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[ROLL CALL]
>> WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO
ORDER.
DO WE HAVE A DETERMINE OF
QUORUM?
>> WE HAVE SIX PRESENCE AND ONE
ABSENCE.
>> NEXT WE'LL RISE FOR THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE
FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC,
FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION
UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS
EVENING.
ONE QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE WE
GET STARTED.
THE FIRST TIME THIS EVENING,
THIS MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST
WITH CLOSED CAPTIONING.
YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE
TELEVISION, I HAVE IT POINTED
TOWARD US, YOU CAN SEE IT IN
REAL TIME, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL
SERVICE TO OUR DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING COMMUNITY HERE IN
FAIRBAULT.
I'VE BEEN TOLD TO MAKE SURE THAT
THIS WORKS WELL WE ALL NEED TO
SPEAK CLEARLY AND ENUNCIATE AND
TALK TOWARDS THE MICROPHONES, SO
I'LL ASK YOU TO KEEP THAT IN
MIND AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS
EVENING.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
SO FAR IT SEEMS TO BE DOING WELL
AS I LOOK AT IT ON THE SCREEN.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
SO FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS TO
APPROVE THE AGENDA.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE AGENDA.
>> SO MOVED.
>> IS THERE A SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND
TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS
RECOGNITION AND AWARDS, I DON'T
SEE ANY ON THE AGENDA.
ALL RIGHT.
NONE OF THOSE THIS EVENING.
THAT BRINGS US TO COMMUNITY
COMMENT.
THIS IS A TIME FOR ANY MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY TO STEP FORWARD
AND BRING YOUR THOUGHTS OR IDEAS
TO THE BOARD THAT THEY MAY HAVE
ON THEIR MIND.
I'M LOOKING ANIED A YUNS AND
THERE AREN'T ANY MEMBERS AT THIS
MOMENT, BUT JUST IN CASE I
RECOGNIZE SOME FACES, IN CASE
THEY DECIDE TO COME FORWARD,
WE'LL GIVE THEM A MINUTE.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL MOVE ON AND THANK YOU ALL.
NEXT, IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED
WITH ONE MOTION.
ANY BOARD MEMBER CAN REQUEST TO
REMOVE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT
AGENDA, BUT THINGS IN THE
CONSENT AGENDA ARE NOT DEBATABLE
ITEMS.
SO ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT
ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM
THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> CAN I MAKE ONE SPELLING
CORRECTION?
IS THAT ALL RIGHT?
>> WE WON'T CONSIDER THAT A
DEBATE.
>> UNDER THE RECOMMENDATION TO
HIRE, WE HAVE CONSIDERATION TO
APPROVE THE HIRING OF ERIC HELD
BRAND.
IT'S AVID, TUTOR.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY FROM AVIS
WORKING FOR US.
>> HOPEFULLY WITHOUT OBJECTION
WE'LL PUT THAT IN THERE.
>> APPRECIATE THAT.
>> ANY OTHER ITEMS?
ALL RIGHT.
SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> SO MOVED.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THIS ACTION REQUIRES A ROLL
CALL.
MR. CLERK, PLEASE.
[ ROLL CALL ]
>> IT PASSES 6-0.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH
MR. CLERK.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM
NUMBER 6, THE CURRICULUM
COMMITTEE REPORT.
COLLEEN IS NOT HERE THIS
EVENING.
TOM, YOU WERE AT THAT MEETING,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING
ABOUT OUR MEETING?
>> I THINK IT WAS MORE LIKE FIVE
SECONDS.
FOR ONE THING, I THINK THE
PROCESS OF THE CURRICULUM
COMMITTEE MEETING PART OF THE
WORK SESSION, OTHER THAN THE DAY
OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING
WILL BE THE GOOD ONE.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF STAFF
ATTENDING AT THE MEETING, SO
THAT PART WAS GOOD.
I'M TRYING TO RECALL ANYTHING
SPECIFIC THAT STANDS OUT, AND
WITHOUT PREPARATION I'M NOT
PREPARED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
THAT.
>> THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT
GRAD REQUIREMENTS AT THE
MEETING.
>> AH, YES.
YES.
THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.
>> STATE LAW HAS --
>> THERE IS APPARENTLY AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DISTRICT TO
MAKE A DECISION ABOUT GRAD
STANDARD TESTING.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OPTIONS OF
WHICH I'M NOT PREPARED TO
COMMENT COMPLETELY ABOUT, BUT
THE DISTRICT HAS SOME
FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF
DETERMINING WHAT KIND OF TEST OR
WHETHER THERE WILL BE A CUT
SCORE FOR THAT TEST.
THE PRIMARY DISCUSSION CENTERED
AROUND THE ACCUPLACEER TEST AS
ONE POSSIBILITY FOR --
TO MEET THOSE STUDENTS --
I'LL SAY THEIR NEEDS, BECAUSE
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THE
ACCUPLACEER HAS A REAL VALUE IN
IDENTIFYING AREAS OF WEAKNESS
AND SO ON.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS --
YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
BUT THIS PROBABLY WILL APPLY TO
A FAIRLY SMALL NUMBER OF
STUDENTS WHO BY THE TIME OF
THEIR SENIOR YEAR ARE NOT PASSED
THE OTHER REQUIRED TESTING FOR
GRADUATION.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> OK.
SO WITH THAT REFRESHER IN MY
MIND, IT WAS GOOD MEETING, I
THINK THERE WAS SOME GOOD
DISCUSSION.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A
RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT,
THE DISCUSSION WILL CONTINUE,
BUT DUE TO THE CHANGES IN LAW,
THE DISTRICT HAS I THINK THE
OBLIGATION --
I GUESS WE COULD CHOOSE TO STAY
WITH THE CURRENCIES ITEM, AM I
CORRECT ABOUT THAT?
THAT IS ONE OPTION?
>> YEAH.
WE HAVE A CHOICE OF STAYING WITH
THE CURRENCIES ITEM OR CHOOSING
ONE OF THE OTHER SYSTEMS THAT WE
HAVE.
YOU'RE RIGHT, WE COULD EITHER
ADOPT A CUT SCORE OR ADOPT A
CURRICULUM ORIENTED --
>> I THINK THAT DISCUSSION WILL
BE CONTINUING, AND PROBABLY
RECOMMENDATION BROUGHT TO THE
BOARD FAIRLY SOON SO THAT THE
SCHOOLS CAN BE PREPARED TO
ADMINISTER WHATEVER TESTING IS
NECESSARY TO THOSE STUDENTS IN A
TIMELY WAY.
>> THANK YOU, TOM.
OK.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, POLICY ITEM,
VII.
THERE WAS NO MEETING THIS WEEK.
>> I DO HAVE AN ISSUE FOR THE
BOARD REGARDING POLICY ISSUE.
>> PLEASE.
>> WE READ THE WELLNESS POLICY
OF THE WELLNESS COMMITTEE, AND
IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THE POLICY
UNDER --
3C, WE DID A FIRST READ AT THE
LAST MEETING, BUT WE BROUGHT IT
TO THE WELLNESS COMMITTEE, AND
NOTICED UNDER C3, WE ARE NOT
FOLLOWING THIS POLICY IN THE
SCHOOLS.
AND SO THEY THOUGHT WE SHOULD
BRING IT TO THE BOARD TO DISCUSS
WHETHER WE COULD CHANGE THE
WORDING.
ONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE SCHOOLS ARE
STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO NOT USE
FOOD AND BEVERAGE AS REWARDS.
WHAT THE BOARD'S OPINION WAS
REGARDING THIS POLICY.
>> WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON?
>> PAGE 28.
>> 28 OF THE ONLINE --
>> PAGE 3 OF THE POLICY.
>> AN EXAMPLE I CAN THINK OF IS
MY DAUGHTERS HAVE RECEIVED
COUPONS TO GODFATHER'S PIZZA FOR
READING SO MANY BOOKS OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT SORT OF THING HAS BEEN
THERE, AND THAT'S THE SORT OF
THING THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS
TALKING ABOUT?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S ONE OF THE --
ONE THAT'S VERY POPULAR, YES,
REWARDS THE SCHOOLS USE.
TEACHERS USE CANDY AT TIMES.
THEY THOUGHT MAYBE THIS HAD BEEN
BROUGHT TO THE BOARD IN THE PAST
AND WAS PUT IN PLACE.
SO RATHER THAN THE POLICY
COMMITTEE, IT WAS CHANGING --
[INAUDIBLE]
BEFORE WE DO A SECOND READING.
I FELT OUR --
I THOUGHT CHANGING THE WORDING
WOULD BE A GOOD THING BECAUSE WE
ARE --
IF WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING THIS
POLICY AS IT'S WRITTEN, IT'S NOT
A GOOD THING.
>> YEAH.
I AGREE --
>> AND A LOT OF PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY
WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH
OF OUR STUDENTS, AND THEIR
NUTRITION, BUT WE ALSO HAVE VERY
POPULAR REWARDS IN PLACE THAT DO
INCORPORATE FOOD.
>> WAS THERE A PARTICULAR
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE WELLNESS
COMMITTEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY
WOULD PREFER TO SEE A CHANGE,
OR --
>> I GOT THE IMPRESSION WE WOULD
CHANGE IT TO "STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED.
" THEY THOUGHT WE SHOULD CHANGE
IT TO REFLECT THE CURRENT
BEHAVIOR IS WHAT I FELT.
>> AT THE SAME TIME MOVE
TOWARDS --
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> -- THE TRUE POLICY.
>> AT THIS TIME WE --
CONTINUE TO WORK AS A SCHOOL
DISTRICT TOWARD THIS POLICY.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I WONDER IF WE
SHOULD READ THIS FOR THE BENEFIT
OF OUR LISTENING PUBLIC.
SO THEY KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU, THAT'S A GREAT
IDEA.
THE ITEM UNDER CONSIDERATION IS
A POLICY WHICH REGARDS WELLNESS
AND IT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF
ITEMS THAT RELATE TO THE HEALTH
AND WELLNESS OF OUR STUDENTS
WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
THE ITEM BEING REFERRED TO AT
THIS MOMENT IS ITEM C3.
