Meeting #12

January 19, 2010

CALL TO ORDER BY CHAIR SCHMITT - Chair Schmitt called the meeting to order.

Newly elected board member Brad Anderson and re-elected board member Barb Schmitt repeated the oath of office.

Roll Call was taken with the following present for all or part of the meeting: Board members B. Anderson, P. Anderson, Longbella, Schmitt and Swecker (Comprising a Quorum) Freeman was absent; Superintendent Schmitz; Principals Mr. Ogg and Mr. Luksik; Financial Coordinator/Food Service Director Mr. Moore; Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Mr. Christoffersen; Staples World Manager Ms. Halvorson; Mr. Youngquist, Architects Rego and Younquist, Inc., teacher Ms. Adams, nine (9) high school students and Administrative Assistant/ Recording Secretary Ms. Shriver. Chair Schmitt led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion by Longbella, seconded by B. Anderson to adopt the agenda. Motion Carried.

REORGANIZATION ITEMS:

Swecker nominated Ms. Schmitt for chairperson, seconded by Longbella to cease nominations and to cast a unanimous vote for Ms. Schmitt as Board Chairperson for 2010. Motion Carried.

Schmitt nominated member P. Anderson to fill the office of Vice Chair, seconded by Longbella to cease nominations and to cast a unanimous vote for member P. Anderson as Vice Chair. Motion Carried.

Swecker nominated Longbella to fill the office of Clerk, seconded by B. Anderson to cease nominations and to cast a unanimous vote for Mr. Longbella as clerk. Motion Carried.

Longbella nominated Freeman to fill the office of Treasurer, seconded by P. Anderson to cease nominations and to cast a unanimous vote for Ms. Freeman as treasurer. Motion Carried.

Chair Schmitt, who is on the policy committee said the committee is recommending rotation of committee members, a chair for each committee who will give report at board meetings; be the contact person for that committee; after being chair they would move to another committee; board chair will not chair any committees; and spoke about timing for meetings according to what will best fit committee members schedules.

Board members will serve on the following Educational Committees:

Freshwater Education District –Longbella, B. Anderson, Alt.

National Joint Powers Alliance (Elected) - Barb Schmitt

National Joint Powers Alliance Delegate Assembly - Freeman and Swecker

MN State High School League - Longbella

MSBA Legislative Liaison - P. Anderson

Region VIII - Schmitt

Community Education Advisory Council - Freeman

Community Concern for Youth Advisory Council - Supt. Schmitz

Finance Committee and 2010-11 Budget Reduction Committee - P. Anderson, Chair; Schmitt, B. Anderson,

Facilities/Health and Safety Committee - Longbella, Chair; P. Anderson, B. Anderson

Policy Committee - Swecker, Chair; Longbella, Schmitt

Curriculum and Technology Committee - Freeman, Chair; Schmitt, Swecker

Meet and Confer Committee - B. Anderson, Chair; Longbella, Freeman

Negotiations Teams, Instructional Group - Schmitt and Swecker

Support Staff and Professional Group - B. Anderson and Longbella

Principals and Transportation - P. Anderson and Freeman

Superintendent - B. Anderson and Schmitt

CONSENT AGENDA:

Motion by Swecker, seconded by B. Anderson, to approve the following on the consent agenda: Approval of Minutes for December 21, 2009 Meeting; Acceptance of Cash Donations and In-Kind Contributions - $4,576.43; Accept donations from Richard and Wanda Oberlander to Staples Elementary School - Value $5,000 Motion Carried.

RECOGNIZE PUBLIC - Chair Schmitt recognized and thanked everyone for attending.

FINANCE ITEMS:

Mr. Moore presented the Financial Report including the Fund Description, Cash Only, through 1/13/10; Disbursement Report from 12/15/09 through 1/13/10 of checks #80719 through #80962 for board review; Investments as of 1/13/10 and YTD Expenditure Report of various funds dated 1/10. (Complete report can be viewed at the District Offi ce.) Mr. Moore also spoke on OPEB investments and would like to meet with Finance Committee to discuss how/what to do with losses.

Motion by Longbella, seconded by Schmitt, to approve the financial report and authorize payment of vouchers. Motion Carried.

Motion by Swecker, seconded by P. Anderson for permission to investigate aide anticipation borrowing for the remainder of the 2009-10 fiscal year due to state delaying payments to school districts. Motion Carried.

Mr. Schmitz went over the Finance Committee minutes: “what ifs” from last year and this year, estimated revenues vs. expenditures for school year 2011- 12, said group will review the possible budget cuts in the amount of $250,000; possible early retirement incentive for certified staff, pursuing the joint school board and SMEA executive committee meeting with president of Minneapolis Federation of Teachers to pursue creating opportunities to draw more children into our district.

