REGULAR MEETING Unofficial Minutes Board of Education April 19, 2017 Ind. School District 739 Kimball, MN
The meeting was called to order by Clerk Becker at 6:00 with members Becker, Davis, Hooper and Meyer present. Members Schreiner and Zipoy were absent. The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all.
Clerk Becker called for appointment of temporary Chair, asking Meyer if he would step in. Member Meyer accepted the role.
Motion by Davis, seconded by Hooper to approve the agenda as presented. MC
Eight sixth grade students, along with their teachers, presented a math project that they have put together. These students have excelled in math, having completed some 7th grade lessons. The students did a great job presenting details of costs if they were to take a trip. Included in the costs were airfare, car rental, lodging, meals, and souvenirs. The students were congratulated on their talents, and thanked for presenting to the board.
Jennifer Ludlow, a new member of PIE, shared that at their last meeting the group had about ten new members, and that the group should be able to keep the organization going. Some guidelines are being put into place to help guide the process as donations are made for school purchases. The board was glad to hear of the increased membership.
Zach Boser, Chemistry Instructor, shared his experience in teaching the first AP Chemistry class at Kimball. He feels that it may be a good idea to require at least one year of chemistry prior to taking AP Chemistry so that students understand some of the fundamentals before jumping in to the college rigor. It is exciting for him to be able to teach high school students some of the things he himself was not able to learn until he was in college. Students are fortunate to have this opportunity. The AP exam is scheduled for May 1st, the first day available for AP exams nationally.
Mayor Tammy Konz, Emergency Management Supervisor Brian Kiffmeier, Fire Chief Mike Schneider, and Police Chief Jason Mehr presented their suggestions on bringing the community and the school together to put together an Active Threat drill at the school. This will happen in several stages, the first to be completed prior to January 1, 2018. The total cost for the phase 1 training is $1,800, which would be shared equally between the three entities.
Celebrations and success of students and staff included congratulations to the Envirothon team including Athena Capes, Carl Blanchard, Jarrett Edwards, and Riley Miller, who placed third on Wednesday, qualifying them for State competition. A thank you to everyone who helped out at the first hosted track meet on Monday. Both the girls?Äô team and the boys?Äô team won. The Robotics team left on Tuesday for Kentucky to compete in the World Competition.
Motion by Hooper, seconded by Becker, to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion Carried. The Consent Agenda included:
?Ä¢ Approve minutes from the March 15, 2017 Regular meeting
?Ä¢ Approval of Bills
?Ä¢ Treasurer?Äôs and Quarterly Reports
?Ä¢ Approve reinvestment of $97,000 CD at First National Bank of McGregor, TX, at 1.2% for 365 days, maturing 3/20/2018
?Ä¢ Approve reinvestment of $246,000 CD at First Internet Bank of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, at 1.17% for 365 days, maturing 3/20/2018
?Ä¢ Accept letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, received from Laure Doering, High School Paraprofessional
?Ä¢ Approve hiring Emily Fogel, Early Childhood Special Education Instructor for 2017-2018, at BA, Step 1 of the Master Agreement, pending receipt of appropriate licensure
?Ä¢ Approve Long-Term Substitute Teacher Contract with Patty Schiefelbein, beginning March 24th through June 2nd, 2017, for Melissa Carriveau
?Ä¢ Approve hiring of Dave Konz, part-time custodian, at Category II, step 2 of the Non-Licensed schedule
?Ä¢ Approve Extra-Curricular Contract with John Benson, Head Football coach for fall, 2017
?Ä¢ Approve Extra-Curricular Contract with Jennifer (Hess) Fowler, Head Speech coach for 2017-2018
?Ä¢ Accept $100 donation from Ziegler, Inc. towards the Robotics team
?Ä¢ Accept $100 donation from Fair Haven Lions Club towards the Robotics team
?Ä¢ Accept $200 donation from Land O?ÄôLakes Oil & Propane, towards the Robotics team
?Ä¢ Accept $250 donation from Stearns Electric Association, towards the Robotics team
?Ä¢ Accept $1,000 donation from Central Minnesota Manufacturer?Äôs Association, towards the Robotics team
?Ä¢ Accept $850 donation from Kimball Firemen?Äôs Relief Assn. towards the Robotics team
?Ä¢ Accept $3,200 donation received from the family of Marjorie Greeley and PEPSICO Foundation, towards the Scholarship fund
?Ä¢ Accept $100 donation from Scott and Melissa Carriveau, towards the Math Teachers Scholarship
?Ä¢ Accept $500 donation from Stearns Electric Assn. towards the Scholarship fund
?Ä¢ Accept $50 donation from Al & Maureen Dingmann towards the Scholarship fund
?Ä¢ Accept $1,960 in miscellaneous donations towards the after prom party
?Ä¢ Accept donation of $693.98 from PIE towards the purchase of classroom speakers and projector bulbs at the elementary
?Ä¢ Acknowledge donation of use of a Case IH side-by-side ATV, from John Arnold and Arnold?Äôs of Kimball, for use at hosted track meets this spring
Ms. Johnson reported on testing at the elementary. They are about half-way complete, with two weeks remaining. The students involved in testing are working very hard, while the students not involved with testing are very supportive, making posters and cheering the others on.