"SCHOOLS WILL NOT USE FOODS OR
BEVERAGES FOR REWARDS FOR
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OR GOOD
BEHAVIOR UNLESS THIS ACT
PRACTICES ALLOWED BY A STUDENT
INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN OR
BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION PLAN, AND
WILL NOT WITHHOLD FOOD OR
BEVERAGES AS PUNISHMENT."
AND THE SUGGESTION FROM THE
WELLNESS COMMITTEE IS THAT THIS
SHOULD REFLECT WHAT CURRENT
PRACTICE IS, WHICH IS THEREFORE
SHOULD BE WHICH IS BEST --
THIS DOES GO ON IN SOME REALM,
PERHAPS TO CHANGE THE PHRASE TO
SOMETHING LIKE "STRONGLY
SUGGEST."
>> IF ANYBODY HAS ANY COMMENTS
THEY WANT TO SHARE, WE CAN BRING
IT TO THE NEXT POLICY COMMITTEE.
BEFORE WE BRING IT BACK TO THE
SECOND READING HERE.
>> OK.
>> I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S
EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS REALLY
BEEN GROSSLY ABUSED.
BEFORE I WOULD BE AGAINST IT.
OR BE IN FAVOR OF THIS POLICY.
>> IT USED TO BE ABUSED.
>> DO WE HAVE EXAMPLES AND SO
FORTH?
BEFORE WE MEET A AGAIN MAYBE WE
COULD SEE HOW SERIOUS A PROBLEM
THIS IS, OR MAYBE IT'S NOT A
PROBLEM.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S A PROBLEM
MUCH ANYMORE, BUT WE DO HAVE
SOME OF THE READING PROGRAMS
THAT STILL GIVE YOU GODFATHER'S
PIZZA COUPONS FOR IF YOU, YOU
KNOW, GET THROUGH 10 BOOKS IN
EXPECT AMOUNT OF DAYS, YOU GET A
COUPON FOR A FREE PIZZA AT
GODFATHERS.
THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT
GO ON IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
THAT DON'T GET --
IF THEY DO WELL ON THEIR READING
TEST, THEY GET TO GO TO A DRAWER
AND PICK OUT A PIECE OF CANDY.
>> IS THAT A BAD THING?
>> NOT PER SE, BUT WE ARE
LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST
INTERESTS OF OUR STUDENTS AND
WITH OBESITY AS HIGH AS IT IS IN
SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN, THAT'S WHY
THIS POLICY WAS CHANGED.
TO HELP ADDRESS THAT.
>> IN TIME WE'VE MADE THESE
CHANGES IN THE SCHOOL MENU.
I SEE WE'VE MADE CHANGES THERE,
SO WE'RE MAKING CHANGES I GUESS
WHAT I'M SAYING.
AND I THINK THAT IS GOING WELL,
AND THAT'S A LOT FOR COMMUNITY
TO ADAPT TO THAT.
I WOULD SUPPORT ALLOWING REWARDS
TO ALLOW THE TEACHERS TO DO
THAT.
[INAUDIBLE]
>> [INAUDIBLE]
SODA, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DON'T
HAVE SODA ANYMORE AT ALL.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE
SODA I BELIEVE ANYMORE.
THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS SOME, BUT
IT'S ONLY TURNED ON DURING
CERTAIN HOURS OF THE DAY.
BUT I AGREE, I THINK THIS IS
MORE --
THE AMOUNT THAT USED TO BE DONE
COMPARED TO WHAT'S BEING DONE
NOW IS MINIMAL.
THAT GOOD RAPPORT WITH
GODFATHER'S PIZZA THAT WE HAVE,
THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK
WITH US --
>> CAN I SUGGEST A PATH
TOWARDS --
THIS ITEM IS IN FRONT OF US FOR
A SECOND READING.
SO WE ARE BEING ASKED TO ACT ON
IT THIS EVENING.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE HAVE
FIRST AND SECOND READINGS, TO
GET THE WELLNESS COMMITTEE TO
LOOK AT IT, AND THAT'S A GOOD
THING.
THERE'S A SUGGESTED CHANGE, SO
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE
FOR --
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE WITH A SUGGESTED CHANGE
TO --
ENTERTAIN ANY MOTION TO APPROVE,
BUT I MIGHT ENCOURAGING SOMEONE
TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH
THE NEW WORDING C3 SO WE START
WITH A MOTION THAT AUTOMATICALLY
HAS IT IN THERE, AND WE CAN
DISCUSS THAT, AND WHETHER OR NOT
SOMEONE WANTS TO OFFER AN
AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THAT, AND
THEN SEE IF WE'RE READY TO TAKE
A VOTE THIS EVENING.
>> OR WE COULD REFER IT BACK TO
THE POLICY COMMITTEE TO BRING IT
BACK FOR ANOTHER READING?
>> YES.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY REASON
WE COULDN'T REFER THIS BACK TO
THE WELLNESS COMMITTEE.
I ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF IN THAT
I FEEL RIGHTLY THIS --
READY THIS EVENING TO ACT, I'M
OK --
STRONGLY ENCOURAGING THE LIMITED
USE VERSUS FORBIDDING IT.
I THINK WE HAD MANY CHANGES
TOWARD THE DIE NETS SCHOOL, I
AGREE SOME SMALL CHANGES --
SOME SMALL ALLOWANCE FOR THIS
SEEMS REASONABLE.
BUT THAT'S --
NOW I'M JUST EXPRESSING MY
OPINION.
>> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION, I WILL
MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE
POLICY TO READ "SCHOOLS ARE
STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO NOT USE
FOODS OR BEVERAGES AS REWARDS
FOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE."
>> SO COULD YOU REPEAT THAT
WORDING?
>> SCHOOLS ARE STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED NOT TO [INAUDIBLE]
BEVERAGES AS REWARDS FOR
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OR GOOD
BEHAVIOR UNLESS THE PRACTICE SAL
LOUD BY STUDENT'S INDIVIDUAL
PLAN OR BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION
PLAN AND [INAUDIBLE]
BEVERAGE AS PUNISHMENT.
>> CATHY, DO YOU HAVE THAT?
>> THE RULES ARE STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED NOT TO USE FOODS OR
BEVERAGES AS REWARDS FOR
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OR GOOD
BEHAVIOR UNLESS THIS PRACTICE
SAL LOUD BY A STUDENT INDIVIDUAL
EDUCATION PLAN OR BEHAVIOR
INTERVENTION PLAN AND WILL NOT
WITHHOLD FOODS OR BEVERAGES AS
PUNISHMENT.
>> SO IF I UNDERSTAND THE
MOTION, IT WAS A MOTION TO AMEND
THE POLICY, WHICH I THINK WE
WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE OR NOT
APPROVE, AND THEN WE HAVE BEEN
ENTERTAINING A MOTION TO APPROVE
THE POLICY.
SO THIS CHANGES THE WAY THE
POLICY IS WRITTEN, AND A
SEPARATE MOTION TO APPROVE OR
NOT APPROVE THAT POLICY AS A
WHOLE.
I THINK THAT'S THE LINE OF
ACTION THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF
US.
AT THIS MOMENT WE'RE JUST
LOOKING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THIS
POLICY.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S MUCH
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU HAVE,
WILL NOT STRONGLY ENCOURAGING --
IT'S ALMOST THERE.
IS THERE SOMETHING WHERE --
YOU KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE
USING IT.
READ 20 BOOKS, YOU GET A SUBWAY
OR GODFATHER'S REWARD.
IS THERE OTHER WORDS?
I DON'T KNOW.
CAN YOU REFER THIS TO THE
WELLNESS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT,
THE PROPER WORDAGE?
MAYBE NOT AS STRONG?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> THE POLICY COMMITTEE HAS --
THE WELLNESS COMMITTEE IS THE
ONLY ONE THAT'S LOOKED AT IT.
THE POLICY HASN'T LOOKED AT IT
FOR THE SECOND READING.
IT JUST CAME FROM WELLNESS.
>> WE SHOULD REFER THIS BACK TO
POLICY.
>> YOU CAN IF YOU WANT, UNLESS
YOU THINK IT'S SUCH A SIMPLE
CHANGE YOU DON'T NEED TO SEND IT
TO POLICY.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> IS THERE --
>> I'LL SECOND.
>> A SECOND TO THE MOTION.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION IN FRONT OF
US?
>> I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY A
SMALL CHANGE.
I THINK --
I STILL WANT US TO STRONGLY
ENCOURAGING THE REDUCTION OF THE
USE OF FOOD AS A REWARD, I THINK
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I'M OK WITH THE LANGUAGE
STRONGLY ENCOURAGING, WELLNESS
HAS TALKED ABOUT IT, I'M HAPPY
TO TAKE THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK THE POLICY --
I DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO SEND
THIS BACK TO POLICY.
MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT WE
CAN ACT THIS EVENING AND I'M
COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
THOSE ARE MY FEELINGS.
>> THE QUESTION COMES TO MY
MIND, AND THAT IS HOW EFFECTIVE
IS IT IN MOTIVATING STUDENTS?
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT
AWAY, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO REPLACE
IT WITH?
>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS
SUGGESTING WE HAVE TO TAKE IT
AWAY.
WE'RE CHANGING THE POLICY SUCH
THAT IT CAN STAY IN PLACE.
>> IN MY CONTACT WITH PARENTS, I
THINK THEY APPRECIATE WHAT WE
DO, FOR EXAMPLE THE PIZZA.
THEY'VE APPRECIATED THAT FOOD
REWARD.
>> PARENTS APPRECIATE IT?
>> YEAH.
PIZZA FOR THEIR FAMILY.
>> DOES THIS GO UP TO LIKE
MIDDLE SCHOOL, LEVEL TWO,
SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IT TO
SEE IF THEY HAVE A REWARD
PROGRAM.
DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.
YOU CAN ALMOST --
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SEPARATE
ACADEMIC AND FUND-RAISER.
I THINK THEY'RE DIFFERENT
THINGS.
