REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
FEB. 23, 2015
DISTRICT CENTER BOARD ROOM
The regular school board meeting of Independent School District 748 was called to order at 5 p.m. by Krista Durrwachter, chair. Members present: Durrwachter; Michelle Meyer, vice chair; Pam Raden, clerk; Mary McCabe, director; Jason Nies, director; Pat Marushin, director; and Jeff Schwiebert, superintendent.
A motion was made by Meyer and seconded by McCabe to approve the agenda. All in favor. Motion carried.
Recognition of visitor John Ellis, parent of current student, would like the school to address the lack of an accelerated math, science and other curriculum for the 5th- and 6th-graders at SMS.
A motion was made by Raden and seconded by Meyer to approve consent items a-c as presented below:
a. Minutes of the regular school board meeting held on Jan. 26, 2015.
b. Checks in the amount of $1,342,666.89 as presented:
General Fund 1,071,690.98
Food Service Fund 98,707.38
Transportation Fund 113,720.75
Community Service Fund 26,357.62
Capital Expenditure Fund 28,267.69
Building Fund 2,641.40
Summer Rec Agency Fund 1,281.07
Check numbers 159019 to 159370
Receipts in the amount of $4,410,499.12 as presented:
General Fund 3,027,939.85
Food Service Fund 249,887.56
Transportation Fund 14,708.06
Community Service Fund 117,600.31
Capital Expenditure Fund 77,304.56
Building Fund 825,871.19
Debt Service Fund 97,187.59
Receipts 40641 to 40746
Wire transfers in the amount of $133,948.26 as presented:
General Fund 127,759.35
Food Service Fund 3,916.32
Community Service Fund 2,272.59
Wire transfers 201400041-201400045
c. Accept the following donations: Oak Ridge Elementary PTC, Sartell-St. Stephen School District, $2,146.70, ORE Book Fund – library books; Oak Ridge Elementary PTC, Sartell-St. Stephen School District, $599, subscription to Moby Max; Oak Ridge Elementary PTC, Sartell-St. Stephen School District, $1,600, Terrence Smith, artist in residence; Sabres All-Sport Booster, Sartell High School, $15,983.70, scoreboard.
d. Accept the resignation of Kathryn L. Ahlstrom, Oak Ridge Elementary, student supervisor, effective Feb. 20, 2015; Jennifer Hurd, Early Childhood, paraprofessional, Feb. 20, 2015; retirement of Laura J. Allen, Oak Ridge Elementary, 4th-grade teacher, June 3, 2015; Julie Tripp, Sartell Middle School, principal, June 30, 2015.
Student representative report: Ryan Kororll, senior at Sartell High School
- With February being ‘I Love to Read’ month, both elementary schools are finding ways to celebrate reading from reading challenges, fun reading activities and special reading times throughout the month.
- ORE PTO will host a Skating Night at Bernick’s Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and a BINGO Night at ORE on Friday, March 13.
- PME PTO will host a BINGO Night on Friday, March 6.
- The Sabre Dance Team became the 2015 Class AA High Kick Champions and placed fourth in the Jazz competition.
- Many other Section events are coming up including swimming and basketball.
- Anna Neeser, Madison Flaherty and Shelby Hall competed at the state gymnastics tournament.
- Rylee Molitor and Noah Peichel qualified for the state wrestling tournament.
- Our Knowledge Bowl team had a very successful meet, and in the CLC division, placed second using their two-team total format.
- The Sabre Speech team won the Sweepstakes Competition at Brainerd this past weekend.
Superintendent report: Jeff Schwiebert, superintendent
- A Special Education Task Force has been meeting for several months to review the District E-12 program and services delivered. Three area special education cooperative directors met with the task force to share insights and program development ideas and opportunities, Duane Borgeson, Benton-Stearns Education District; Nan Records, Sherburne and Northern Wright Special Education Cooperative; and Heidi Hahn, Paul Bunyan Education Cooperative.
- The district is in the process of applying for an Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services grant through the Minnesota Department of Education which supports programming that assists students who need additional academic or behavioral support to succeed in the general education environment.
- The district is beginning the process of reviewing our K-12 Academic Extensions Program.
School Board Committees: School board members will report on committee meetings that have taken place since the last Board meeting.
- Sartell Senior Connection
- The seniors have an interest in a community center at the city level.
- The Community Schools Planning Committee will work to engage members of the Sartell Senior Connection.
