REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO 748
FEB. 27, 2023
DISTRICT SERVICE CENTER BOARDROOM
The regular school board meeting of Independent School District 748 was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Matt Moehrle. Members present: Moehrle; Emily Larson, clerk; Jen Smith, treasurer; Tricia Meling, vice chair; Jason Nies, director; Scott Wenshau, director and Jeff Ridlehoover, superintendent. Members absent: None
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
A motion was made by Meling and seconded by Nies to APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. All in favor. Motion carried.
During the public comment opportunity, 12 members of the community addressed the school board. Kevin McCann, parent/resident, spoke on the topic of banning and restricting certain material and calling for restriction without appropriate committee review; Tina Perry, employee, spoke in support of our great educators and school system; Robin and Zoe Marushin, resident/parent/student, spoke on the topic of using school board policy on concerning materials instead of using public spectacle, confrontation with teachers and unethical tactics; Leigh Klaverkamp, parent/alum, spoke on trust and psychological safety for students and staff; Bennett Prose, student, spoke on student choice and how great our staff is; Gina Prose, teacher, spoke in support for educators; Erik Sivertson, parent/resident, spoke on the topic of treatment of educational professionals by non-experts (disrespect, intimidation, spreading of misinformation and more) and concerns about censorship of materials, ideas and curriculum in general; Matthew Erlandson, resident, spoke on the topic of books and counseling; Becky S., resident, spoke on the topic of policy and procedure; Paisley Watson, student, spoke on the topic of teacher support and student experience; Peter Wilson, resident, spoke on the topic of appropriate vs. non-appropriate curriculum.
A motion was made by Smith and seconded by Larson to APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS A.5.a – A.5.d AS PRESENTED BELOW. All in favor. Motion carried.
A.5.a. Minutes of the regular school board meeting held on Jan. 23, 2023
Minutes of the work session meeting held on Feb. 1, 2023
A.5.b Checks in the amount of $1,228,116.09 as presented:
General Fund 721,288.24
Food Service Fund 185,577.15
Transportation Fund 248,847.61
Community Service Fund 6,555.08
Capital Expenditure Fund 28,862.91
Building Fund 8,498.75
Activity Accounts 20,855.08
Internal Service Fund 7,631.27
Check numbers 185737-186036
AP ACH History in the amount of $16,857.08 as presented:
General Fund 14,312.20
Food Service Fund 94.50
Transportation Fund 155.25
Activities Accounts 2,295.13
Check Number 222300077-222300099
Receipts in the amount of $4,405,251.65 as presented:
General Fund 3,660,670.10
Food Service Fund 194,790.41
Transportation Fund 30,573.28
Community Service Fund 63,915.76
Capital Expenditure Fund 370,940.22
Debt Service 46,141.87
Activity Accounts 21,603.80
Internal Service Fund 16,616.21
Receipts 51331 – 51442
Wire transfers in the amount of $9,904,458.60 as presented:
General Fund 1,803,537.10
Food Service Fund 71,355.03
Transportation Fund 29,729.22
Community Service Fund 25,777.37
Capital Expenditure Fund 71,504.93
Debt Service Fund 7,479,875.00
Activities Account 1,063.50
Internal Service Fund 421,616.45
Wire transfers 202200441-202200535
A.5.c Approve resolution accepting the following donations: Love of Christ Lutheran Church, Sartell High School, $200, Kids Fighting Hunger; Minnesota Deer Hunters Association- Stickney Hill Big Horns Chapter, Community Education, $500, CE Archery Program; Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association Fund of Central Minnesota Community Foundation, Sartell High School, $1,000, Sabre High School Robotics; MJS Services Inc, Sartell High School, $150, Sabre Construction; DeZurik Inc., Sartell High School, $1,500, Sabre High School Robotics; Marble Eyes Holdings Inc., dba Blue Line Sports Bar & Grill, Sartell High School, $200, Sabre High School Robotics; Colorful Concepts Painting and Custom Finishing Inc, Sartell High School, $500, Sabre High School Robotics; Eric F. Netter Fund of Central Minnesota Community Foundation, Sartell High School, $2,000, Sabre Manufacturing; Rice Area Sportsmen, Community Education, $1,500, CE Archery Program; Sartell-St. Stephen Education Foundation, ISD #748, $22,177, 2022-2023 SSEF Grants – Fall.
