Education

Finalists Named for New Lake Superior College President

DULUTH, MN – Minnesota State has named three finalists in the search for the next president of Lake Superior College. The candidates are David Clickner, Barbara Embacher, and Linda Kingston. Dr. Patricia Rogers has lead Lake Superior College as president since 2019.  Dr. Rodgers announced her impending retirement in August of 2024. The candidates were recommended by a search advisory…

Public Response to Potential Duluth School District Music Cuts

It was packed house for tonight’s Duluth school board listening session. Parents, students, and community members showed up at the meeting to call for more support to district music programs amid possible budget cuts. The crowd held signs reading “Music Matters,” as speakers expressed the importance of musical education, and why it’s critical to student’s success in the future. “With…

UW-Superior Holds Annual Day of Giving!

  SUPERIOR, Wis. — It’s the 11th annual Day of Giving at UW-Superior! This is a fundraiser that supports undergraduate research, scholarships, and academic programs. Every donation made today will be matched up to $10,000. Those donating can designate where their money goes, from the new floating classroom, programs like theatre or sports, or specific scholarships. Otherwise, they money can…

Annual Superior Middle School Career Fair Showcases Community Impact

SUPERIOR, Wis.– Today 8th graders at Superior Middle School got the opportunity to learn about potential career paths. A dozen different career representatives met with the students to discuss their impact on the community. There were tables ranging from healthcare, to firefighting, as well as the Douglas County Humane Society. Some of those tables had demonstrations such as a flight…

UMD’s Tweed Museum of Art Gets Gifts From Duluth Street Photographer D. R. Martin

Duluth, MN – University of Minnesota Duluth’s Tweed Museum of Art and College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) announced the addition of works by 12 artists to the museum’s permanent collection. D. R. Martin photograph donated to UMD’s Tweed Museum The additions include gifts and purchases of ceramics, photographs, sculpture, drawings, works on paper, and prints. One of…

LSC Celebrates 80-Years with a Look at Its Advanced Aviation Programs

DULUTH, Minn. — The public and prospective students were given an inside look at Lake Superior College’s Advanced Aviation Center Friday afternoon. According to the college, their pilot and aviation maintenance programs offer a unique hands on learning experience and prepare students to get a job in a high demand career field. The open house allows the public a chance…

FDLTCC Peace Officer Expo Readies Next Generation of Law Enforcement

CLOQUET, Minn. — As police departments across the country are struggling to be fully staffed, police agencies in Minnesota are looking to hire the next generation of officers for the front line. At Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College more than 35 departments from local, county, state and federal agencies attended this year’s Peace Officer and Criminal Justice Expo….

Wrenshall School District Closes 5th Grade Enrollment

WRENSHALL, Minn. — Wrenshall Public School District closes enrollment for their 5th grade class for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. The school district has seen a rise in student enrollment in recent years. This school year, the district had to split up their kindergarten and 4th grade students into two separate classrooms. The Wrenshall Board of Education and teachers collaborated…

Students Learn Life Saving Skills at Red Cross Day

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — It’s Red Cross Day once again at the University of Wisconsin Superior! This event happens each semester. Students get a chance to learn hands-only CPR. What’s new is students could also learn to administer Narcan. This training gives people a chance to save lives. “It’s important for healthcare workers like Josh and myself as nursing students to…

Students Protest Against UMD Cuts to Deaf Studies Minor

DULUTH, Minn. — UMD officials say the goal of removing the Deaf Studies Minor is all about restructuring curriculum with the potential of developing an ASL minor in the future. The Deaf Studies Minor has offered student the chance to learn ASL while gaining cultural knowledge while gaining cultural knowledge to work with or communicate effectively with deaf or hard…

Zenith Digital Marketing Conference Coming To Duluth April 10

DULUTH, Minn. — A big digital marketing conference is on its way to Duluth next week with experts from around the world sharing their knowledge. The 12th annual Zenith Digital Marketing Conference is happening April 10. It’s put on by Duluth marketing agency AIMCLEAR and the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. The event is full of the best marketing minds…

Ashland School District Passes Referendum, Maintaining Current Programs

ASHLAND, Wis. — After a failed vote in November, the Ashland School District approved of a referendum which looks to increase funding by $10 million over the next 5 years avoiding looming staff cuts. According to the school district’s superintendent, Rob Prater, the referendum passed unofficially. The referendum will give the school district $2 million per year until the 2030-31…

Career and Transfer Fair at LSC

  DULUTH, Minn. — LSC held its annual career and transfer fair today. Over 50 employers and a dozen universities were there to meet with students. Students got to learn more about their future paths and options. They also got a chance ask the questions that can’t be answered in flyers or aren’t shown on webpages. “Students come to us,…

