Santa Paws
Items are collected for area pets
B5
Kevin
Grover
When Falls High School officials rolled out the red carpet for a new program this year, they said they were uncertain how it would take off. Four months later, they said they are pleasantly surprised.
The Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports, or PBIS, program which started at Falls Elementary last year, had administration and staff there bragging about the positive outcomes. This year, it is the high school’s turn to shine.
“It’s already working better or differently than I thought it would,” said Superintendent Kevin Grover of the program.
PBIS, a nationwide program which comes at little cost to the district, aims to aid students in both the academic and behavioral sphere. It educates students on how to be respectful, responsible and safe from the time they arrive at school to the time they are dismissed — and everything in between.
At the elementary level, students were rewarded for their positive behaviors with pieces of paper shaped like Bronco pride horseshoes which could be traded in for water bottles, pencils, stickers and other prizes. Those in charge at Falls High knew rewarding upperclassmen would be a greater challenge.
“We give out Bronco power tickets which are like business cards to kids who we see are doing something good,” Grover said. “Teachers have five tickets per week to give to students who demonstrate good behaviors. If we catch kids doing what we’re trying to teach, we reward them.”
Grover admitted he was skeptical about how the program would go over with older students prior to its launch.
“I didn’t know if a reward system would work,” he said. To his surprise, and to the surprise of others, it is exceeding expectations.
Principal Tim Everson said the senior class is especially responsive.
“The kids hold them up in the air and take pictures with them,” he said of the tickets. “They really get proud of it...The whole attitude is different. The juniors and seniors are really leading in a positive direction.”
Everson said PBIS is one of many changes at the school this year. As a result of the program and other initiatives, school spirit is improving, he said.
“I’ve had people tell me they haven’t seen school spirit like this in years,” he said. “It’s really exciting to see it come back.”
Planning makes perfect
The idea for PBIS wasn’t born overnight. Both administrators said a lot of preparatory work was done to ensure the program had a shot at being successful at Falls High.
“The teachers are the core of this thing,” Everson said, noting the hours of training by staff members, the collecting of rewards and the overall effort of those involved. “(Teachers) have made this what it is.”
Kayla Gilbert, who teaches English, said she is stunned by the student response to the program.
“There are some kids I wouldn’t think would be into the program and they are,” she said. “I’m so touched every time I see something like that.”
Seeing students display a better attitude makes almost two years of planning worthwhile, said Katie Hamers, who also teaches English.
“We knew when we were working with high school kids, we needed to really take time and plan to make sure everything was ready to go and worked the way we wanted it to,” she said. “It’s worked way better than I think anyone ever dreamed.”
In fact, Everson said when it comes to discipline, the school hasn’t had any “major” disruptive issues this year.
“It just hasn’t happened this year,” he said. “We would have had two or three for sure by now.”
Hamers agreed.
“Everyone’s overall behavior is better,” she said. “It makes for some really good days.”
A for effort
And good days will ultimately lead to better grades, the group hopes.
Grover said when kids want to be at school, they will generally perform better academically. While the superintendent said he doesn’t have data to determine if the program and other changes in the school have impacted grades and test scores, he is hopeful that is the direction in which the school is moving.
“Like we said, the whole attitude is different,” he said. “Kids want to be here. When kids want to be here, they generally tend to perform better academically.”
But, it’s only the first year.
“We are doing so good and we’re just getting into Christmas break,” Everson said. “We need to keep it going.”
And that could be the trick. The group said its easy to get excited about something new, only to have the momentum fall through the cracks. The scenario hopefully won’t be the case for PBIS, they said.
“We want to sustain the energy and the program,” Everson said. “There are different steps to the program...real simple things like keeping the school clean. We are reteaching and enforcing good behaviors...There are a lot of steps in the program.”
Grover added by keeping the momentum of the program and other positive changes at the high school going, the trend will eventually transform into “a way of life,” a few years down the road.
“In the long range, I would like to see businesses get involved and give out tickets,” he said. “I don’t know if we’ll ever get to that point, but there is definitely room for the program to expand.”
Everson, Grover and the teachers said businesses have played a key role in the so-far success of the program.
“Businesses in town have been very generous for giving us deals and donations,” Grover said. “We even have some saying they want to buy some things for some prizes...There are a lot of hands making sure this program is successful and stays successful.”
From left, Brandon Simister, Nate McLaws and Jake Wells don holiday sweaters and sets of antlers for the Christmas Eve Reindeer Run.