THERE ARE FUND-RAISERS THAT ARE
WITH THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND
FOOD INDUSTRY THAT ALLOW
FUND-RAISING, AND AS A REWARD
FOR A CHILD THAT DOES THE MOST
FUND-RAISING TO GET SOMETHING,
THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN ACADEMIC
REWARDS FOR THAT.
I'D HAVE TO GO LOOK AND SEE HOW
MUCH OF IT IS BEING DONE.
I THINK THE IDEA OF POLICY, JUST
SO YOU KNOW, IS THAT POLICY
COVERS THE SCHOOLS SO THAT THE
SCHOOL DOESN'T GET IN TROUBLE.
SO IF YOU MAKE A POLICY SO
STRICT AND WE VIOLATE THE
POLICY, THEN WE END UP GETTING
IN TROUBLE.
SO THE IDEA IS THAT WE MAKE SURE
WE COVER ALL OF OUR BASIS WITH
POLICY SO IF WE ARE DOING
SOMETHING THAT'S THE NORM, THAT
WE COVER OUR BASIS FOR IT.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEEN THE
NORM FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG,
SO I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD
CONTRADICT WHAT THE NORM IS AND
PUT YOURSELF AT RISK OF
VIOLATING YOUR OWN POLICY.
THAT'S THE LOGIC BEHIND IT.
AND THEN I THINK AT THE SAME
TIME EDUCATIONALLY WE WOULD WORK
TOWARDS INSTILL INTRINSIC VALUES
FOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE RATHER
THAN EXTRINSIC VALUES FOR
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
THERE IT IS IN A NUTSHELL.
>> I'LL SUPPORT THE CHANGE,
BECAUSE IT'S NOT ASKING
CONCRETE, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED
THAT A TEACHER COULD GET
REPRIMAND AND HAVE SOMETHING PUT
ON HIS RECORD OR WHATEVER FOR
GIVING A TREAT TO KIDS FOR
LEARNING.
AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE IN
FAVOR OF THAT.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT
SOME LEEWAY THERE.
AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW EFFECTIVE
IT IS, SO --
BUT IT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
IF MY KID HAD A CHANCE, AND IT
SOUNDS LIKE PARENTS DO LIKE IT,
TO READ 10 BOOKS AND GET A
COUPON FOR SOMETHING, EVEN IF
IT'S FOOD, IT'S KINDA NICE.
>> I GUESS I WOULD SPEAK TOWARDS
IT --
I LIKE THE PHRASING OF IT,
BECAUSE I AGREE COMPLETELY,
NOBODY WANTS --
I WOULD HATE TO THINK AFTER
TEACHER GETTING REPRIMANDED FOR
GIVING OUT CANDY AS A REWARD.
A SORT OF WRITTEN REPRIMAND.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I DO THINK IF
A TEACHER WAS USING THE REWARDS
TO EXCESS, HAVING A POLICY THAT
GIVES OUR ADMINISTRATORS THE
ABILITY TO SAY, MAYBE WE SHOULD
THINK ABOUT ANOTHER WAY OF
MOTIVATING OUR KIDS ASIDE FROM
JUST FOOD, I THINK THAT'S ALSO
IMPORTANT.
SO I THINK THE NEW WORDING FIND
AS NICE BALANCE.
AND SO I'M FAIRLY COMFORTABLE
WITH THE NEW WORDING.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL LEAD TO
ANY TEACHERS BEING WRITTEN UP
OVER HANDING OUT CANDY.
I THINK THAT'S KEY, AND IT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT THAT --
WE SORT OF RECOGNIZE THE FACT
WE'D LIKE TO FIND WAYS OF
MOTIVATING STUDENTS WITHOUT
HANDING OUT FOOD AT EVERY
OPPORTUNITY.
>> CAN I AMEND AN AMENDMENT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> TAKE OUT THE WORD "STRONGLY."
>> SO WHY DON'T YOU PHRASE THAT
AS A MOTION.
>> OK.
PUT THE SAME WORDS BUT TAKE OUT
"STRONGLY."
>> I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION TO
TAKE OUT THE WORD "STRONGLY."
IT WOULD THEN READ --
CATHY F. YOU'D LIKE TO READ IT
BACK.
>> SCHOOLS ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO
USE FOODS OR BEVERAGES AS
REWARDS FOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
OR GOOD BEHAVIOR UNLESS THE
PRACTICE IS ALLOWED BY A
STUDENT'S INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION
PLAN OR BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION
PLAN.
AND WILL NOT WITHHOLD FOOD OR
BEVERAGES AS PUNISHMENT.
>> SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT,
SO WE'RE A FEW DEEP IN THE
MOTION, BUT I THINK WE CAN
NAVIGATE OUR WAY OUT TO REMOVE
THE WORD "STRONGLY" FROM THE
AMENDMENT TO THE POLICY.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT?
NOT HEARING ANY, WHY DON'T WE GO
AHEAD AND DO A VOTE ON THAT.
THE MOTION IS TO REMOVE THE WORD
"STRONGLY" FROM THE AMENDMENT TO
THE POLICY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES.
OK.
SO NOW WE HAVE A NEW --
CATHY, IF YOU'D READ FOR US THE
AMENDED AMENDMENT TO THE POLICY.
>> SCHOOLS ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO
USE FOODS OR BEVERAGES AS
REWARDS FOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
OR GOOD BEHAVIOR UNLESS THE
PRACTICE IS ALLOWED BY A
STUDENT'S INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL
PLAN OR BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION
PLAN, AND WILL NOT WITHHOLD FOOD
OR BEVERAGES AS PUNISHMENT.
>> OK.
THAT'S NOW THE CURRENT AMENDMENT
TO THE POLICY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS?
ON THIS AMENDMENT TO THE POLICY?
HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE POLICY,
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES.
WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
POLICY AND NOW WE THAN ACT ON
THE POLICY ITSELF.
>> EXCEPT I'D LIKE TO MOVE
ANOTHER AMENDMENT.
>> OK.
[LAUGHTER]
>> CRANK OUT THE WORD "SCHOOLS"
AND INSERT THE WORD "TEACHERS."
>> BEFORE WE DISCUSS IT, WHY
DON'T WE SEE IF THERE'S A SECOND
TO THAT.
SO WHAT'S THE MOTION AT THIS
MOMENT?
TO REPLACE SCHOOLS WITH STAFF?
>> STAFF.
>> OK.
>> SECOND.
>> SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND TO APPROVE THE --
STRIKING THE WORD "SCHOOL" AND
REPLACING IT WITH THE WORD
"STAFF."
IN THIS POLICY.
I'M FINE WITH THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE
CHANGE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR?
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED?
MOTIONS CARRIES.
OK.
AT THIS MOMENT THE CHAIR WOULD
WELCOME ANY MOTION TO APPROVE
POLICY 533 THE WELLNESS POLICY.
>> SO MOVED.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON
THE POLICY.
>> ARE WE APPROVING ALL THREE --
>> AT THIS MOMENT, 533.
AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT THE OTHER
TWO.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS
POLICY?
HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
OF POLICY 533 AS AMENDED,
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR
THAT.
WE HAVE TWO OTHER POLICIES IN
FRONT OF US THIS EVENING.
THOSE ARE POLICIES 532, USE OF
PEACE OFFICERS AND CRISIS TEAMS
TO REMOVE STUDENTS WITH IEPs
FROM SCHOOL GROUNDS AND POLICY
806, CRISIS MANAGEMENT POLICY.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE BOTH POLICIES AND THEN
OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION IF WE
HAVE ANY DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE,
BOTH POLICIES.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> A MOTION AND A SYED TO
APPROVE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE TWO?
HEARING NONE, WE HAVE A MOTION
IN FRONT OF US TO APPROVE POLICY
532, USE OF PEACE OFFICERS AND
CRISIS TEAMS TO REMOVE STUDENTS
WITH IEPs FROM SCHOOL GROUNDS,
AND POLICY 806, CRISIS
MANAGEMENT POLICY, ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR?
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES.
AS USUAL, BECAUSE WE HAVE
APPROVED A NUMBER OF NEW
POLICIES, WE NEED TO RESCIND THE
OLD POLICIES THAT WERE THERE,
ADOPTED AT EARLIER DATES.
I'LL READ THROUGH HOSE AND
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE A
RECISION OF ALL OF THEM.
POLICY 532, USE OF PEACE
OFFICERS AND CRISIS TEAMS TO
REMOVE STUDENTS WITH IEPs FROM
SCHOOL GROUNDS, ADOPTED OCTOBER
17, 2011.
POLICY 533, WELLNESS, ADOPTED
DECEMBER 19, 2011.
POLICY 806, CRISIS MANAGEMENT
POLICY, ADOPTED MARCH 15, 2010.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE RECISION OF THOSE OLD
POLICIES.
>> SO MOVED.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND
TO APPROVE RECISION OF THE
POLICIES AS LISTED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
SIGNIFY BY.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
EIGHT.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, ITEM VIII,
FINANCE.
IS THERE A FINANCE COMMITTEE
REPORT?
>> I WAS AT THE LAST FINANCE
MEETING.
WE MET A WEEK AGO TODAY AT 7:30
IN THE MORNING AT THE DISTRICT
OFFICE.
WE'RE REPRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS STAFF,
AND SEVERAL SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS, AND WE HAD A GREAT
DISCUSSION ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS,
ALL OF WHICH LOOKED LIKE THEY'RE
GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA COMING
UP.
THAT'S MY REPORT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, HOWARD.
OK.
SO HOWARD SAID WE HAVE A NUMBER
OF ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL BY THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE ONE BY
ONE.
ITEM NUMBER 1, NONPUBLIC
GUIDANCE COUNSELING.
SUPERINTENDENT, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO TELL US ABOUT THAT?
>> SURE.
THIS IS COUNSELING TIME, IT HAS
TO BE APPROVED THROUGHOUT OUR
SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE --
I BELIEVE IT'S FOR FARIBAULT
B.A. SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE COST DOESN'T COST US
ANYTHING FOR THIS CONTRACT.
THEY JUST HAVE TO APPROVE THE
CONTRACT THROUGH A PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM, IN THIS CASE IT'S US.
