Tri-County News

Kimball School Board Meeting, December 15, 2021


Regular Meeting – Board of Education, December 15, 2021, Ind. School District 739, Kimball, MN

The Truth In Taxation Hearing started at 6:00 p.m. following the Pledge of Allegiance. Superintendent Widvey reviewed the prior year audited expenditures and revenues as well as the proposed budget for the 2021-2022 school year. The amounts of the proposed 2021 Payable 2022 Levy were reviewed by fund.

Vice Chair Kurt Helgeson opened the meeting at 6:10 p.m. with members, Mahlum, Eric Helgeson, and Gallagher in attendance. Members Schreiner and Becker were absent.

Motion by Gallagher, seconded by Mahlum, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 4-0.

Community participation included a report from student representative Annah Winter.

Celebrations and successes of students and staff included fantastic band and choir concerts; they were very well attended. Thank you to Ms. Wang and Mr. Frerich for their work putting the programs together. Robotics is off to a great start. Thank you to staff and administration for their swift action with regards to the lockdown. Congratulations to alumnus Luke Becker receiving the National CTE Teacher of the Year Award. Also congratulations to an ABE graduate receiving their diploma tonight.

Motion by E. Helgeson, seconded by Gallagher, to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carried 4-0. The Consent Agenda included:

• Approve minutes from the November 17, 2021 Regular Meeting.

• Approval of Bills.

• Treasurer’s Report.

• Approve hiring Paige Sommers, Cubs Club Assistant starting November 15, 2021, at Category III, Step 1 of the ESP Agreement.

• Approve hiring Kim Sandstrom, paraprofessional, at Category III, Step 6 of the ESP Agreement, starting January 10, 2022.

• Accept resignation received from Pat Erickson, paraprofessional, effective November 30, 2021.

• Approve Jamie Auwles, volunteer girls’ basketball coach.

• Approve change in -coaching –
Celest Stang – 8th gr. Girls’ Basketball, Aaron Fleck – remainder of C-Squad Girls’ Basketball, beginning December 22nd, 2021 (approx. 67% of C-Squad season).

• Resolution Accepting Donations.

Ms. Bonnifield reported on the high school building being busy day and night with not only the school day, but afternoon and evening activities nearly every night of the week. Currently staff in general are healthy with few absences. She is working to put together the Course Registration Guide for the 22-23 school year. FACS instructor Ms. Kuebelbeck received a grant to provide tablets for use by students in the cooking labs. Lastly, she reported on the academic and testing portion of the World’s Best Workforce report.

Mr. Timmerman reported on the Achievement and Integration portion of the World’s Best Workforce report. Elementary staff and administration learned a lot with the recent lockdown. Thank you to the music department for their work on the holiday program, and to the PIE members for the successful raffle. The elementary staff and students are celebrating the eight days of Christmas with different themes each day. The elementary is in need of an additional special education teacher. He will be interviewing this week. Mr. Widvey, Ms. Bonnifield, and Mr. Timmerman are working to put together a Flexible Learning Day plan.

Mr. Widvey reported on:

• Construction update – final two units are scheduled to be installed the last week of December.

• MSBA Conference is January 13 and 14.

• John Powers, with ICS, will be presenting demographics information at the January board meeting.

• The property the board asked him to check into is 26.876 acres and currently lists at $299,900.

• ESSER III grant received approval this afternoon.

• December 3rd lockdown; proud of staff and the way they handled the situation.

• He will be out of the district December 23-27 and the 30th through January 2.

Following review, motion by Mahlum, seconded by E. Helgeson, to certify the 2021 Payable 2022 Levy. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Gallagher, seconded by E. Helgeson, to approve the Seniority Listing of Teachers for 2021-2022 as presented. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Mahlum, seconded by Gallagher, to approve the first revision to the FY22 budget (below). Motion carried 4-0.

Revenues Expenditures

General Fund/Capital — $9,744,021 $9,655,500

Food Service Fund — 419,231       409,266

Community Services Fund       566,142       530,141

Construction Fund    3,215,000

Debt Service Fund  — 937,047       938,639

Scholarship Fund — 20,000 20,000

TOTALS — $11,686,441 $14,768,546

Motion by Gallagher, seconded by E. Helgeson, to adopt the Resolution Directing the Administration to Make Recommendations for Reductions in Programs and Positions. Motion carried 4-0 on a roll-call vote.

Following brief discussion, motion by E. Helgeson, seconded by Gallagher, to approve revision to Policy 721 – Uniform Grant Guidance Policy Regarding Federal Revenue Sources. Motion carried 4-0.

Brief discussion was held regarding Policy 513 and 513.1 – Student Promotion, Retention, and Program Design. Revision or recommendation will be brought to the January 19 meeting.

Motion by Mahlum, seconded by Gallagher, to approve the World’s Best Workforce Plan Report as presented. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion by E. Helgeson, seconded by Gallagher, to approve hiring of Aaron Bernu, part-time custodian, at Category II, Step 7 of the Non-Licensed Agreement, starting 12/13/2021. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion by Gallagher, seconded by Mahlum, to accept resignation received from Morghan Mitchell, American Sign Language Interpreter, effective January 7, 2022. Motion carried 4-0.

The next Benton Stearns Education District meeting is -January 19 at 3:30 pm. The next Regular/
Organizational School Board Meeting is on January 19 starting at 6:00 pm.

Motion by Gallagher, seconded by Mahlum, to adjourn meeting at 7:30 p.m. Motion carried 4-0.

Eric Helgeson, Clerk

Published in the Tri-County News Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022.

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