From left, International Falls City Councilor Pete Kalar, Burgess Eberhardt and Tony Oveson prepare for the Reindeer Run.
A group of festively-dressed runners near the finish line of Wednesday's run.
Runners yell "ho, ho, ho" as they take off during the Reindeer Run.
John Cowman leads runners during Wednesday's event. Cowman took first place in this year's event with a time of 19 minutes and 43 seconds.
Youngsters take off for the 1-kilometer reindeer race.
Tayler Hebner gives The Journal's camera a thumbs up before running in the Reindeer Run.
Hunter Wilson, left, and Colton Hasbargen warm up for the Reindeer Run.
Christmas spirit could be seen running around town Wednesday during the annual Reindeer Run sponsored by I Falls Partners in Education.
With a temperature of about 32 degrees and a slight drizzle, the event had one of the best turnouts to date, organizers said.
Runners dressed in their holiday best for the 5-kilometer and 1-kilometer runs that raises money for school supplies.
One year ago, International Falls Administrator Ken Anderson, left, and International Falls Mayor Bob Anderson spoke to the Koochiching County Board about annexing the multimodal district into city limits.
Koochiching County Commissioner Wade Pavleck said Tuesday that because it was Christmas, he was going to be civil instead of his usual self.
Still, he voted against bringing back to the table discussion regarding annexing the multimodal district into International Falls. And even though it was brought back, it was eventually again tabled by commissioners on a 3-2 vote.
“I voted no (to) taking this off the table because we’re not ready to act on this,” Pavleck said.
The commissioner’s comments echoed statements he made during a Nov. 25 board meeting when the action was first tabled. Pavleck said during that meeting he didn’t feel it was right for the board to move forward with the annexation proposal because residents near the district were concerned some kind of industrial waste facility, such as the Renewable Energy Clean Air Project, or RECAP, would be located on the site. He added the agreement should include language to prohibit such a facility from locating in the district.
International Falls City Administrator Ken Anderson said the city council added language to the document after the county board tabled action on the agreement. The language added said: “The city agrees not to locate any industrial waste business within the annexation area unless the county approves the business after receiving assurances there are adequate environmental protections for area residents.”
Anderson said the council added the language which “puts the county in the driver seat if any business like that would be allowed. With that additional language, it is the city council’s hope the county board can move forward with the joint annexation.”
Pavleck said it was his understanding the issue wouldn’t come back to the board until January, after new city councilors take office.
“(Newly elected councilors) should have an opportunity to weigh in on this, too,” he said. “Whatever we do, I feel like they should be able to weigh in on if they choose.”
In addition, Pavleck said a committee, of which International Falls Mayor Bob Anderson chairs, was set up to resolve issues concerning development in the multimodal district. That committee hasn’t had a chance to offer its input, he said. In fact, the commissioner said several committee members were unaware the issue would be discussed during Tuesday’s board meeting.
“That tells me the citizens...were left out of the process,” Pavleck said. “If we act on this today, we’re acting essentially behind the curtain here...and that’s wrong.”
But Commissioner Brian McBride said city officials added to the resolution what was asked of them Nov. 25.
Pavleck argued that accepting the annexation agreement would limit the actions of future county boards in offering residents protection from undesirable development.
McBride said regardless of what the county board does and the city council does, any action could “tie people’s hands down the road.”
But Pavleck said planning and zoning is permanent and complete, essentially offering guaranteed protection for “people with investments in that area.”
Other concerns
Commissioner Wayne Skoe said he also has concerns the revised annexation agreement indicates support for protecting Second Creek, but is unclear about how that support would be provided.
The agreement includes a provision that says “the city and the county shall support efforts to improve the water quality and fish habitat in Second Creek by ensuring proper grading and drainage and that storm water management controls and standards are met.”
“What are these ‘shall support efforts?’” he asked, adding the issue should be separate from annexation. “Does that mean the county will be liable to clean up the creek if something happens?”
McBride said he agrees with Skoe that Second Creek should be a separate issue.
“The area of the creek we’re talking about...the county does not abut any of that,” he said. “If we move this forward...Second Creek should be a separate issue.”
Mayor Anderson said the county is involved in the Second Creek discussion because the properties are in county jurisdiction.
“The county should be involved,” he said.
Pavleck agreed.
“A cooperative effort makes sense to me,” he said.
But Skoe said it didn’t make sense for the county to support efforts for something it doesn’t control. There are two other municipalities bordering the creek, he said.