THERE'S NO COST TO US.
WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE THE RIGHT
APPROVAL PROCESS.
>> IF I UNDERSTAND THIS RIGHT,
FOR B.A. TO BE ABLE TO HIRE
SOMEBODY FOR THEIR GUIDANCE
COUNSELING SERVICES, THEY NEED
US TO APPROVE THAT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> OK.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THIS ITEM?
HEARING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A
MOTION TO APPROVE THE NONPUBLIC
GUIDANCE COUNSELING CONTRACT.
>> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR?
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU.
NEXT, NORTHFIELD AWFUL --
AUTISM CONSULTANT.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK OUR IN-HOUSE
EXPERT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THOSE.
>> GOOD EVENING.
ALL OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION
CONTRACTS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU
ARE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
USING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS FOR
STAFF THAT WE EITHER NEED TO
PURCHASE THOSE SERVICES FROM
OTHER DISTRICTS, OR OTHER
DISTRICTS NEED TO PURCHASE FROM
US IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL --
IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
SO AUTISM CONSULTANTS, WE'VE
BEEN CONTRACTING WITH NORTHFIELD
FOR THE AUTISM CONSULTANTS.
WE SHARE THOSE SERVICES BETWEEN
NORTHFIELD, THE STATE ACADEMIES
AND FAIRBAULT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE SERVICES FROM DEB PETERS
HAVE BEEN UTILIZED BY THE
DISTRICT FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS
NOW.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M WONDERING
IF WE CAN'T CONSIDER 7B 2-8 ALL
IN ONE MOTION.
APPROVE ALL OF THESE.
THEY'RE ALL CONTRACTS WHERE WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STUDENTS --
>> THROUGH 7.
>> EXACTLY.
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
STUDENTS OF OUR OWN, OR THE
POPULATION, OR THE TYPE OF
LICENSE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO
SERVE THE STUDENTS THAT WE'RE
REQUIRED TO HAVE, AND WE DON'T
HAVE THE POPULATION OF STUDENTS.
AND THAT'S CORRECT.
>> DOES THAT SEEM LIKE A
REASONABLE MOTION TO YOU?
>> YES, IT DOES.
>> HEARING THAT, I WILL
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE
AND WE CAN DISCUSS ALL OF THEM
VETERANS DAILY AS WE NEED TO.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE ITEMS 7 --
I'LL READ THEM OFF.
THESE ARE THE NORTHFIELD AUTISM
CONSULTANT, THE OWATONNA VISION
CONSULTANT, OWATONNA PHYSICAL
AND OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS,
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, PAT
GERAGHTY, MSAD INTERPRETER
SERVICES AND THE NORTHFIELD
FACILITATOR.
THESE ARE THE ITEMS, I'LL
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE
THOSE.
>> SO MOVED.
>> AND A SECOND.
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THOSE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO START OFF WITH
ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT ANY OF
THOSE OTHER ITEMS?
>> THE --
I'LL JUST EXPLAIN QUICKLY THAT
THE VISION CONSULTANT AND THE
PHYSICAL AND OTHER HEALTH
IMPAIRED TEACHER, WE CONTRACT
WITH THOSE THROUGH OWATONNA
SCHOOLS.
THEY PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUALS FOR
US FOR THOSE SERVICES.
THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, WE'RE
IN NEED AFTER .5 HALF-TIME FTE
OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES
YET THIS YEAR, PAT HELPED US OUT
LAST YEAR IN THE SAME SPOT, AND
WE'RE STILL SEEKING A PERMANENT
REPLACEMENT FOR THAT POSITION.
AND THE INTERPRETIVE SERVICES,
MSAD, WE HAVE HAD THIS CONTRACT
FOR MANY YEARS WITH THEM.
IT ALLOWS US FOR THOSE
AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, SPORTS
AND THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES TO
SHARE THE COST OF AN INTERPRETER
WHEN NEEDED.
WE PROVIDE OUR INTERPRETERS IN
THE DISTRICT DO PROVIDE THOSE
SERVICES.
THEY DO HAVE THE FIRST RIGHT OF
REFUSAL ON THOSE JOBS, AND THEN
MSAD ALSO HAS FOLKS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE IF NEEDED OR FOR SOME
OTHER STUDENTS IF THERE'S A
DUPLICATION OF NEED FOR
STUDENTS.
SO IT ALLOWS US TO SHARE THAT
COST.
AND THEY PROVIDE THAT CONTRACT.
BUT IT DOES NOT REPLACE OUR
INTERPRETERS.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT
THING TO STATE PUBLICLY.
AND THE LAST ONE, FACILITATOR IS
OUR INTAKE COORDINATOR WE SHARE
WITH NORTHFIELD THROUGH RICE
COUNTY.
>> IF I CAN COMMENT TOO, I THINK
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF GOOD
COLLABORATION WITH THE
SURROUNDING DISTRICTS.
THAT'S ALWAYS VERY GOOD THING.
WE TRY TO SAVE MONEY WHERE WE
CAN, AND STILL HIRE SOME VERY
QUALIFIED PEOPLE THROUGH THIS
WHOLE PROGRAM.
SO THANKS, CHERYL, FOR SETTING
THESE CONTRACTS UP AND GETTING
THESE PEOPLE ON BOARD.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, TO MAKE
SURE, I THINK THIS IS TRUE, IS
IT FAIR TO SAY ALL OF THESE
TEMPTS ARE NOT NEW ITEMS,
THEY'RE ITEMS THAT WE ALREADY
HAVE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES
FOR, AND THIS CONTINUES THE SAME
LINE OF SERVICES WE'VE BEEN USE
SOMETHING.
>> CORRECT.
>> THERE'S NO NEW EXPENSES IN
APPROVING THESE.
>> NO.
>> OK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
HEARING NONE, WE HAVE A MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU HOWARD FOR YOUR
MOTION.
ITEM NUMBER VIII --
8, SUPPORT SERVICES
PARAPROFESSIONAL.
>> WHEN YOU START THE SCHOOL
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE HAVE YOU
GAPS TO FILL, AND THIS HAPPENED
TO BE ONE OF THOSE GAPS.
WE HAVE ALL MALE S --
TEACHERS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND
WE CAN'T ASK THEM TO SOUP VISE
LOCKER ROOM.
WE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT IDEAS AND
FORMATS, AND THE ONLY THING THAT
CAME UP WAS TO HIRE A
PARAPROFESSIONAL TO HELP US WITH
THE SUPERVISION OF THOSE
LOS ALAMOS.
FINANCIAL COMMITTEE HAD A LOT OF
QUESTIONS FOR US, AND I DON'T
KNOW IF YOU CAN COMMENT ON
HOWARD OR NOT, BUT I THINK THIS
IS ABOUT THE ONLY OPTION WE HAD
WHEN WE DID THE INVESTIGATION
FOR IT.
>> THIS DID GENERATE?
INTERESTING DISCUSSION, BUT PART
OF THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT WE
LOST SOME PHY ED TEACHERS.
>> THAT --
WELL, THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH
IT.
AND ALSO YOU CAN'T ACCORDING TO
OUR ATTORNEYS, YOU CAN'T OPEN --
IF THERE IS A POSITION OPEN YOU
CAN'T LIST IT AS A QUALIFIER,
HAVING A FEMALE PHY ED TEACHER,
SO WE GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK
AND A HARD PLACE.
>> WE DO HAVE A FEMALE --
>> WE DO HAVE A FEMALE PARA,
YES.
IT MAKES SENSE.
WE ACTUALLY --
WE COULDN'T --
THE MAJORITY OF OUR PARAS ARE
FEMALE, AND AS WE WENT THROUGH
THE SENIORITY LIST WHEN --
WHEN WE OPENED IT UP WE HAD A
PERSON WHO WANTED THE JOB WHO
HAPPENED TO BE FEMALE.
>> FORTUNATELY.
>> AND THERE'S --
LOOKS TO ME LIKE THERE'S WAYS WE
CAN ASK THIS PARRA PROFESSIONAL
TO SERVE THE SCHOOL AT THE SAME
TIME, OTHER SUPERVISION DUTIES
AND TESTING HELP AS WELL?
>> WE'LL KEEP THE PERSON BUSY.
>> I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE.
>> SO MOVED.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> A MOTION AND A SECOND TO
APPROVE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
[TALKING AT ONCE]
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON
THIS ITEM?
HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR?
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT UP IS THE 2013 PAYABLE 2014
PRELIMINARY CERTIFICATION.
I'M SURE COLLEEN WOULD LIKE TO
COME UP, IS WILLING TO COME UP
AND INFORM US ABOUT THIS ITEM.
>> OBJECTION--
OK.
YOU HAVE A DRAFT OF THE
CERTIFICATION IN FRONT OF YOU.
JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE PROCESS, INITIALLY, WE
SUMMIT ALL OF OUR DATA TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND
THEY CRUNCH IT THROUGH THEIR
CERTIFICATION SYSTEM, WHICH
GENERATES ABOUT A 33-PAGE
REPORT.
SO PRETTY LENGTHY.
BUT WHAT THE BOARD IS REQUIRED
TO DO IS APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY
LEVY CERTIFICATION BY SEPTEMBER
30th.
AND THEN THE INFORMATION IS SENT
TO THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY THEN
DOES ALL OF THEIR PROCESSES WITH
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY LEVIES,
THE SCHOOL LEVIES, AND THEY SEND
A NOTICE OF PROPOSED LEVIES TO
THE TAXPAYERS SO THE TAXPAYERS
HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT
THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
AND IN DECEMBER YOU'LL THEN
ADOPT A FINAL LEVY AT THAT TIME.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE TIME LINE
FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
IT'S A DRAFT, AND THAT'S
UNFORTUNATE, BUT WITH ALL OF THE
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT TOOK
PLACE LAST SPRING, THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS
STRUGGLING TO GET THE SYSTEM
REPROGRAMMED.
SO AT THIS POINT I REALLY
BELIEVE THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY
CLOSE TO WHAT THE FINAL WILL
LOOK LIKE FOR FAIRBAULT.
