Central Middle School Principal Bob Simonson will retire in June after 32 years with the East Grand Forks School District.
Simonson started as principal at the school in 1979 when it was formerly Central Junior High. Before then, he spent four years as assistant principal of East Grand Forks Senior High, five years as a principal in the Buxton-Reynolds, N.D., area and four years as a teacher in Hope, N.D.
Simonson, 63, said he's not sure what he'll do after he retires.
"Maybe travel a little bit," he said. "My wife is retired now, too."
Simonson said two things he'll never forget about his career in East Grand Forks are rebuilding Central Middle School after the 1997 flood and the transition from a junior high to a middle school in 1990.
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Central Middle School was one of the first schools in the area to transition from grades 7-9 to grades 6-8, said Simonson.
After the flood, Simonson remembers holding some classes in what is now the Senior High weight room and storage space while a new school was being built under a practice dome purchased from the Seattle Seahawks football team.
GreenWorks
grants available
North Dakota K-12 teachers who participated in a Project Learning Tree workshop are eligible to apply for GreenWorks grant funds.
This year, $100,000 will be awarded to schools and youth organizations for environmental neighborhood improvement projects that involve youth in the community. Sample projects include, but are not limited to, outdoor classrooms and gardens, habitat restoration, watershed improvement and energy conservation.
Grants up to $5,000 are available. The first deadline for applications is April 30. For more information, visit www.plt.org or contact the North Dakota Forest Service at (701) 228-5446.
Camp Invention
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The Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji will host Camp Invention, a national science and creativity day camp from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 23-27 for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Campers will take apart old appliances and discover how they work, make their own inventions and immerse themselves in imaginary worlds.
Costs are $180 if registration is submitted before March 15 or if two children register at the same time. After March 15, fees increase to $199 unless two children register at the same time. Some scholarships will be available. For more information, contact the Headwaters Science Center at (218) 444-4472.
Ricker reports on education. Reach her at (701) 780-1104, (800) 477-6572 ext. 104 or aricker@gfherald.com .