Mr. Widvey reported on also testing at the high school. Overall it is going well. They have gone with a lighter schedule, spreading tests over four days rather than one long seated session. Students seem to do much better with this schedule. Initial results indicate that our students are doing very well. Preliminary results from MDE will be available in time for the May board meeting. Many of the juniors took their ACT test off-site on Wednesday. There are a couple students who will be testing on a make-up day. Graduation is scheduled for June 1st
at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Wagner reported on the proposed fitness facility/building on the southwest corner of the high school. He has now received estimates for the HVAC system of approximately $35,000. This is in addition to the estimated $50,000 for concrete, electrical, etc. Unless funds are raised to cover all of these costs, the project will not happen. The district is not in a position to be able to cover this expense. The press box will not be demolished and rebuilt until after the track season. The two-week window for construction is just too tight, and if there were to be any rain delays, we would not have a facility available for the large meet scheduled for May 12. On Friday, April 21st, State Representative Tom Emmer will be visiting Kimball Schools at 1:00. He will be looking at our CTE (Career and Tech Education) programming and learn of our planned apprenticeship program for next year. STRIDE Academy is planning to close at the end of this school year. Since the announcement a couple weeks ago, we have received numerous phone calls inquiring about students enrolling for next year. An additional bus stop will be made at St. Mary?Äôs Church/School in St. Augusta to help accommodate students in that area. It?Äôs time to start thinking about updating the mailer that the district has mailed out the past several years. The Chamber is also looking at updating the billboard. Board members are asked to make their site visits to the elementary and high schools before the end of the year.
Mr. Wagner reported on Benton-Stearns Education District. Member Hooper brought up the culture of the schools. A couple years ago we started the Nice Bike initiative, and that is great. But what is happening in the buildings; what else is being done to improve the culture of the buildings?
The Business Manager explained that three vendors had attended the mandatory pre-bid meeting for the districts food service program. However, two of the vendors chose not to bid. Taher, Inc. was the only contractor submitting a bid. Due to the increase in enrollment and participation, they were able to reduce both their management fee and their administrative fee in providing their bid. Motion by Hooper, seconded by Davis to accept the bid to provide food services received from Taher, Inc. MC
Mr. Wagner presented the Education District Agreement for Benton-Stearns Education District, which needs annual approval by the board. Motion by Becker, seconded by Hooper to approve this agreement as presented. MC
Motion by Becker, Seconded by Davis, to approve Policy 213.1 ?Äì District Advisory Committee as revised. MC
Policy 410.2 ?Äì Return To Work Program was presented for its first reading.
Announcements and future meeting dates included the next Benton-Stearns Education District meeting, as well as the next regular board meeting are on 5/17.
Motion by Hooper, seconded by Davis to adjourn at 7:23 p.m.
Brian Becker, Clerk
Published in the Tri-County News Thursday, April 27, 2017.