By Noah Johnson

njohnson@dailypress.net

ESCANABA –The Escanaba Board of Education heard a presentation from Escanaba Upper Elementary School Principal Craig LeClaire regarding the schools’ staffing, academic numbers, the DARE program and the Student Lighthouse Team (SLT) at its meeting Moform leadership tenday night.

LeClaire brought special guest speakers along to explain the SLT program, including fifth graders Aurora Allen, Cedric Guidon and Adalynn Hansen.

According to the trio’s presentation, SLT members are “a group of 5th-grade students that act as positive role models and help cultivate leadership skills in our school.”

Allen explained who the SLT members are, saying the members are dependable, reliable, and respectful individuals with a great work ethic.

SLT members “do their best to make good choices in and out of school,” Allen said.

Guidon explained how to become a SLT member, saying students can apply for the program at the end of fourth grade.

“There are 40 spots available, but over 70 kids apply. Students that aren’t chosen get an opportunity to set goals based on which areas need improvement, which are reviewed after the first quarter,” Guidon explained.

He added that members help the school and staff through expectation walkthroughs, morning announcements, and school beautification projects such as window painting to create a warm and inviting environment.

Hansen spoke about other programs that the team participates in, such as helping with the concession stand during sporting events, peer buddies, where SLT members pair with third-grade students as mentors/friends, and school tours for new or prospective families.

“Every kid on the SLT will get at least one chance to work the concession stand,” Hansen explained.

Allen wrapped up the presentation by highlighting other SLT activities, such as participating in food drives, after-school meetings, and visiting a local nursing home.

The board asked the students about their favorite part of the SLT program; Guidon said he enjoyed visiting the senior home because he sees residents smile and light up when the group comes in.

Allen and Hansen both said they enjoy participating in the morning announcements because it allows them to be creative.

LeClaire also spoke to the board about his staff at the upper elementary, highlighting a few new hires, student progress/performance reports, and resources for struggling or troublesome students.

He said that the overall student body at Escanaba Upper Elementary is doing well compared to other schools of the same size.

School Resource Officer (SRO) Dustin Stempki gave the board an update on the DARE program, a program Stempki brought back to the school in the fall of 2024.

“We had our first DARE graduation in December; it went great, it was awesome (and) the kids loved it. I’m teaching the second half right now, on week seven,” Stempki said.

In other business, the board unanimously approved policy changes relating to earn sick time leave and Title 9.

Escanaba Area Schools Superintendent Coby Fletcher said at a previous meeting, “Title 9 policies are major changes, but changes that we’re familiar with, and the earned sick time leave isn’t major, but we need to bring ourselves in line with them.

The board also unanimously approved Fletcher’s first goal, which was to give more independence to teachers in the classroom.

“I think this is the way we should be going,” said Vice President of the Board, Steve Howes.

In a previous Committee of the Whole meeting, Fletcher said, “I wanted to convey the idea that we trust in that expertise, and as superintendent, I believe that they deserve a certain amount of autonomy in their classrooms to do what they do.”

The board gets together again for the Committee of the Whole meeting scheduled for Monday, March 10, at 6 p.m.