A.5.d Accept resignations
Nancy Avery, ORELC, a.m. cashier, 1/23/23; Brian Jacobson, SHS, custodian, 1/15/23; Faith Knoll, RIS, food service worker, 1/24/23; Waverly Moline, ORELC, kindergarten teacher, 6/2/23; Nicole Paggen, RIS, paraprofessional, 1/24/23; Ilsa Stone, ORELC, kindergarten teacher, 6/2/23; Rebecca Winburn, RIS, paraprofessional, 2/16/23, Krista Workman, ORELC, cashier, 2/21/23.
Accept release of employment
Nancy Avery, SMS, cook’s helper, 1/19/23
Accept retirements
Carrie Gault, SHS, SPED teacher, 6/2/23; Kathleen Porwoll, SHS, a.m. cashier/cook’s helper, 6/2/23.
ISD748 Sabre Star Report:
- Jeff Ridlehoover, superintendent, announced Rhonda Pierskalla as the February SABRE star recipient. Pierskalla was unable to make the meeting, therefore will receive her plaque at the regular school board meeting in March.
Superintendent Report:
- Ridlehoover reported on happenings around the district. He started by thanking Mayor Ryan Fitzthum and the City of Sartell for hosting the February board meeting. Oak Ridge Early Learning Center hosted its Early Childhood Family Night. Ridlehoover spoke at length on all the AAA achievements in the recent months. Ninth-graders participated in the Youth Frontiers Respect Retreat on Feb. 9 and 10. Student, staff and parent feedback from the retreat has been outstanding. The CNA program was recently awarded a grant of $5,000 from Next Generation Nursing to assist with equipment as we provide students with real-word, hands-on training. Our district successfully engaged in two days of e-learning and Ridlehoover said he’s proud of the students and staff for their hard work and dedication to ensuring learning continued during this most recent stretch of inclement weather. At the most recent Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Advisory Committee meeting, Director of Learning and Teaching, Megan Rogholt, along with a team of teacher leaders recently presented plans to tailor the literacy curriculum around The Science of Reading. With the rise in popularity and connections to the e-sport industry, we are looking to see if there might be a place for e-sports in our community education programming. Nine of the 131 statewide nominees for Minnesota Teacher of the Year are teachers from our district. This is the highest representation in the entire state.
District Finance Report:
- Business Manager Joe Prom shared current finance and budget information.
Outdoor Lighting Report:
- Project Manager Lee Gruen with Bradbury Stamm provided an outdoor lighting report for the athletic fields at the Sartell High School.
School Board Committee Report:
- Emily Larson, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Committee, Spoke on the shift from Balanced Literacy to the Science of Reading.
- Matt Moehrle – Sartell Senior Connection Committee: Seniors are excited about getting a new logo and the potential to add more adult educational opportunities within Community Education.
- Matt Moehrle – Schools for Equity in Education (SEE): Legislation is currently in session. Several bills are being proposed in the area of educational finance. We are closely watching these bills.
- Matt Moehrle – Benton-Stearns Education District (BSED) Committee: Six districts make up BSED. Moehrle reported there are significant facility upgrades needed.
A motion was made by Nies and seconded by Smith to APPROVE PERSONNEL OMNIBUS RESOLUTION #1-29:
Discussion took place.
Matt Moehrle called a recess at 8:03 p.m. Reconvened at 8:15 p.m.
A vote on the original motion took place. Nies, Moehrle, Larson, Meling and Wenshau voted yes. Smith voted no. Motion carried.