- Benton Stearns Meeting
- Services and shared service payments are being discussed to determine equity and processes for all member districts as when the co-op formed in 1989, it used to be more equal in size.
- Outreach Committee
- Met with city leaders to discuss community partnerships with the school district.
- The city has chosen to follow after the district’s planning timetable to allow for the district process to play out which may allow for collaboration.
- Technology Committee
- The committee discussed future technology needs including possible labs and additional student needs with a larger class entering grade 9 for the 2015-16 school year.
- Discussed the BrightBytes survey results that surveyed students, parents and teachers regarding technology use at home and in the classroom.
- District Instructional Technology Specialists are developing a K-12 Digital Citizenship curriculum that will be embedded at all school sites.
- Education Done Differently (EDD) will be a district-wide event on April 16 at Sartell Middle School. It will run from 6:30-8 p.m.
Enrollment Report: Jeff Schwiebert, superintendent of Sartell-St. Stephen School District, reported on the current number of students enrolled in each school in the district.
Technology Education Report: Luke Miller, SMS; Nick Phillips, SHS; and Mark Weimer, SHS, technology education teachers, presented on our grades 5-12 District Technology Education program.
A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to APPROVE THE PERSONNEL OMNIBUS RESOLUTION:
New Employees or Changes: April Bogle, SMS, LTS – 8th-grade math, $191.45/day; Brenda Holter (LOA), 02-23-15 to 05-15-15; Mary Bouchie, DO, LTS –ECSE teacher, $191.45/day, Kelly Hanson (LOA), 03-05-15 to 06-03-15; Julie Counter, SMS, student supervisor, $13.26/ hr., 2 hrs. day, replacement for Jeanne Kobler, 01-05-15; Sheryl Hammond, DO, paraprofessional, $15.71/per hr. RIV,S1, replacement for Sarri Truscinski, 02-23-15; Jennifer Kelley, SMS, sub pool helper, $11/hr., Kristine Hanson (LOA), 03-05-15 to 05-22-15, Marilee Lefeber, SHS, cashier, $13.90/per hr. R1, S1, replacement for Jodi Aizcorbe, 01-15-15; Chris Legatt, SHS, asst. track coach, $3,198, BS1, replacement for Tyler LaBonne, 03/09/15; Adele Munsterman, SMS, LTS – Spanish teacher, $191.45/day, Sarah Coles (LOA), 04-13-15 to 05-22-15; Susan O’Donoghue, ORE, student supervisor, $13.26/per hr. R1, Step 1, replacement for Kathryn Ahlstrom, 02-23-15; Sarri Truscinski, DO, paraprofessional, $15.71/per hr. RIV, S1, replacement for Jenny Hurd (retiring), 02-23-15.
All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Meyer and seconded by Marushin to APPROVE RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE THE THRESHOLD FOR FIXED ASSET RECORDING. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Nies and seconded by McCabe to APPROVE LETTER OF INTENT WITH SUNRISE ENERGY VENTURES MINNESOTA COMMUNITY SOLAR FARM OPERATION. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to APPROVE FACILITIES NEEDS ASSESSMENT PRICE PROPOSAL FROM THE CUNNINGHAM GROUP. All in favor. Motion carried.
Schedule Work Session and Committee Meetings
Policy Committee – Monday, March 9 at 4:15 p.m. at the District Service Center.
Community Schools Planning Initiative Philosophy
- The board discussed the roles district administration and board members will have during this process with the goals of listening and supporting community involvement throughout the process.
Work Session on April 1, 2015 (Budget)
4:15 p.m. at the District Service Center.
Durrwachter announced a five-minute recess.
A motion to close the meeting pursuant to Minnesota Statue Section 13D.05 Subd. 2(b) to consider concerns related to an employee was made by Meyer and seconded by Nies at 8:40 p.m. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion to reopen the meeting was made by Raden and seconded by McCabe at 8:45 p.m. All in favor. Motion carried.
Board Member Raden introduced the resolution and moved its adoption to release Kimberly Leigh, an employee of Independent School District No. 748. The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Board member Nies, and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Durrwachter, Meyer, Raden, Marushin, McCabe, Nies and the following voted against the same: None.
Whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 p.m. was made by Meyer and seconded by McCabe. All in favor. Motion carried.
Pam Raden
Clerk/Treasurer
Publish: March 20, 2015