Miltona school partners with Smokey Timbers

Talk about it

A partnership was recently formed between the Smokey Timbers Foundation and the Miltona Science Magnet School.

At Monday’s regular meeting, District 206 school board members approved an agreement that will designate the forest land within Smokey Timbers Camp as part of the Miltona School Forest.

Back in 2008, the school board approved Miltona Science Magnet School’s application to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to designate the school property by the Miltona school as School Forest.

The application was approved and the Minnesota School Forest Program has since provided valuable educational experiences on natural resources for the students.

Smokey Timbers Foundation, which owns the Smokey Timbers Camp located six miles from the school, would like to increase the availability, attractiveness and use of the property by partnering with the school in the School Forest designation.

Smokey Timbers Camp includes more than 21 acres of primarily forested area and 550 feet of lakeshore. The attributes that will be used as an environmental education resource include, but are not limited to, the following:

•Extensive rural woodland area including a variety of flora (plants of that particular region) and fauna (animals of that particular region).

•Native birds.

•Wetlands.

•Natural lakeshore.

•Established and maintained hiking trails.

•Developed campsites and shelter structures.

•Numerous pit toilets.

•Inspected and approved water supply.

•Storm shelter.

•Off-road parking with bus accommodations.

In other action

The school board approved a bus replacement plan that was presented by Kevin McMenimen, transportation director, Bruce McComas, interim business director and Jeff Jorgensen, special education director.

The plan recommends leasing four handicapped accessible buses and one handicapped accessible van using special education funding for payments. In addition, the transportation department will trade in four buses and one van, which will help reduce the cost.

McComas explained to school board members that using special education funding is a state-approved program.

“This is a way to manage the budget and take advantage of the program,” said McComas, adding that there are many districts that participate in this program. Buses will be purchased through a state contract so the district will get state prices.

Tags: local news, miltona science magnet school, district 206, smokey timbers, news, miltona, education, forest, dnr