at the regional contests to earn a chance to compete at the state level.” Dawn Lubahn said. “My kids here rock, they are pretty awesome.”

There will be two meetings on Monday, April 9. The Stewartville School Board will hold a joint meeting with the City of Racine and the City of Stewartville at 5:30 p.m. in the mini-cafeteria. The board meeting will follow at 7 p.m. in the board room.