Longbella introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REDUCTIONS IN PROGRAMS AND POSITIONS AND REASONS THEREFORE

WHEREAS, the financial condition of the school district dictates that the school board must reduce expenditures immediately, and

WHEREAS, there has been a reduction in student enrollment and insufficient state funding, and

WHEREAS, this reduction in expenditure and decrease in student enrollment and state funding may include discontinuance of positions and discontinuance or curtailment of programs, and

WHEREAS, a determination must be made as to which teachers’ contracts must be terminated and not renewed and which teachers may be placed on unrequested leave of absence without pay or fringe benefits in effecting discontinuance of positions,

BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent School District No. 2170, as follows:

That the School Board hereby directs the Superintendent of Schools and administration to consider the discontinuance of programs or positions to effectuate economies in the school district and reduce expenditures and, as a result of a reduction in enrollment and insufficient state funding, make recommendations to the school board for the discontinuance of programs, curtailment of programs, discontinuance of positions or curtailment of positions.

The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Swecker and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof:

B. Anderson, P. Anderson, Longbella, Schmitt and Swecker (Freeman was absent)

And the following voted against the same: None

Whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.

Motion by Longbella, seconded by Schmitt to approve resolution keeping board salary at present rate of $3,214.29. Motion Carried.

Paul Youngquist from Rego and Youngquist, Inc. handed out information with estimates for remodeling/ construction for Motley and Staples Elementary entrances, high school gym entry and floor, Media Center windows, Freshwater building, Centennial Auditorium and Motley exterior. After much discussion the board authorized Mr. Youngquist to complete construction drawings and seek bids for Motley entrance, entry to high school gym with update to bathrooms and a face lift; and new siding for Freshwater building. Other alternate bids would be for new high school gym floor and backstops; remodeling entry at Staples Elementary and windows for high school media center. Younquist’s preliminary estimates for the three base bids totaled $612,824. Mr. Schmitz outlined funding sources for about $556,000, not including Freshwater project, which siding was estimated at about $96,000 and some of the money earned by leasing that building has been set aside for maintenance of it. Fund sources for the other two projects include reserves from gym floor and activity fields as well as deferred maintenance reserve and another portion will come from the non-designated operating capital fund and can only be used for capital projects.

Motion by Longbella, seconded by Anderson to approve seeking bids as stated in Facilities Committee report. Motion Carried.

PERSONNEL:

Motion by P. Anderson, seconded by Swecker to approve the 2009-10 contract for Lisa Kruchten, Communications Coordinator, 16 hours a week at a Grade 10. Longbella abstained. Motion Carried.

Motion by Longbella, seconded by B. Anderson, to approve Renee Olds request to retire as a bus driver effective 1-29-10. Motion Carried.

Motion by P. Anderson, seconded by Swecker, to give permission to post for a FT school bus driver to replace R. Olds. Motion Carried.

OTHER ITEMS

Date for Joint School Board meeting with SMEA Executive Committee and Lynn Nordgren, President of Minneapolis Federation of Teachers - No date yet

REPORTS:

School Board: FED - Governing Board of Education Jan. 5, 2010 Meeting Minutes - in board packet

Mr. Ogg, High School Principal, first semester ended Jan. 22, 2010, para recognition this week statewide; snow daze is week of Feb. 1; they will be participating in the 2010 Minnesota Student Survey that is statewide every three years for freshmen and seniors. Mr. Luksik, Elementary Principal: SPARKS Program; Jan. 25 is in-service day; Feb. 1 DARE program will be at 5th grade in Staples only, Morrison County no longer holds DARE; Readathon is in February and they are preparing for MCA’s that will be given in April. Mr. Schmitz, Middle School Principal, said play auditions are wrapping up; Facilities Committee is looking at how can best use space and MEEP is looking at how can better utilize police liaison.

Mr. Christoffersen, Buildings & Grounds Supervisor, said they are doing facility assessments, long range planning money for pilot program which we would be one (1) of three (3) which would receive software being paid for assessment program.

Superintendent Schmitz spoke about looking at Next Step Online Learning with Freshwater and developing a joint powers agreement with schools within Freshwater, flexibility with staff and programs paying so much per student. Freshwater will be hiring a new director and he is a member of the committee doing this; he will be meeting with our staff regarding interview questions and will also get input from parents for our principal process this spring.

UPCOMING MEETING SCHEDULE:

T

uesday, Feb. 16, 2010,

6:45 p.m., Regular school board meeting, Motley

Adjourn: Motion by Longbella, seconded by B. Anderson at 9:03 p.m. to adjourn. Motion Carried.

Chad Longbella, Clerk

Jennelle Shriver, Recording Secretary

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