THERE IS JUST ONE CATEGORY THAT
THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING WITH
THAT THEY HAVEN'T FULLY
PROGRAMMED YET, BUT I DON'T
THINK THAT WILL BE A MAJOR
CHANGE FOR US.
SO WITH THAT, I THINK I'LL JUST
WALK YOU THROUGH THE BIG PICTURE
HERE ON THIS PAGE IF THAT'S OK.
>> PLEASE.
>> OK.
SO WE 11 ANY THREE CATEGORIES,
THE GENERAL FUND, COMMUNITY
SERVICE FUND AND THE DEBT
SERVICE FUND.
AND IN THE GENERAL FUND, I'VE
LISTED THERE ALL THE DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES WE LEVY.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT
YOU WILL SEE THAT THE RECEIVED
IS GOING DOWN --
THE REFERENDUM IS GOING DOWN
SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT THIS IS A LOT
DUE TO A LOT OF LEGISLATIVE
CHANGES LAST YEAR.
SO THAT PARTICULAR LINE ITEM IS
GOING DOWN, BUT IF YOU LOOK DOWN
JUST A FEW YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A
NEW CATEGORY CALLED VOCATION
EQUITY.
THAT ONE KIND OF REPLACES THE
REFERENDUM LINE ITEM AND THEN
THE GENERAL EDUCATION TO STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT.
SOME OF THOSE ARE REPLACING WHAT
WAS THERE, THAT'S A LOT DUE TO
LAW CHANGES.
BUT IN THE GENERAL FUND YOU CAN
SEE THAT OUR LEVY IS GOING UP BY
67,000, AND THAT'S ABOUT A 1.93%
INCREASE.
IN THE --
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE
GENERAL FUND?
I'LL ASK AS WE GO.
IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE FUND,
THE LEVY IS ABOUT $361,000.
THAT'S A DECREASE OF $11,000
OVER LAST YEAR, NOT A REAL BIG
DECREASE, BUT FOR THAT
PARTICULAR FUND THAT'S ABOUT A
3% DECREASE.
IN OUR DEBT SERVICE FUNDS, THIS
IS THE FUND WE USE TO PAY OUR
MORTGAGE PAYMENT, OUR BOND
PAYMENTS, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
THIS THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, BUT
WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT WE'RE
STARTING TO SEE SOME REDUCTIONS.
WE'RE GETTING SOME OF THOSE PAID
OFF, AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR
WE'LL SEE THAT DROP OF ABOUT
$341,000 IN BOND PAYMENTS,
BECAUSE WE DID PAY ONE OFF LAST
YEAR.
SO OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND IS
GOING DOWN BY 7.64%.
SO WHEN WE ADD ALL THE NUMBERS
TOGETHER, LAST YEAR WE HAD ABOUT
A $9 MILLION LEVY.
THIS YEAR OUR LEVY IS DOWN TO
$8.7 MILLION.
THAT'S A DROP OF $343,000.
SO AT THIS POINT IT APPEARS WE
WILL HAVE A 3.77% REDUCTION IN
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVY.
AGAIN, THAT COULD CHANGE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO
CHANGE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.
SO WHAT WE NORMALLY ASK THE
BOARD TO DO AT THE PRELIMINARY
IS TO APPROVE THE MAXIMUM, AND
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT YOU
APPROVE WHATEVER THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION CALCULATES AS OUR
LEVY AMOUNT, AND THEN THAT IS
WHAT GETS SENT, THE ACTUAL
NUMBERS GET SENT TO THE COUNTY.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>> I'M NOT SURE THIS IS A
QUESTION, BUT IT'S NICE TO NOTE
THE BONDS ARE COMING OFF AND ON
THE BONDS ALONE, WHERE THE
TAXPAYERS LOOK TO REALIZE A
SAVINGS IN JUST THIS ONE YEAR OF
$400,000, I KNOW THAT MIGHT GROW
A BIT IN THE FEW YEARS AS WELL,
PARTICULARLY FOR THE FARMERS AND
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE TAXED
DIFFERENTLY, THAT HAS A STRONG
IMPACT ON.
SO THAT'S VERY NICE TO SEE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ARE THOSE BONDS STILL GOING
BACK TO WHEN WE BUILT ROOSEVELT
AND REMODELED THE HIGH SCHOOL?
>> I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THAT
INFORMATION WITH ME.
WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR DIFFERENT
BOND ISSUES.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE
ROOSEVELT ONE, BUT I'D HAVE TO
CHECK.
I THINK THIS IS ALTERNATIVE
FACILITIES BONDING, BUT I CAN
SEND THAT INFORMATION OUT.
>> SO WHAT THE BOARD WOULD NEED
TO DO NOW IS JUST TO HAVE A
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MAXIMUM
LEVY AS AUTHORIZED BY THE
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION.
AND THEN I WOULD PROBABLY GUESS
YOU'D NEED A ROLL CALL FOR THAT,
SO I WOULD DO THAT AS WELL.
>> I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE MAXIMUM LEVY.
>> AS CALCULATED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
>> AT THIS TIME IS THERE A
MOTION?
>> SO MOVED.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND
TO APPROVE THE MAXIMUM LEVY.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR
DISCUSSIONS?
COULD YOU PLEASE DO ROLL CALL?
[ ROLL CALL ]
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, THE RESULTS OF
THE VOTE IS 6-0 IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COLLEEN.
NEXT UP ARE SOME BUDGET ITEMS.
ITEM C-1 IS OUR ENROLLMENT
REPORT.
I SEE WE ARE DOWN AT THIS POINT
DURING THE YEAR.
OUR NUMBERS SEEM TO BE COMING IN
LOWER THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE'LL BE
KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON OVER THE
COMING MONTHS.
AND SEE HOW THAT AFFECTS THE
REVENUE PROJECTED FOR THIS YEAR.
>> THIS WAS ALSO AN IMPORTANT
POINT OF DISCUSSION FOR OUR
FINANCE COMMITTEE, AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE.
ALL THE QUESTION ABOUT WHY WE
LOSE STUDENTS.
>> MR. CHAIR, [INAUDIBLE]
CRITICAL NUMBER, IS THAT WHAT --
>> THE 3850, THAT WAS PROJECTED
LAST SPRING, AND THAT'S A NUMBER
WE BUDGETED ON.
>> WE'RE DOWN QUITE A BIT.
>> YES.
BUT TO BASE OUT ONE-MONTH COUNT
IS UNFAIR, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE
3850 IS AN AVERAGE OF THE WHOLE
SCHOOL YEAR, SO WE REALLY NEED
TO --
SEPTEMBER IS ALWAYS NOT --
IT'S STILL A NUMBER IN FLUX,
THOUGH USUALLY WE DON'T GO UP
FROM SEPTEMBER, BUT WE HAVE.
BUT I WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT WE'D
GO UP.
>> ARE WE LOOKING FOR THAT
OCTOBER 1st COUNT?
>> YES.
THAT'S USUALLY A BETTER COUNT.
THOUGH ON THIS REPORT, THIS IS A
SEAT COUNT, SO WE JUST PICKED
THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH AND
WE COUNT THE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT
ARE SITTING IN SEATS.
THE OFFICIAL OCTOBER 1 COUNT
THAT THE DEPARTMENT COLLECTS IS
A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED.
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THIS
NUMBER, BECAUSE THAT WOULD TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT STUDENTS THAT ARE
PART-TIME AND SHARED TIME, AND
ALC AND ALL THE OTHER TYPES OF
KIDS.
>> IS IT TRUE WE'RE MORE THAN 40
STUDENTS INCREASED IN OUR 12TH
GRADE?
>> THAT INCLUDES AN INCREASE --
I WONDERED ABOUT THAT TOO.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE
BIT WITH --
AT LEADERSHIP, AND OUR ALC
COORDINATOR HAS INDICATED A LOT
OF THOSE KIDS ARE ALC KIDS THAT
ARE NOW ATTENDING FROM
SURROUNDING SCHOOLS.
WHEREAS IN THE PAST YEARS WE
HAVEN'T HAD SO MUCH OF THAT.
THEY COME FROM OWATONNA OR
MEDFORD, OR WASECA OR --
BECAUSE WE'RE AN AREA LEARNING
CENTER, THEY CAN ATTEND THAT.
>> AND THEY DON'T HAVE IT.
>> I'M SORRY --
>> THEY DON'T HAVE AN AREA
LEARNING CENTER?
>> RIGHT.
>> WHERE IS THE AREA LEARNING
CENTER --
>> I THINK WASECA DOES, BUT
STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE TO ATTEND --
>> AREA LEARNING CENTER MEANS WE
SERVE A BROADER AREAOUT SIDE OF
OUR DISTRICT?
>> RIGHT.
IN ORDER TO HAVE AN ALC YOU HAVE
TO AGREE TO DO THAT.
>> DO THEY HAVE TO DO THE OPEN
ENROLLMENT FORMS?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
>> I DON'T RECALL EITHER.
>> MARGARET SAID SHE'S SEEN A
DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER
OF SENIORS IN THE ALC.
>> THAT'S GOOD.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK, BECAUSE I
DON'T SEE THE ALC LISTED
SEPARATELY.
ARE WE GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY
WE'RE REPORTING THAT?
>> WE CHANGED TO THIS WAY ABOUT
HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR LAST
YEAR.
JUST BECAUSE IT WAS BECOMING
PROBABLY A LITTLE TOO
COMPLICATED, AND THIS NUMBER IS
JUST AS GOOD AS WHAT WE WERE
DOING.
SO I JUST ROLLED IT INTO THE
SAME GRADE LEVEL.
>> OK.
>> SO THE OCTOBER FIGURE, THAT'S
A CRITICAL FIGURE.
>> THIS REPORT, NO.
BUT ON STATE REPORTING, YES.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN HOW --
THIS ONE IS JUST SIMPLY TAKING A
SNAPSHOT OF OUR SYSTEM ON
OCTOBER 1st OF KIDS WHO ARE
ENROLLED IN OUR DISTRICT, AND
THESE ARE JUST KIDS THAT ARE
SITTING IN OUR CLASSROOMS
FULL-TIME.