New Employees:
Alyssa Almberg, SHS, art teacher long-term sub, $229/day, Jessica Boline, vacancy, 1/23/23; Aaron Athas, District Wide, general education summer school coordinator, $4,500, continuing position for summer 2023, 6/12/23; Mariah Athas, SHS, painter-spring musical, $1,007 (2.25 percent) BA, Step A, replacing Avalon Olson, 2/27/23; Rachel Barrett, ORELC, nurse, $29.06/hour, replacing Rachel Michalek, 3/20/23; Joshua Bentley, district wide, community education coordinator, $2,500/month, 3/23-6/23; replacing Kris O’Brien, 3/1/23; Jami Fremstad, PMPS, homebound teacher, $35/hour, new position, 1/30/23; Taylor Harren, SHS, assistant gymnastics coach, $1,000, replacing Abby Weber, 1/30/23; Greg Henning, SHS, assistant track and field coach, $4,977 (9.5 percent), BA, Step H, new position – increased need, 3/13/23; Kelsey Kampsen, PMPS, recess supervisor/paraprofessional, $17.34/hour, RIV, Step 1, replacing Katelyn Homan, 1/30/23; Kelli Killmer, SHS, costumes – spring musical, $1,032 (2.25 percent), BA, Step B, replacing Aimee Miron, 2/27/23; Joe Nelson, SHS, ninth-grade baseball coach, $4,254 (9.5 percent), BA, Step A, replacing Riley Ahrndt, 3/13/23; Marie Pangerl, DSC, school board secretary, $4,326.94, 1/23-6/23, continuing position, 1/2/23; Marie Pangerl, DSC, school board secretary, $8,913.04, 7/23-6/24, continuing position, 7/1/23; Montana Peters, district wide, extended school year coordinator, $4,500, continuing position for summer 2023, 6/12/23; Tara Peterson, SHS counseling secretary, $22.54/hour, RV, Step 1, replacing Marilee Lefeber, 2/13/23; Ashley Preusser, ORELC, a.m. cashier, $17.59/hour, RII, Step 1, replacing Nancy Avery, 1/31/23; Jessie Ramirez, RIS, paraprofessional, $17.34/hour, RIV, Step 1, replacing Nicole Paggen, 2/27/23; Mya Reinert, SMS, lunchroom student supervisor, $14.65/hour, RI, Step 1, replacing Kelsey Kampsen, 2/15/23; Deborah Rickers, district wide, food service worker Sub, $15/hour, additional sub, 2/23/23; Brooklyn Riggs, SMS, spring musical vocal director, $2,162 (4.5 percent), BA, Step D, replacing Leah Mockenhaupt, 1/9/23; Jay Rockensock, ORELC/PMPS, I.T. Level 1, $20/hour, replacing Zach Dinndorf, 2/6/23; Mimi Rolfzen, PMPS, paraprofessional, $17.34/hour, RIV, Step 1, new position, 2/27/23; Robert Roob, RIS, food service worker, $16.61/hour, RI, Step 1, replacing Faith Knoll, 2/20/23; Laura Sobania, SMS, cook’s helper, $21.98/hour, RIII, Step 4, replacing Nancy Avery, 2/1/23.
Leaves of Absence:
Jacob Ferguson, SMS, PLTW, LOA, 3/29/23-4/6/23; Tonya Hackett, SMS, food service worker, LOA, 2/20/23-3/5/23; Kim Hartman, SHS, cashier, LOA, 3/6/23-4/3/23; Michele Rogers, RIS, interventionist, LOA, 2/28/23-4/11/23, Randy Thompson, DSC, custodian, LOA, 2/7/23-2/20/23.
All in favor. Motion carried
A motion was made by Smith and seconded by Nies to APPROVE POLICY 203.5, 410, 414, 415, 524, 525, 541, 601, 602, 603, 604 and 605. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Nies and seconded by Meling to APPROVE SHS MUSIC EXTENDED FIELD TRIP REQUEST. All in favor. Motion carried.
A vote was held to APPROVE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH SCHOOL SERVICE EMPLOYEES LOCAL 284. All in favor. Motion carried.
Schedule Committee Meetings / Discussion:
- Official Revision of Policy – First Reading of Policy #203.2, 215, 607, 608, 609, 613, 614, 615, 616, 618, 619 and 630.
- Official Review of Policy – Policy #533, 611, 612 and 625
- Potential Spring 2023 Work Session for Budget Conversation
- 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 7 at District Services Center – 6 p.m.
- Process and Protocols for Potential School Board Listening Sessions
- Stay at 10 speakers for the next two to three months to see if there is a trend of more than 10 speakers signing up. Form will remain open from 8 a.m. Monday – noon on Friday, the week prior to the board meeting. Will continue to monitor in the event we have more than 10 speakers.
- If 11-19 speakers sign up, district office will use a random number generator to select 10 speakers, and those 10 will be notified Friday afternoon to allow them the weekend to prepare. If any of the 10 selected speakers declines their spot before the regular meeting, the spot will be offered randomly to one of the people who had signed up but did not receive one of the original 10 spots.
- If 20 or more speakers sign up, the district would plan to hold an additional open forum on a different day within a week or two from the regular school board meeting for which they signed up.
- Potential Addition of Public Forum Speakers
- No additional speakers came forward.
- Future Board Meeting – 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 20 at District Services Cente
- Future Board Work Session – 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3 at District Services Center
Committee Assignments were reviewed.
Placeholder for Potential Extended Public Forum – No additional speakers came forward
A motion to ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:50 p.m. was made by Nies and seconded by Smith. All in favor. Motion carried.
/s/ Emily Larson, clerk
Publish: April 7, 2023