NEW LONDON - In February Averi Prentice began growing lawn grass in cups in her house.
Using tap water, distilled water and melted snow - to replicate rainwater - the New London-Spicer fifth-grader began an experiment to see which type of water resulted in the tallest grass.
The winner was tap water.
With a colorful poster board that included photos and data from her project, Prentice confidently talked Monday night about her science discovery project to NLS School Board members and administrators.
The entire fifth-grade class presented their science discovery projects April 30 at the school.
About a dozen of the students displayed their projects Monday as a special presentation to the school board.
Fifth-grade teacher Laura Molenaar said the students selected a project area and set up an experiment to test a set of hypotheses as part of their science class.
Also Monday, the board heard a report on the preschool and early childhood family education classes at NLS, which are conducted at Prairie Meadows in Spicer.
This is the 40th anniversary of ECFE in Minnesota, said Naomi Noeldner, the parent adviser for the NLS program.
Because of the popularity of the NLS preschool and ECFE programs, space at Prairie Meadows is very tight, said John Vraa, NLS athletics director.
In other action, the board formally approved hiring DeVetter Design Group of Minneapolis to do a facility needs assessment and design a plan for additional space in the district.
The architects will also work with the district through a referendum process, including creating designs that will include detailed drawings and 3-D displays for public presentations.
Last fall, voters rejected a bond proposal for construction and remodeling. The school board intends to revamp the plan and seek voter approval of a new bond proposal in a referendum either this fall or next year.
Last month at its planning session, the board agreed to hire DeVetter, which began working immediately with the district’s planning committee. The action Monday spelled out the financial contract with the company.
The revised student handbooks were approved Monday. The inclusion of e-cigarettes is one of the changes made in the middle school and high school documents. The consequences for students using e-cigarettes on school grounds are the same as for regular cigarettes.