THE ONE THAT'S REPORTED TO THE
STATE INCLUDES ALL OF OUR SHARED
TIME STUDENTS OR PART-TIME
STUDENTS OR TUITION STUDENTS AND
A LOT OF OTHER KIDS THAT MAYBE
DON'T SHOW UP NECESSARILY IN
THIS ENROLLMENT REPORT.
>> OCTOBER WAS THE REPORT LIKE A
MONTH FROM NOW TO THE BOARD --
>> YEP.
>> IF THIS FIGURE IS WAY DOWN
BELOW 3850, WE HAVE TO PLAN A
COURSE OF ACTION.
>> YES.
YOU COULD LOOK AT THAT, IT'S A
LITTLE DIFFICULT TO DO ANYTHING
CONTRACTUALLY, WHICH IS 80% OF
OUR BUDGET.
SO AT THIS POINT YOUR OPTIONS
WILL BE LIMITED AS TO WHAT YOU
CAN DO.
BUT YES, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE'RE
PROBABLY NOT GOING TO WANT TO
MAKE ANY DEVASTATING CHANGES
THIS YEAR.
THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE HEALTHY
FUND BALANCES, WHICH WE DO, AND
IT TURNS OUT OUR PROJECTIONS
WERE TOO HIGH AND THERE'S BEEN A
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE
DISTRICT, THEN WE HAVE A --
WE CAN BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT
PLANNING, BUT IT'S [INAUDIBLE]
MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS WE NEED
TO TO ADDRESS THAT.
>> I THINK IF YOU REMEMBER,
PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO
WE HAD A VERY SIMILAR SITUATION
HAPPEN WHERE OVER THE SUMMER WE
LOST ABOUT 80 KIDS.
THE VERY NEXT YEAR WE BOUNCED
BACK UP AND EVEN HAD MORE THAN
THAT 80 COME BACK.
SO AT THAT POINT IT WAS AN
ANOMALY AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS
JUST ANOTHER ANOMALY.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
FAIRBAULT IS A COMMUNITY THAT
UNFORTUNATELY HAS A LOT OF
MOBILITY.
>> I THINK ANOTHER THING I WOULD
MENTION HISTORICALLY IF YOU LOOK
BACK AT OUR NUMBERS YOU'LL SEE
THEM JUMP AROUND, BUT 50
STUDENTS IS NOT UNREASONABLE.
THIS IS A LITTLE LARGER THAN
THAT, BUT IT HAPPENS, AND THIS
IS WHY WE HAVE HEALTHY FUND
BALANCES.
TO ADJUST WHEN SOMETHING IN
PARTICULAR COMES ALONG.
FURTHER QUESTIONS?
ALL RIGHT.
>> I JUST VOTED TONIGHT WE HAD
40-SOME STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THE
12TH GRADE, ACTUALLY CLOSER TO
50, AND THAT OFFSETS THE LOSS AT
THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
>> SOME WILL.
THE ALC KIDS GENERATE AID A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN THE
FULL-TIME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
BECAUSE THEY AREN'T IN SCHOOL
GENERALLY FULL-TIME, BUT THAT
WILL HELP, YES.
>> BUT IT CALLS TO MY ATTENTION
THAT WE LOST QUITE A NUMBER OF
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS --
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH.
>> THAT DOESN'T SHOW UP IN THE
FINAL NUMBER BECAUSE IT WAS
OFFSET BY --
>> I'M SORRY.
YEP.
YEP.
>> -- WE DON'T HAVE EXIT
INTERVIEWS OR SURVEYS, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WE DO.
IF THEY'RE OPEN ENROLLMENT, THEY
FILL OUT THE OPEN ENROLLMENT
FORM, THEY WRITE AN EXPLANATION
ON THERE.
SOMETIMES THEY'LL VISIT WITH
PARENTS, SOMETIMES WE DON'T PUSH
THROUGH IT WITH ME AND THE OTHER
THINGS IF THEY CHOOSE TO GO TO A
PRIVATE SCHOOL OR CHARTER SCHOOL
IN TOWN, WE DON'T KNOW THAT
UNTIL ACTUALLY OCTOBER 1st.
SO IT'S --
WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE LEAVING
OR GOING.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO FILL OUT AN
OPEN ENROLLMENT TO GO TO A
SCHOOL WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES.
>> ONE OF MY CONCERNS, IS IT
BECAUSE OF CLASS SIZES?
>> IT COULD BE.
I GUESS YOU COULD SPECULATE ON
MANY DIFFERENT REASONS WHY
PARENTS ARE LEAVING, BUT WITHOUT
SPECIFICALLY ASKING EACH
INDIVIDUAL PARENTS, IT WOULD BE
DIFFICULT TO ASSUME ANYTHING.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST
TYPICALLY NOT DONE IN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, IS TO ASK PARENTS WHY
THEY OPEN ENROLL STUDENTS IN
OTHER SCHOOLS?
>> IT KIND OF VARIES.
THAT'S REALLY THE PURPOSE OF
THAT, SO THAT PARENTS CAN WRITE
DOWN --
IF YOU VISIT WITH THE PARENTS
YOU --
THERE'S A TENDENCY NOT TO GIVE
YOU AN HONEST EXPLANATION FOR
IT.
MOST PARENTS WRITE ON THAT FORM,
AND THE --
WOULD I SAY THE MAJORITY OF THE
EXPLANATIONS ARE THAT MY STUDENT
WAS GOING TO THIS SCHOOL, WE'RE
NOW LIVING HERE TEMPORARILY,
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HIM THERE.
OR, MY JOB IS MOVING TO THIS
DISTRICT, WE WANT TO START MY
CHILD THERE NOW SO WE NEED TO
OPEN ENROLL THEM.
I ALSO GET ACADEMICALLY, THEY'LL
SAY THIS, SCHOOL IS BETTER
ACADEMICALLY.
WITH NO EXPLANATION FOR THAT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN FOR THAT, IT'S
JUST A PERCEPTION THEY V YOU GET
A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT REASONS
FOR IT.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE --
I GUESS THIS MANY, IF THERE IS
THIS MANY, THERE IS A CONCERN
WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THAT, AND
WE TALKED ABOUT DOING A SURVEY
OR CALLING THOSE PARENTS UP AND
SEEING WHAT THE REASON WAS.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S PRETTY TOUGH TO
DIG OUT HONEST ANSWERS.
>> REMEMBER, THAT'S ON AN OPEN
ENROLLMENT FORM, AND THOSE ARE
CHILDREN GOING OUTSIDE OF THE
DISTRICT.
SO FOR KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO
ANY OF THE IN-TOWN SCHOOLS AND
CHARTER SCHOOLS WITHIN
FAIRBAULT, THERE'S NO FORM TO
FILL OUT.
THE PARENTS CALL US AND LET US
KNOW THEY'RE COMING OR WE GET A
RECORD REQUEST FROM THAT SCHOOL
AND WE NEITHER LEAVING.
>> DO WE HAVE AN IDEA WHAT
PERCENTAGE THAT IS THAT STAYED
IN FAIRBAULT AND --
AS LOCAL SCHOOLS?
>> WE DO.
I WENT --
AND THIS IS NOT BY ANY MEANS
SCIENTIFIC DATA.
I JUST DID A QUICK LOOK AT THE
RECORD REQUESTS THAT WE HAD IN
OUR DISTRICT AS OF PROBABLY TWO
WEEKS AGO, AND WE HAD 98 RECORD
REQUESTS.
AND OUT OF THE 98, 30 OF THEM
WENT TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITHIN
FAIRBAULT, SO THAT WOULD BE
DEVINE MERCY, FAIRBAULT
LUTHERAN, ANOTHER 30 WENT TO
SURROUNDING --
AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE STEMS,
AND --
ANOTHER 30 WENT TO SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES, THAT WOULD BE
MEDFORD, NORTHFIELD, OWATONNA,
WASECA, AND THE OTHER 38 OR SO
MOVED --
EITHER MOVED OUT OF FAIRBAULT,
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE GOING TO
A DISTRICT MORE THAN 60 MILES
AWAY FROM US, OR OUT OF STATE.
ALL KINDS OF REASONS ADD UP TO A
NUMBER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK I UNDERSTAND, AND I
APPRECIATE 88 SON'S COMMENTS
EARLIER THAT WE HAVE A FUND
BALANCE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
CARRY US THROUGH THIS YEAR, AND
AGAIN, WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT
NEXT YEAR, SHOULD THESE NUMBERS
SUSTAIN.
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER THEY
WOULD OR NOT.
I'M JUST DOING A BALLPARK
ESTIMATE HERE.
IF THESE NUMBERS WERE ACCURATE,
BECAUSE --
IF THIS BECAME THE NEW NORM, ARE
WE LOOKING AT A STATE AID
REDUCTION SOMEWHERE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF $450,000?
>> I WOULD SAY BETWEEN THAT AND
600, DEPENDING ON WHERE THESE
KIDS ARE AND HOW THEIR PUPIL
UNITS CALCULATE.
I'D SAY BALLPARK ABOUT A
HALF MILLION.
>> BUDGETWISE WE'RE ABLE TO DEAL
WITH THAT THIS YEAR, BUT THAT
COULD BE --
IF THESE NUMBERS, AND I'M HOPING
THEY'RE NOT, BUT IF THESE
NUMBERS WERE TO BECOME THE
STANDARD THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO
BE LOOKING AT SOME WAY OF
DEALING WITH THAT KIND OF
SHORTFALL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND THE TRICKY PART COMES NEXT
SPRING, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO
PROJECT WHO'S GOING TO SHOW UP
IN THE FALL.
SO IT WILL BE UP TO YOU TO
DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO PROJECT
BASED ON THAT LOWER NUMBER, OR
WAIT ANOTHER YEAR AND SEE WHAT
HAPPENS, BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENS
THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.
THINK ABOUT THAT AS WE GO
THROUGH THE WINTER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEEN.
THERE IS NO FINANCIAL REPORT
TONIGHT.
WE DO HAVE A GIFT TO CONSIDER
AND APPROVE.
