Board approves cooperative Nordic-skiing agreement with Nashwauk; district expects small financial benefit and no loss of student slots

The Grand Rapids Public School District board approved a cooperative athletic agreement allowing a Nashwauk student to participate in the district’s Nordic-skiing program, with the agreement to take effect next school year and to be submitted to the league for consideration.

Athletic director Dale Christie told the board the request came late for the current season but was feasible for the next school year. Christie said last year the district had 17 Nordic-ski participants and this year has 14. “If this student would have participated this year, they would be paying one fifteenth of the total cost of the program,” Christie said. He added the district’s manager looked at the dollar amounts and estimated the district would have saved about $1,000 in a comparable prior year scenario.

Christie and district staff emphasized that Nordic skiing is open to all students and the cooperative agreement would not displace district students: “All students are allowed to participate at this type of activity,” Christie said. The board discussed how participation fees are handled; Christie said visiting districts typically pay their own participation fees and that end-of-season expenses are divided proportionally and billed to the sending district.

Board members noted the agreement aligns with recent partnership work with Nashwauk. The board voted by roll call to approve the cooperative agreement; Ashley Goodman moved the motion and David (board member) seconded.

The board packet included evaluation criteria for joint programs; Christie said the arrangement is expected to be positive financially and not reduce slots for ISD 318 students. The item must also be submitted to the high-school league for resectioning consideration.