Esko school paper will go digital in 2025

After years of looking for a more economical way to distribute the school paper, Esko school board members approved a move to a digital-only newspaper starting in January. That means community members will no longer receive a paper copy of the Esko's Corner paper produced and distributed by Esko Community Education. The move is expected to save the school district thousands in printing and postage costs.

Esko isn't the only local school making the move: Wrenshall switched to a digital paper effective this month.

"It's not only the cost, but it's trying to find somebody locally that will print it, making sure that it's delivered on time, keeping track of all of the mailing lists. There are a bunch of things that are difficult when you do a published copy," said board chair Jerry Frederick. He said new broadband fiber will make it easier for Thomson Township residents to get better online service to access the publication.

Superintendent Aaron Fischer was optimistic about the ability to add more items into a digital newspaper, and on shorter notice.

"If we go digital, I'd like to see us try to look at ways to enhance [the paper]," Fischer said, noting that there would be room online for student poems or artwork for example.

He is aware some residents might not like the idea.

"This recommendation does not come lightly," Fischer said. "As someone who has been in this community and really found Esko's Corner to be something that engages our community, especially some of our long-time community members, going from paperless to digital might not be well received by some."

The move to digital will allow the district to produce five editions instead of the current four issues a year. A link to the finished Esko's Corner could be emailed or texted to people, in addition to being posted on the school district website.

With the help of her advisory council, Community Ed director Michelle Carlson said she found the MailChimp platform will both text and email the paper. She said texts to people's phones are convenient, and younger people wanted it texted.

"Right in your pocket, you could be getting the paper," she said. "I think that would be pretty handy for people to have. And it will be handy for us to have in the future, if we need to market anything else."

Fischer said family members or others could help less technologically savvy people set up email or text delivery on their devices. He said legal notices will continue to appear in print, in the Esko district's legal newspaper, the Pine Knot News.

"We do have a good local paper that still puts all the official minutes and things like that, so that those that want that paper can still have access to that at a pretty reasonable cost," he said.

The final print edition of Esko's Corner this fall will include a QR code to sign up for the digital edition, along with the web address and email.

"The only request I get from the community, and I don't think it's hard to do, is [can we] put the lunch menu first," asked board member Steve O'Connell.

Carlson chuckled, and told Fischer his column would have to come second to lunch.

"I think it's starting to prove the point of why $20,000 for a lunch menu is probably too much," Fischer said, referring to the current cost of publishing.

New parking lot

Board members on Monday took the next step toward expanding the school parking lot by approving the demolition of a home at 25 Lincoln Lane, purchased by the district over the summer. The lot is adjacent and just east of school property, behind the former RAM Insurance building, now the Esko Education Center. It is one of six houses on that block, and the closest one to the school.

The board approved the hire of Duluth-based ICS to design and manage a parking lot project, which would use the space now occupied by the home and yard. ICS also did the new school fitness center.

They chose demolition because the home has a chimney in the middle, making it difficult to move.

"It becomes very cost prohibitive because you have to dismantle the chimney," Fischer said. Board members asked him to look into selling or moving the garage to provide storage for the district.

Also Monday

• The board received an update on construction of the new flexible learning space, which is expected to be complete in late October or early November. Fischer previously described a flexible learning center as similar to a commons area, a modern open space where students could study. It would be a comfortable space, with talking allowed and coffee and other drinks available.

• The board thanked the Esko Sports Alliance for a donation of $40,000 for fitness center equipment.

• The board approved a trip for students to a regional robotics tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma the week before spring break. Students must meet academic requirements to travel.

"I can assure you ... that they do study. It's not just fun and games. They work hard," said board chair Jerry Frederick, who works with the team. "The bus ride is centered on finishing all of their homework."