Fond du Lac flag flies in Cloquet school district

The Cloquet school board met Monday, Aug. 26 to address the last-minute details that every school faces before the start of school, from the approval of new staff and recognition of others, to talk of classroom sizes and teacher training.

But Monday's meeting was a little different, as it started with two drum songs by the Cedar Creek drum group and a ceremony with the Fond du Lac Honor Guard before the school board formally accepted the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa flag as a part of the school district's flag formation.

Charlie Smith, whose Anishinaabe name is Nenaaw, addressed the room in Anishinaabe and then summarized what he had said.

"Finally, our flag is going to be here so that we are remembered that we're still here, we're part of this community," Smith said. "Our flag is going to be taken to all the graduation ceremonies, so people remember that we're here, that we're a part of this community."

He used the the Ojibwe word for Cloquet: Bapashkominitig.

"The reason why we're really doing this is so we continue to help each other out and respect one another and remember we both exist here, as Anishinaabe and just as human beings. Miigwech. (Thank you.)"

The acceptance means that the Fond du Lac flag will now be present at important school events such as the high school's graduation ceremony.

In other matters Monday, the board passed a motion to hire the new teachers and staff that will begin teaching and serving the district this year, including Ryan Hanson, the new Cloquet middle school band director.

School board members also recognized Cloquet High School student Lexis Gerard, who recently became one of the Minnesota Youth Council representatives from the 8th congressional district. Gerard will be working with numerous other students from across the state of Minnesota to help boost the voice of young people in the state. The Minnesota Youth Council represents Minnesota's youth by informing legislators on issues facing today's youth and helping the legislators understand such issues. The council also uses its influence to advocate for equal educational opportunities for all students throughout the state.

Later on, the board discussed two service agreements that will influence the way children in foster care get to school. The two agreements, one each for St. Louis and Carlton counties, describe the terms of a service that will help transport kids in foster care to the schools within the school district. The service will allow kids who are moved around in foster care to continue getting rides to their schools, even if they have been moved out of the district.

Toward the end of the meeting, the board addressed the retirement of Kevin Boedigheimer, the head custodian at Washington Elementary School, who is retiring after 40 years of working for the Cloquet school district.

Boedigheimer told the Pine Knot News he plans to use his time to catch up on work around the house, hunting, fishing, and just enjoying life in general. However, the new free time comes at a price.

"I'm truly going to miss the smiles and daily 'good mornings' the most," Boedigheimer said. As of Aug. 27, Boedigheimer has served the district for 40 years, with 20 of those years spent at his current position at Washington. He will be retiring from his position Sept. 30.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9 in the Garfield school board room.