28th Annual Toothpick Bridge Competition

DULUTH, Minn.– For 28 years, the Duluth Section of the American Society of Engineers gathers students from schools in the Twin Ports area for this event. This year there were 45 teams of students from Superior, Cromwell Wright, Denfeld and Lakeview Christian Academy. They built bridges using toothpicks and glue. The projects were judged on aesthetics, and then, faced the…

Duluth Public Schools Supt. Reacts to President Trump’s Order to Dismantle Dept. of Education

  DULUTH, Minn. —  Duluth Public Schools Supt. John Magas has released the following statement about President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the U.S. Dept. of Education: “Duluth Public Schools is aware of the recent presidential executive order concerning the U.S. Department of Education. We are carefully reviewing the implications of this order for our district and our families. In…

‘Empty Bowl Fundraiser’ Raises $1,600 for Safe Haven Shelter

DULUTH, Minn.– A group of middle schoolers from Many Rivers Montessori School raised an impressive $1,600 for Safe Haven Shelter. Since 2022, the “Empty Bowl Fundraiser” has given students at Many Rivers Montessori a chance to help out the community. This year, the kids voted to help Safe Haven Shelters in Duluth. The 7th and 8th graders teamed up with…

U.M.D. Psychology Department Brings Mobile Neuroscience Lab to Cloquet Middle School

CLOQUET, Minn. — Students at Cloquet Middle School got a chance today to do some hands on learning about their brains. Undergraduate students from U.M.D.’s psychology department brought their mobile neuroscience lab to the middle school, and spent time teaching the seventh graders all about the brain. For one of those U.M.D. students, it was a great chance to see…

Proctor Middle & Highschool Transforms Library Space

  PROCTOR, Minn.– For over a decade, what is now the Cultural Event Center and Library was dormant. But now, Proctor Schools is finally unveiling a brand-new space for students and staff to enjoy. The new library was a two-year long project, and it solves issues related to spacing. Community members, staff and faculty pitched in both money and hundreds…

Mother Hopes To Inspire Others After Fast-Track Diploma Experience At Northwood Technical College

SUPERIOR, Wis. — We don’t always get to see the impact stories we share have on the community. We were lucky enough to have one local woman reach out to us, sharing her story of achieving an education later in life, thanks to an education institution we reported on in Superior. Now, she’s hoping to inspire others to reach for…

Inaugural Inclusivity Summit at College of Saint Scholastica

  DULUTH, Minn.– Enhancing inclusivity in both the workplace and the community was highlighted today in a gathering at Saint Scholastica. The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce partnered with Saint Scholastica and Lake Superior College for the Inaugural Inclusion Summit. The Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded a $190,000 grant to the Chamber of Commerce last summer. In a…

Hermantown School Board Approves of $750K in Budget Cuts for Next School Year

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Hermantown Community Schools is slashing next year’s budget by $750,000, and 6 position are being eliminated. On Monday night’s school board meeting, the school board unanimously approved of budget which looks to cut $730,000 for the 2025-26 school year. Cuts include: Two retirements ($60K) Eliminate summer days for media specialists ($3K) High School Social Studies attrition ($131K)…

Construct Tomorrow Teaches Students About Careers in Construction

  DULUTH, Minn — High Schoolers got a chance to try their hands at construction today! The DECC hosted “Construct Tomorrow”. An event aimed at getting people into construction apprenticeships. During the day local Highschoolers were there to learn and try things out. They got to meet employers, try out different tools and equipment, and talk to experts. “A lot…

‘Duluth Promise’ Promotes Workforce Partnerships with Local Students

DULUTH, Minn. — A new initiative in Duluth is planning to not only solve retention issues, but also fix a shrinking workforce. ‘The Duluth Promise’ is a new partnership between educational institutions and workforce partners to build a stronger local workforce. By linking the two, schools will be able to equip students with career paths, by teaching them in-demand skills…

“T Building” Welcomes in New Integrated Manufacturing Space at Lake Superior College

DULUTH, Minn.– Lake Superior College’s downtown location for welding, mechanics, and robotics students is now part of its main campus in Duluth. The space with the “Trades and Technology” portions of the campus has been remodeled for the additional students. The area will house classrooms for everything related to Fire and EMT, Carpentry and Welding alongside other trade opportunities. In…

St. Louis River Summit Celebrates Major Cleanup Milestone

SUPERIOR, Wis. — A three-day summit looks to celebrate and educate the progress and history of the St. Louis River. The St. Louis River has been a major area of concern after parts of the tributary were contaminated by a former US Steel Superfund site. At this year’s summit, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was proud to announce some success. Last…

