REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO 748
NOV. 16, 2020
DISTRICT SERVICE CENTER VIA TELECONFERENCE
The regular school board meeting of Independent School District 748 was called to order at 6:30 pm by Chair Jeremy Snoberger. Members present: Snoberger, chair; Jason Nies, vice chair; Amanda Byrd, clerk; Patrick Marushin, treasurer; Lesa Kramer, director; Pamela Raden, director; and Kay Nelson, assistant superintendent. Members absent: none.
A motion was made by Nies and seconded by Marushin to APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. On a roll call vote, the following voted in favor: Nies, Marushin, Raden, Kramer, Byrd and Snoberger. The following voted against: none. Motion carried 6-0.
A motion was made by Kramer and seconded by Nies to APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS A.4.a – A.4.d AS PRESENTED BELOW. On a roll-call vote, the following voted in favor: Nies, Marushin, Raden, Kramer, Byrd and Snoberger. The following voted against: none. Motion carried 6-0.
A.4.a. Minutes of the regular school board meeting held on Oct. 19, 2020
A.4.b Checks in the amount of $1,861,203.00 as presented:
General Fund 1,524,511.17
Food Service Fund 78,934.53
Transportation Fund 168,849.19
Community Service Fund 31,491.29
Capital Expenditure Fund 51,187.13
Debt Service Fund 2,000.00
Activity Accounts 3,266.83
Internal Service Fund 962.86
Check numbers 179728 – 179977
ACHs in the amount of $5,566.06 as presented:
General Fund 3,292.34
Food Service Fund 110.00
Activity Fund 2,163.72
ACH numbers 202000031-202000052
Receipts in the amount of $5,050,302.77 as presented:
General Fund 2,994,626.37
Food Service Fund 101,271.42
Transportation Fund 13,028.42
Community Service Fund 303,121.13
Capital Expenditure Fund 688.79
Building Fund 127.04
Debt Service Fund 1,621,617.79
Activity Accounts 3,367.00
Internal Service Fund 12,454.81
Receipts 48068 – 48190
Wire transfers in the amount of $497,767.93 as presented:
General Fund 69,361.06
Food Service Fund 3,571.85
Transportation Fund 84.85
Community Service Fund 1,001.87
Capital Expenditure Fund 53,050.91
Building Fund 17,220.00
Internal Service Fund 353,477.39
Wire transfers 202000191-202000244
Building Fund Checks in the amount of $418,564.23 as presented:
Building Fund 418,564.23
Check numbers 601157 to 601186
A.4.c. Accept the following donations:
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, Sartell Middle School, $2,000, cultivator grant; Fairview Northland Hospital, ISD #748, face shields for staff and students safety; Kim A. Thyen and Jason P. Nies, ISD #748, $1,000, support of Equity Initiative (instructional materials/staff development); SSEF, early childhood, $2,000, SSEF grant.
A.4.d. Accept the resignation of Julie Diethelm, RIS, para, 11/12/20; David Gerads, ORELC, custodian, 10/22/20; Julia Olson, St. Francis Xavier, Title I, 11/10/20; Mark, Olson, Transportation, bus driver, 11/12/20. release from employment Nicole Nieman, RIS, custodian, 10/26/20.
Student Representative Report: Kate Ellis, student representative
- Ellis reported on happenings around the district. Oak Ridge staff and students have enjoyed the engagement by using the new iPads for kindergarteners this year. Pine Meadow distance learning has been going well with the incorporation of Sabre Strong. Head Custodian Rosie Warzecha was nominated, and won the Sartell Area Chamber Education Professional of the Year. Riverview staff members are busy with distance learning and working on professional development for MTSS. Sartell Middle Student Council held its annual Veteran’s Day program virtually this year. Veterans submitted recordings that were presented to students along with band, orchestra and choir performances. Sartell High School fall sports went very well with boys’ tennis advancing in its section tournament and boys and girls soccer winning their respective sections. Volleyball and football are finishing up their fall seasons as we transition to distance learning. The fall play was presented virtually and Student Council has had quarantine quests to improve school spirit for everyone. Overall, the distance learning transition has been smooth as students and staff members were well prepared.
Audit Report:
- Nancy Schulzetenberg from BerganKDV presented the 2019-2020 audit results.
Superintendent Report: Kay Nelson, assistant superintendent
- Assistant Superintendent Kay Nelson reported fall distance learning started today, with last year’s spring distance learning experiences helping the fall transition. Feedback provided from families ranged from relief moving to distance learning, to sadness to see in-person stopping. Administration will continue to monitor feedback and adjust areas as needed. Seesaw was added to the technology suite and is used by students and staff in conjunction with Schoology. The finance committee was briefed on teacher and paraprofessional pay rates and the board will see an action item proposing increased rates to better align with surrounding districts.
District Finance Report:
- Director of Business Services Joe Prom provided an update on district finances.
