Bigfork School principal reports on curriculum rollout, internships and new CNA course

Principal DeFoster reported to the Grand Rapids Public School District board on curriculum implementation, expanded career pathways, and facility updates at Bigfork School.

DeFoster said the district completed the first semester and began the second, and that elementary and special education teachers have been engaged in carry-out training through the University of Minnesota and in implementation of a new English language arts curriculum called Wit & Wisdom. “Our elementary teachers as well as Mr. King in the high school as our primary English teacher, are also implementing a new English language arts curriculum, called Wit and Wisdom,” DeFoster said.

DeFoster described joint walkthroughs with district administrators — “Mr. Martinson, Dr. Siegel, and Carol Coppin were up” — to review ELA implementation and “see that continuity even between buildings.” He said the career internships program, now in a second year, continues to expand collaboration with multiple businesses and supports students with college credit, workplace experience and résumé-building opportunities.

The principal announced a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course started that day in partnership with Minnesota North and Bigfork Valley Hospital. “We started a certified nursing assistant course today in partnership with Minnesota North, Next Career Pathways and Bigfork Valley Hospital,” DeFoster said, and reported students were pleased after the first day. DeFoster said eight students are attending that CNA program and the internships currently include six students this year; internships are generally seniors, while the CNA CTE course may be open to tenth grade and above.

DeFoster also updated the board on extracurriculars — winter athletics, cheerleading and robotics — and said participation numbers are up. He noted the school's fitness center, built in the last construction project, has seen increasing community use and is expected to continue growing.

On facilities, DeFoster reported that an “edge storage building” project’s structure is complete; spring work will focus on shelving and electrical work to make the space fully usable. He described ongoing project-based learning, and said staff are planning a site visit later in the school year to observe similar programming elsewhere.

DeFoster said the Bigfork Advisory committee met earlier that evening and is proceeding to do action planning and goal setting, with an early priority to strengthen the K–12 music program.

Board members asked clarifying questions about participation counts and grades: DeFoster said six students are in the career internship program this year and eight are enrolled in the CNA course; she clarified internships are “almost always gonna be seniors” while the CNA CTE course could be taken as low as 10th grade. The principal emphasized the district is seeking ways to expand student opportunities without tapping additional district funds.