THIS EVENING WE HAVE ONE GIFT
FROM THE BRUCE SMITH GOLF
CLASSIC IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000
TO SUPPORT STRENGTH AND
CONDITIONING IN THE YOUTH
FITNESS CENTER.
SO WE THANK THE BRUCE SMITH GOLF
CLASSIC.
IT'S A GREAT EVENT, I THINK
TODD, DID YOU GOLF IN THAT THIS
YEAR?
>> NOT VERY WELL, BUT I DID
GOLF.
>> WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT OUR
THANK --
ARE THANKFUL FOR THAT
ORGANIZATION AND THE WORK THEY
DO, NOT ONLY FOR FAIRBAULT
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT FOR ALL
SCHOOLS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY,
AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT
THIS GIFT.
>> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND.
>> A MOTION AND A SECOND TO
ACCEPTED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR?
[CHORUS OF AYES]
THANK YOU ALL.
THIS BRINGS US TO OTHER
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NO REPORT
THIS EVENING, WELLNESS COMMITTEE
HAD NO REPORT.
COMMUNITY ED SAYS REPORT BUT I
DON'T SEE ANNE MARIE.
>> NO.
>> NO REPORT THIS EVENING FROM
COMMUNITY ED.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO OTHER
MATTERS.
NUMBER 1, ITEM X-A, RESOLUTION
13-18, APPOINTING ELECTION
JUDGES FOR THE NOVEMBER 5, 2013,
SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL
ELECTION.
I'M ASSUMING THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT BOARD NEEDS TO DO TO MOVE
ALONG THE LOGISTICS FOR THE
ELECTION.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE.
>> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND
TO APPROVE.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM?
HEARING NONE, MR. CLERK, WOULD
YOU PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL ON
THIS ITEM?
[ ROLL CALL ]
THE VOTE IS 6-0 IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU MR. CLERK.
NEXT UP, ITEM X-B, MEMORANDUM OF
AGREEMENT BETWEEN FAIRBAULT
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 656.
SUPERINTENDENT, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO TELL US ABOUT THIS ITEM?
>> YES.
THIS IS OUR ANTIBULLYING
INITIATIVE, AND WE HAVE SOME
STAFF THAT ARE VERY ACTIVE IN
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT REALLY
HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO DEVELOP
A PROGRAM.
IT WAS KIND AFTER MODEL PROGRAM
LAST YEAR, AND WE'RE -- [ ROLL
CALL ]
-- LY GOING TO IMPLEMENT IT THIS
YEAR.
THERE ARE SOME FUNDS ATTACHED TO
IT, WHICH ARE BUILT INTO THE
BUDGET, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE UNION WAS OK WITH
THIS IMPLEMENTATION, BECAUSE
THERE ISN'T LANGUAGE WITHIN THE
CONTRACT THAT HAS WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE.
IT FALLS RIGHT WITHIN OUR
PARAMETERS AND FALLS RIGHT
WITHIN THE FAIRBAULT EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION'S PARAMETERS, AND
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT MOVES
THIS PROGRAM, THIS ANTIBULLYING
PROGRAM CALLED SOAR RIGHT ALONG
WITH BOTH THE TEACHERS'
SATISFACTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE
SATISFACTION.
SO IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL
FOR THIS MOU AT THIS TIME.
>> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND
TO APPROVE THIS MEMORANDUM OF
AGREEMENT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR
MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION FOR
GETTING THIS MEMORANDUM.
I HAD VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH
THIS.
I THINK ANGIE AND MARK DID A LOT
OF THE WORK FOR THIS PIECE, AND
I WANT TO THANK THEM.
IT IS A GOOD PROGRAM THAT WE ARE
IMPLEMENTING IN OUR MIDDLE
SCHOOL, AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE
VERY GOOD RESULTS.
SO THANK YOU YOU TWO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR?
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT IS ITEM X-C, THE RIVER BEND
NATURE CENTER LETTER OF
AGREEMENT FOR 2013-2014.
AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING THE
BOARD APPROVED A MOTION TO
REQUEST A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT
OF $25,000 FROM THE RIVER BEND
NATURE CENTER AND TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT WOULD
ENTAIL.
SO HAVE YOU A CONTRACT IN FRONT
OF YOU THAT REFLECTS THAT, THAT
WE ARE LOOKING FOR A BOARD
APPROVAL ON THIS EVENING.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD
SUMMARY.
THEY FELL RIGHT WITHIN OUR
PARAMETERS, THEY'VE BEEN VERY
SUPPORTIVE, AND I LOOK --
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
RIVER BEND.
>> I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE.
>> SO MOVED.
>> IS THERE A SECOND.
>> ANY DISCUSSION?
>> YEAH.
WHAT DID THEY DO IN THE PAST
BEFORE --
I'VE NEVER SEEN CONTRACTS LIKE
THIS BEFORE.
WHAT DID THEY DO --
WHAT DID THEY DO IN THE PAST?
THIS IS PRETTY SPECIFIC FOR
GRADES AND SESSIONS.
I MEAN, I THOUGHT WE JUST PAID A
FLAT AMOUNT AND THE KIDS JUST
WENT THERE.
AM I INCORRECT?
ARE THEY GETTING REALLY SPECIFIC
ON THE NUMBER OF KIDS WHEN THEY
CAN GO, OR WHAT THEY CAN DO?
I GUESS I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS.
>> IT LOOKS A LITTLE MORE
SPECIFIC, BUT I'M GOING TO HAVE
COLLEEN ADDRESS THE CONTRACT,
SHE IS THE ONE THAT WENT THROUGH
THE WHOLE PIECE.
>> THIS CONTRACT IS EXACTLY WHAT
WE IS HAD LAST YEAR WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF I THINK TWO GRADES
ARE GOING UP FOR A HALF HOUR
LESS.
BUT THEY HAVE ALWAYS SPECIFIED
WHICH GRADE AND HOW MANY TIMES
THEY'RE GOING TO GO AND WHEN
THEY GO.
THAT'S BEEN EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN
HERE FOR FIVE YEARS I'VE SEEN
CONTRACTS LIKE THAT.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY THANK YOU
FOR WORKING ON THAT CONTRACT.
[INAUDIBLE]
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> WE SHOULD NOTE A REGROUP FROM
OUR KINDERGARTENERS THROUGH OUR
SIXTH GRADERS WILL BE GOING OUT
TO RIVER BEND NATURE CENTER?
>> YES.
WE REALLY HAVE TO THANK THE
NATURE CENTER, BECAUSE THEY'VE
REALLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE
ON THIS.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY
SAID, WE'RE GOING TOO TRY AND
ACCOMMODATE THE SAME PROGRAMS WE
DID LAST YEAR FOR THE SAME
DOLLARS.
SO THEY REALLY DID COME TRUE ON
THIS.
LIKE I SAID, I THINK WE'RE
LOSING MAYBE AN HOUR'S TIME, AND
SO IF YOU REMEMBER, WHEN WE
TALKED ABOUT IT LAST MONTH, WE
WERE LOSING QUITE A BIT OF TIME
FOR ALL THE GRADE LEVELS, BUT
THEY WENT BACK AND ADDED BACK
THOSE TIMES.
AND THEY HAVE PROMISED TO
SUPPORT BUSING UP TOP $5,000.
SO WE'RE GETTING PRETTY MUCH THE
SAME PROGRAM FOR $500 MORE THAN
WE PAID LAST YEAR.
>> SO WE'RE STILL SERVING THE
SAME GROUP OF --
>> YES.
>> -- STUDENTS THAT WE SERVED
LAST YEAR?
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
>> SO THEY REALLY --
I REALLY HAVE TO COMMEND THE
RIVER BEND BOARD AND THE PEOPLE
THERE FOR STEPPING UP TO THE
PLATE.
BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOKED AT
SPENDING THE 25,000 WITH WHAT
THEY HAD INITIALLY PROPOSED, WE
WERE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE
SENDING KINDERGARTEN OR FIRST
GRADE TO RIVER BEND.
>> WONDERFUL.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WAS CRITICAL LAST WEEK,
AND --
LAST MONTH, AND WAS FRUSTRATED
WITH THE CONTRACT THAT WE WERE
DISCUSSING, SO WITH THE NEW
NUMBERS COMING IN VERY MUCH IN
LINE WITH WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN
THE PAST, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS
MY THANKS TO THE RIVER BEND
NATURE CENTER FOR WORKING SO
HARD TO HELP FACILITATE THAT,
BECAUSE I AGREE WITH EVERYONE ON
THE BOARD, THAT'S BEEN A
TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE FOR OUR
KIDS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO THAT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED,
AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS
CONTINUE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS
ITEM?
HEARING NONE, HAVE WE DONE A
MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> YEP.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND
TO APPROVE THE RIVER BEND NATURE
CENTER LETTER OF AGREEMENT FOR
2013-2014.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES.
OTHER ITEMS OF INFORMATION.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, WE DON'T
HAVE ONE WITH US THIS EVENING.
DO YOU KNOW --
>> WE SHOULD PUT THAT AS A
REMINDER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT ITEM IS SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS.
ANY ITEMS OF MOTION?
>> I DO.
I'LL START.
ONCE AGAIN I'M BRINGING UP THE
MUSIC DEPARTMENT AND THE
WONDERFUL JOB THAT CHRIS DEVIL
DOES.
HE MANAGED TO GET APPROXIMATELY
100 TICKETS TO "WICKED," AND
THAT WAS AT THE ORPHEUM, WHICH I
WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO, MY SON
WANTED ME TO GO, SO I GOT TO GO.
UNBELIEVABLE MUSICAL.
ANYONE EVER HAS A CHANCE TO SEE
IT, GO SEE IT, IT'S AMAZING.
THEY STARTED FUND-RAISING
ALREADY, SO I WILL HAVE
FUND-RAISING CANDY BARS AT THE
NEXT MEETING.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT THEY HAVE NEW PEP BAND
SHIRTS THAT EVERYONE WILL SEE
BECAUSE I THINK THEY GLOW IN THE
DARK.
THERE IS NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES,
SO THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT IS
REALLY TRYING TO FAST FORWARD
THE PROGRAM AGAIN THIS YEAR.