2020-21 District Continuous Improvement Goals Report:
- Kay Nelson, assistant superintendent; Marie Pangerl, district assessment coordinator; and Laura Arndt, Zachary Dingmann, Sascha Hansen, Jason Mielke and Sara Nelson, building principals, reported on the District and School Site Continuous Improvement goals for the 2020-21 school year.
Fall 2020 Family Survey Report:
Kay Nelson, assistant superintendent, and Sarah Kleppe, district communications specialist, shared the results from the Fall 2020 Family Survey that requested feedback on student instruction during the first quarter of the school year.
COVID-19 Report:
- Assistant Superintendent Kay Nelson and Director of Human Resources Krista Durrwachter provided an update on how the district is moving forward with COVID-19.
Enrollment Report:
- Assistant Superintendent Kay Nelson reported on the current enrollment numbers for each school.
School Board Committee Report:
- Chair Snoberger reported on the good first Equity Committee meeting he attended. Timelines and the audit process were discussed.
- Treasurer Marushin reported on the Special Education Advisory Council meeting hosted by Benton-Stearns he attended and the recent Finance Committee meeting, which included information contained in tonight’s audit presentation.
- Clerk Byrd reported on the Curriculum, Instruction and Advisory meeting she attended. The committee discussed how the equity audit and MTSS are tied together and “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Tom Sawyer” are being replaced in language arts classes.
- Director Kramer reported on the Substance Free Coalitions first meeting of the year, last Monday, which was held virtually.
A motion was made by Marushin and seconded by Nies to APPROVE #1-15:
New Employees/Changes:
Aaron Athas, SHS, content creator, $2,205 (10.5 percent), BA, A ($42,002), new position, 10/8/2020; Bethany Calhoun, RIS, custodian, $18.95/hour, RIII, S2, 260 days/year, 8 hours/day, replacing Nicole Nieman, 11/18/2020; Ryan Hiltner, SHS, content creator, $2,205 (10.5 percent), BA, A ($42,002), new position, 10/8/2020; Eric Koplitz, SHS, business education, $21,512, BA, Step B ($43,024), .5 FTE, replacing Rustie Froemming, 8/31/2020; Mike Lashinski, SHS, custodian, $22.23/hour, RIII, S5, 8 hours/day, replacing Paul Rolfzen, 11/2/2020; Catherine Lindstrom, RIS, para, $16.42/hour, RIV, S1, 7 hours/day, replacing Stacey Hiltner, 11/10/2020; Julia Olson, St. Francis Xavier, Title I, $28.85/hour, BA, Step A ($42,002), corrected wages, 10/21/2020; Paul Rolfzen, SMS, custodian, $22.23/hour, RIII, S5, 8 hours/day, replacing Amber Coons, 10/26/2020; Stacy Vannurden, ORELC, para, $16.42/hour, RIV, S1, 6.5 hours/day, new position, 10/29/2020.
Leaves of Absence:
Dorothy Ferguson, transportation van driver, LOA, extending leave 10/30/20-11/19/20; Elizabeth Inveiss, SMS, para, LOA, 11/23/20-12/31/20; Michael Maurer, SMS, sixth-grade teacher, LOA, extending leave 11/21/20-12/31/20; Joy Patino, RIS, Para, LOA, 11/2/20-11/13/20; Randy Thompson, DSC, custodian, LOA, 11/23/20-12/31/20; Kayla Vadnais, RIS, Para, LOA, 1/4/21-4/24/21.
On a roll-call vote, the following voted in favor: Kramer, Nies, Marushin, Byrd, Raden and Snoberger. The following voted against: none. Motion carried 6-0.
A motion was made by Kramer and seconded by Nies to ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE AUDIT FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020 AS PRESENTED. On a roll-call vote, the following voted in favor: Kramer, Nies, Marushin, Byrd, Raden and Snoberger. The following voted against: none. Motion carried 6-0.
A motion was made by Nies and seconded by Marushin TO APPROVE 2019-2020 WORLD’S BEST WORKFORCE PLAN SUMMARY. On a roll-call vote, the following voted in favor: Kramer, Nies, Marushin, Byrd, Raden and Snoberger. The following voted against: none. Motion carried 6-0.
A motion was made by Raden and seconded by Marushin TO APPROVE INCREASE IN SUBSTITUTE RATES FOR TEACHER AND PARAPROFESSIONAL. On a roll-call vote, the following voted in favor: Kramer, Byrd, Raden, Nies, Marushin and Snoberger. The following voted against: none. Motion carried 6-0.
Schedule Work Session and Committee Meetings:
- Future Board Work Session via teleconference – 6:30 p.m . Wednesday, Dec. 2 – District Service Center Boardroom .
- Future Board Meeting & Truth in Taxation Hearing via Teleconference – 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21 – Sartell High School via teleconference.
Committee Assignments were reviewed.
A motion to ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:10 p.m. was made by Nies and seconded by Byrd. On a roll-call vote, the following voted in favor: Kramer, Nies, Marushin, Byrd, Raden and Snoberger. The following voted against: none. Motion carried 6-0.
/s/ Amanda Byrd, clerk
Publish: Dec. 25, 2020