Childcare Advocates Participating in “A Day Without Childcare” Rally

DULUTH, Minn.– The importance of prioritizing childcare centers and providers is being highlighted across the country today including in Duluth. Childcare providers, teachers and parents gathered at ‘Young Minds Learning Center’ to highlight the importance of properly funded childcare. A press conference, march, a rally, and multiple center closures happened in Duluth to drive the point home. The advocates are…

Local Instructors Meet for 12th Annual Lake Superior Summit on Teaching of Writing

DULUTH, Minn.– As the world continues evolving, so do the methods teachers use in the classrooms. For 12 years now The Lake Superior Summit on Teaching of Writing and English as Second Language has been gathering teachers from 6 different institutions for this collaborative event. The topics covered included teaching and learning with disabilities, communication, and workshops. Every year they…

Spring Career Fair at UW-Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin – Superior held its annual Spring Career Fair today. Attendees had the opportunity to explore careers, network with potential employers, and get professional headshots. They also welcome students from all of the local colleges as well as alumni and community members. Seventy-five employers were there including many regional health care providers and law…

Superior Middle School holds its first Young Writers Conference

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Aspiring authors in Superior had a chance to learn more about writing from local authors today. Superior Middle School held its first Young Writers Conference. Middle school students were given a chance to submit a piece of writing. Fifteen submissions from each grade were chosen to attend. At the conference, students got to hear from a published…

Interim President of Northland College Speaks About Campus Closure

ASHLAND, Wis. — The Interim President of the soon-to-close Northland College is talking about the difficult decision that the university is in. On Wednesday, the college made the unexpected announcement that the 133-year-old college is shutting down at the end of this academic school year. The news came just five months after northland college officials said they received donations to…

Northland College to Close at End of 2024-25 Academic School Year

ASHLAND, Wis. — Northland College Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Wednesday to permanently close the college at the end of the 2024-25 academic school year. The college was founded in 1892, being the first to fully integrate an environmental focus with its liberal arts curriculum. But after it’s 133-year run, officials say the college is closing due to declining…

Students participate in annual winter walk to school day

DULUTH, Minn. — It was a frigid morning for those students participating in the annual winter walk to school day. On Feb. 5, schools across the state of Minnesota encouraged students to walk or bike to school if able, instead of their usual mode of transportation. Congdon Park Elementary was one such school, and had many families who lived close…

‘Climate Future’ Conference at UMD

DULUTH, Minn.– The future climate of Duluth is the center of a two-day public conference at UMD this week. Environmental experts throughout the state of Minnesota are part of the “Climate Future” conference, including the D-N-R, NOAA and ‘the institute of environment’ a U-M-D. Workshops, panel discussions and presentations are all part of the process to engage everyday citizens who…

Pass Program Begins between DTA and Duluth Public Schools

DULUTH, Minn. — High School Students in Duluth have more access to transportation around the city. Duluth Public Schools and the Duluth Transit Authority have partnered to offer all high school students and staff free bus rides through the DTA. This will help give students more ways to get to and from school. There aren’t limits on the passes, so…

‘Catastrophic Failure’ Of Pipe Causes Significant Water Damage At Keewatin Elementary

KEEWATIN, Minn. — A “catastrophic failure” of a pipe Sunday morning caused significant water damage at Keewatin Elementary, forcing the school to be closed through at least Tuesday, Jan. 28, according to Principal Dr. Rae Villebrun. Cafeteria “We are currently working with Service Master, IEA, our custodial/maintenance staff, and insurance company to ensure the building is ready for the students…

Applications Now Open For St. Louis County Sheriff’s Citizens’ Academy

DULUTH, Minn. — The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office has opened registration for its Citizens’ Police Academy. The academy is happening every Tuesday night from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. from March 4 until May 20. The free interactive presentations and tours will show you the inner workings of a dozen departments within the Sheriff’s Office, including the Jail, 911…

Proctor Middle School Principal Named MN’s Principal of The Year

PROCTOR, Minn. — One ‘awesome’ local principal has won the Minnesota Principal of the Year award. Mr. Awsumb at Proctor Middle School didn’t go into the job for winning awards, but spent some time sharing with us the dedication that led to getting that recognition. With a flurry of fist bumps for everyone who passes him, It’s no surprise that…

Duluth School District Budget Reduction Leads to Potential Layoffs

DULUTH, Minn.– Staff layoffs are taking place in the Duluth School District due to budget cuts. Superintendent John Magas says, the budget reduction is caused by pandemic relief funding ending as well as financial challenges, inflation, and rising special education costs. 83-85% of that budget is responsible for salaries and benefits. Over 50 meetings took place to discuss the best course…