DECA conference
Officers and members of the Grand Forks Central Distributive Education Clubs of America chapter were among about 400 members from across the state who recently attended the North Dakota Fall Leadership Conference in Bismarck.
Members attended a session where they listened to the president and general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves speak about the pro basketball team's success in marketing. They also attended a Timberwolves game and workshops about leadership and DECA.
Pay it forward tour
About 75 high school students in Grand Forks boarded a bus Wednesday night for the High School Pay It Forward Tour, one of eight in North Dakota this year, the state's largest high school tour in history.
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The tours, led by Students Today Leaders Forever, will travel to Kansas City, Mo., making three stops on the way to conduct service projects. A total of 305 students statewide will participate.
Students from both Red River and Central high schools left Wednesday night after the Cushman Classic on their second tour with UND students and high school faculty. The first was last fall.
Students Today Leaders Forever has sent out 90 Pay It Forward tours since 2003 with 3,540 participants collectively serving 43,150 hours.
Math test worries
A new math test that determines whether high school students in Minnesota can graduate is causing concern among school administrators.
An administrative judge ruled Thursday the state can move forward with the new high school graduation test.
Administrators are most concerned about the math test, which this year's high school juniors will be the first to take. About two-thirds of juniors failed a similar math test last year.
"This is a daunting issue coming at us. These are almost 70 percent of our students, who might already be accepted to college, who are getting A's and B's ... who might not get a diploma," said Grace Keliher, director of governmental relations for the Minnesota School Boards Association.
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Because students take the math test in their junior year, there is little time for them to get remedial help and retake the exam before their scheduled graduation, said Rick Spicuzza, assistant superintendent for assessment and curriculum for South Washington County Schools.
The state Department of Education said students now have more time to "learn and master the material before they are tested." Officials said money will be available for remedial programs.
-- Herald staff and wire reports