Administrator Anderson said it was the intention of the city attorney to provide reassuring language in the agreement that there is grading and draining plans that are reviewed and examined, as well as storm water drainage management.
“Our focus is to maintain fish habitat and water quality in Second Creek,” he said. “The way we’re going to do that is through our zoning and land use controls...specifically within the multimodal district.”
County Administrative Director Teresa Briggs said she supports the idea of making Second Creek a separate issue.
“When I read this, language can be interpreted many different ways,” she said. “You never know in the future what this might hold for the county.”
In addition, she said all parties involved should know what they’re agreeing to.
“I understand the city put this in (the agreement) because it is a concern...the county to me, could be tied into some restoration whether it wants to or not. Why does it have to be in the resolution for annexation?”
She said if there was a separate agreement it shows “all the good faith efforts by everybody.”
It also clarifies, she said, the involvement of each government entity.
Moving forward
Pavleck said if the board is determined to move forward, eliminating sentences in the agreement still doesn’t provide the protection citizens are looking for.
“If we approve the annexation without a public hearing... it is bad government and I think it’s the wrong way to go,” he said.
He added he wasn’t against trying to “help the city out,” but he stressed his concern for citizens.
Commissioners agreed on a 3-2 vote to table any action. Skoe and McBride voted against the motion.
McBride appeared frustrated by the decision.
“There’s just going to be more roadblocks,” he said. “Everything has been discussed and decided. We’ll bring it back and another roadblock will be thrown up there. This is very, very disappointing.”
Mayor Anderson said the committee is expected to meet Jan. 8 and will consider issues discussed at Tuesday’s meeting.
The Bicentennial Journal, a special collector’s edition of famous Daily Journal front pages is available from Bruce Robbins for $10, plus $6 for shipping. Robbins said he designed the front cover of the collections he attempted to sell 38 years ago.
After a failed effort to share his love of history with others 38 years ago, former International Falls resident Bruce Robbins is giving it another try.
On July 4, 1976, Robbins set up a booth in Smokey Bear Park to sell The Bicentennial Journal, a special collector’s edition of Daily Journal front pages and headlines. Hoping to break even for his efforts and allow others the opportunity to appreciate the area’s history, Robbins went into the endeavor with high hopes. However, much to his disappointment, the hustle and bustle of the day took over potential customers and he was unable to sell several of his booklets.
“I thought for sure they’d be snatched up right away,” he said. “I think it took me four to six months to put together.”
Now, 38 years later, Robbins is hopeful there are still history buffs in the area interested in the booklet.
“It’d be great for someone who loves history as much as I do,” he said. “I think people would find them interesting...I still have about 100 of these collector’s editions in new condition and...am offering them for sale at $10 each, plus $6 for shipping.”
Back in the day
Robbins moved to International Falls in 1972 after getting married to Karen Bakken, who was from the area. He worked as an entertainer at the Holiday Inn, but said his passion was and still is history.
“I’m a patriotic American,” he said. “I love the newspaper and I love history.”
Wanting to share his love of days gone by with others, he decided to compile notable headlines for The Bicentennial Journal.
“I went to The Daily Journal and asked if I could go through the archives,” he said. “I knew there were papers starting to rot away and I wanted to preserve some of the area’s history.”
Back then, he said the Internet wasn’t available so he gathered history books to pinpoint notable dates. He then found editions with headlines from events such as World War II, the sinking of the RMS Titanic, the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the dedication of the Smokey the Bear statue and more.
“They are all front page headlines,” he said of the pages that make up the collector’s edition. “If I couldn’t find something in the International Falls paper, I looked at the paper in Fort Frances. It was a tough job.”
The collection includes an introduction from past Daily Journal Editor Paul Anderson and an epilogue by Mildred Savard of the Koochiching County Historical Museum.
“I think now they would be of some interest to folks in the area for historical interest of both young students and old timers who have curiosity of their local heritage,” Robbins said. “Many of them have ancestors who are mentioned here, plus it is very interesting reading.”
Robbins has about 100 copies of The Bicentennial Journal left and will ship them out as long as supplies last. Anyone interested in purchasing an edition can write Robbins at: 677 G Street Spc. 152, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Robbins asks his customers to include a return address and payment of $16.
Honors student Maria Lewis stands in front of the Mabel Tainter Theater holding her self-published booklet.
Above and beyond
Maria Lewis self publishes a book
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