SO ROTARY, CLUB PERFORMANCES
COMING UP IN OCTOBER, AND I
DON'T HAVE THE DATE.
IT'S A SATURDAY THAT EVERYONE
SHOULD GO HEAR THE ROTARY.
DEFINITELY LOVE THE MUSIC
DEPARTMENT, AND GIVES A
SCHOLARSHIP FOR MUSIC, OR MORE
THAN ONE SCHOLARSHIP.
THE OTHER THING IS, WATCH FOR
THE PLAYS COMING UP.
MY SON DECIDED TO JOIN THEATER
THIS YEAR, SO I'LL PLUG THEATER
NOW.
THEY HAVE "THE BROTHERS GRIMM"
COMING UP IN THE FALL.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
WHAT COMES OF THAT.
THAT WILL DO ME FOR NOW.
>> ANY OTHER KIND OF INFORMATION
FROM THE BOARD?
>> MR. CHAIR, I TALKED TO
MR. SEDESKER, I TALKED TO CATHY
ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
IN JANUARY.
WE HAVE A SHOW AND TELL THERE,
AND I JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN
GET OUR AUTOMOTIVE PROGRAM THERE
TO SHOW OFF WHAT WE CAN DO.
>> I THINK WE SENT THAT TO --
I SENTED IT FORWARD ON TO THAT.
SO I'M WAITING FOR A RESPONSE.
>> OK.
>> HOPEFULLY THEY'LL RESPOND TO
IT.
>> IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SHOW OFF
OUR ABILITIES WITH AUTOMOTIVE.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER ITEMS?
>> DO WE HAVE OTHER AREAS THAT
MIGHT QUALIFY FOR SHOW AND TELL?
>> WE PROBABLY DO.
I'LL LOOK INTO THAT.
I THOUGHT AUTOMOTIVE WAS A GREAT
ONE, BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN A
NATIONAL SPECTRUM RIGHT NOW, A
LOT OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WATCHING
THAT.
THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE WE THOUGHT
B I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT MARK
SENDS ME BACK.
>> I'LL JUST MENTION, I'M SURE I
SAY THIS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
JERRY IS NOT WITH US THIS
EVENING, HE SUFFERED A LOSS IN
HIS FAMILY AND SO OUR THOUGHTS
AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO JERRY ROBE
SHOW AND HIS --
ROBICHEAU AND HIS FAMILY.
WE HOPE HE HAS GOOD HEALING TIME
WITH HIS FAMILY.
ANY OTHER ITEMS?
MR. SUPERINTENDENT.
>> JUST TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW,
WE'RE OFF TO A GREAT START FOR
ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR.
STAFF IS DOING VERY WELL, AND
OUR STUDENTS ARE GREAT, AND OUR
PROGRAMS ARE OFF AND RUNNING.
WE'RE GETTING --
WE'RE ALMOST AT FULL SPEED RIGHT
NOW.
WE'RE PROBABLY IN OVERDRIVE FOR
SOME PEOPLE, BUT OFF TO A VERY
GOOD START FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
I WENT TO A FAIR MEETING WHERE
THEY'RE PLANNING A FALCON
DIFFERENCE, WHICH IS A SPRING
CONFERENCE, IF YOU REMEMBER
THAT, SPRING CONFERENCE WE HAD A
NICE PANEL, WE HAD --
IT WAS MORE OF A --
NOT A PANEL DISCUSSION, BUT
DIFFERENT PODS WE WERE ABLE TO
VISIT, SEE ALL THE --
THE SAINT OLAF STUDENTS, AND THE
PROFESSOR HELPED ORGANIZATION
THAT WITH SOME OF THE STAFF TO
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES
SURROUNDING FAIRBAULT COMMUNITY
AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH
DIVERSITY, AND HOW WE CAN
ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE NEEDS.
THIS IS ANOTHER CONFERENCE
SIMILAR TO THAT WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER
TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOLUTIONS
ON HOW WE CAN BRIDGE THE GAP OF
SOME OF THE DIVERSITY ISSUES AND
NEEDS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
SO AGAIN, SAINT OLAF IS ACTIVELY
INVOLVED IN THAT.
I KNOW YVETTE HAS BEEN ACTIVELY
INVOLVED IN THIS, AND IT'S
PRETTY EXCITING.
I THINK IT'S GOOD TO GET SOME OF
THAT COMMUNICATION OUT.
NOT JUST THE SCHOOL, BUT THE
COMMUNITY.
AND THAT IS OCTOBER 24th IS
THE DATE WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING
THAT.
PROBLEM LIP IN THE MORNING.
WE DON'T HAVE THE EXACT TIMES
YET, BUT I'LL SEND THAT TO YOU
ONCE WE GET THAT FINALIZED.
BUT OCTOBER 24th WOULD BE THE
DATE.
SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME IN AND
OBSERVE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
DO YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT,
YVETTE?
>> THAT WAS GREAT.
I SECOND THAT.
>> I WAS AT THE REGION 1AA
ANNUAL MEETING WHERE WE
RECOGNIZED VARIOUS STATE
CHAMPIONS AND COACHES, AND
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT OCCURRED
AROUND OUR AREA.
I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY MOVING
WHEN THE NEW PRAGUE COACHES
ACCEPTED --
THEY WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
IN GYMNASTICS LAST YEAR, WHICH
IS TREMENDOUS, AND ABOUT A WEEK
INTO THEIR SEASON THEIR HEAD
COACH PASSED AWAY.
AND SO THE ASSISTANT COACH AND
THE WIFE OF THE HEAD COACH AT
NEW PRAGUE WERE THERE TO ACCEPT
THE AWARD AT THE 1AA REGION
MEETING.
WE'RE TRYING TO CELEBRATE SOME
OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN EXTRA CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES, AND FOR THE NEW
PRAGUE GROUP, TO REGROUP
THEMSELVES AND WIN A STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP WAS TERRIFIC.
SO THAT WAS NICE TO SEE.
PERSONALLY I RAN A 5K DOWN AT
CIRCLE LAKE.
YVETTE RAN THE HALF MARATHON, SO
SHE DID MUCH BETTER THAN I.
BUT WE HAD NUMEROUS DISTRICT
STAFF THERE.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO SEE
EVERYBODY.
WE HAD A NICE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
>> YOUR GROUP IS EXPECTED NEXT
YEAR.
>> IF THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN
DOING A 5K OR A HALF --
>> DO THEY HAVE A 500 YARDS?
[LAUGHTER]
>> IT WAS GOOD.
I WAS AT A SEE SCHOOLS --
ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THIS
BOARD BELONGS, TO I WENT UP
THERE AND LISTENED TO THE
COMMISSIONER TALK ABOUT VARIOUS
THINGS IN EDUCATION.
WENT TO A PEP FEST TODAY, WHERE
HOMECOMING WEEK, SO WE'RE IN
HIGH GEAR FOR HOMECOMING.
SO TAKE A LOOK AROUND IF YOU GET
A CHANCE TO VISIT SOME OF THE
BUILDINGS, SEE WHAT FESTIVITIES
ARE, I WOULD ENCOURAGING YOU TO
DO THAT.
AFTER THE PEP FEST MEETING I
WENT UP TO SAGE HEADQUARTERS AND
HAD A MEET CAN WITH CONGRESSMAN
TIM WALZ, AND DR. PARKER, AND
SOME CHAMBER MEMBERS, AND OTHER
INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY.
IT WAS A VERY GOOD MEETING, WE
TALKED ABOUT INDUSTRY, AND
MOVING FORWARD WITH DR. PARKER'S
PLAN, SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT IN OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD MEETING.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> I'LL JUST ADD TO SOMETHING --
WHAT TODD DIDN'T SAY WAS THAT IN
TERMS OF BRINGING INFORMATION TO
THE COMMUNITY ABOUT LEVIES HE'S
ALREADY DONE, HOW MANY
PRESENTATIONS?
10, ARE YOU AT 10 ALREADY?
>> I'VE LOST COUNT.
>> HE IS OUT THERE, I'M JOINING
HIM WHEN I CAN.
TO BRING INFORMATION ABOUT THE
LEVY TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO AS ALWAYS WE INVITE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A
PRESENTATION FROM THE
SUPERINTENDENT AND MYSELF TO GO
AHEAD AND CONTACT US AND WE
WOULD BE HAPPY TO COME SPEAK
WITH YOU AND TRY TO MAKE SURE WE
GIVE OUT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS
WE CAN.
THANK YOU, TODD.
SOME DATES TO REMEMBER.
SEPTEMBER 30th, AT 3:30, THE
CURRICULUM COMMITTEE MEETING AT
THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
P.M.,
WORK SESSION AT THE DISTRICT
OFFICE.
P.M.,
POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING AT THE
DISTRICT OFFICE.
>> MR. CHAIR, CAN I MENTION IN
REGARDS TO THE POLICY
COMMITTEE --
>> PLEASE DO.
>> WE ARE GOING TO REVIEW THE
FACILITIES EQUIPMENT POLICY AT
THAT MEETING.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE
PUBLIC IS AWARE.
THAT WILL BE REVIEWED AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ITEM D, OCTOBER 21, AT 7:30
A.M., THE FINANCE MEETING AT THE
DISTRICT OFFICE.
P.M --
>> I HAD A QUESTION SEVERAL DAYS
AGO ABOUT THAT OCTOBER 28th
CURRICULUM MEETING.
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> IT'S BECAUSE OF --
>> ELECTION DAY?
IN NOVEMBER?
>> RIGHT.
TO GET SO MANY MEETINGS IN A
MONTHLY TIME --
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S A
MEETING IN NOVEMBER.
THE OCTOBER 28th ONE IS
ACTUALLY FOR NOVEMBER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> BECAUSE OF THE THANKSGIVING
HOLIDAYS.
>> THAT'S FINE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
[LAUGHTER]
>> TO REITERATE, OCTOBER 28th,
P.M., CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
MEETING AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
FINALLY, ON OCTOBER 28th, 6:30
P.M., REGULAR BOARD MEETING
RIGHT BACK HERE IN CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A
MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND
TO ADJOURNED.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
[CHORUS OF AYES]
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU.