MINUTES REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ISD #361 INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MINNESOTA March 16, 2009 5:00 p.m. School Board Members present: Mark Lassila, Willi Kostiuk, Darrell Wagner, Roger Jerome, Michelle Heber, and Stuart Nordquist. Also present were Don Langan- Superintendent, Kevin Grover-Assistant to the Superintendent and Brittney Long- Student Representative. School Board Members absent: none Media Present: The Daily Journal, KGHS/KSDM Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by S. Nordquist to approve the agenda as presented. The January male Student of the Month Award was presented to Travis Phillipe. The February Students of the Month awards were presented to Danika Stelton and Chad Sohlman. The March Students of the Month awards were presented to Courtney Scholler and Daniel Eldien. Donna Belanger, FHS Band Instructor, gave an update on the fundraising efforts of the band students for their trip to New York. Approximately $22,000 has been raised in the past three months. Sixteen students will participate leaving on March 24 th. A parent spoke in support of the math/science specialist position in hopes it would be reinstated for the 2009-2010 school year. R. Jerome also commented he had received several phone calls also in favor of this position. Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by W. Kostiuk to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 17th. A correction to the minutes was noted as to the reassignment of W. Kostiuk to the Recreation Committee in place of S. Nordquist, not R Jerome as recorded in the minutes. Moved by M. Lassila, seconded by W. Kostiuk to approve the bills due and payable amounting to $355,492.29 including check numbers 107583 through 107715. Motion carried by a unanimous vote. Moved by M. Lassila, seconded by M. Hebner to accept the program consent agenda as presented. 8.1 Programs 8.1.1 Accept donations in the amount of 5,765.95 Boise; Project Read $ 750.00 Various Donors; FHS Band Trip $1,379.00 Various Donors; FHS Band Trip $ 564.58
Various Donors; FHS Band Trip $ 314.37 Boise; Activities Dept Ice Machine $ 750.00 Carol Alstrom; FHS Band Trip $ 100.00 Falls Ed. Foundation; FHS Band Trip $ 500.00 Evangelical Church; FHS Band Trip $ 350.00 Rotary; FHS Band Trip $ 500.00 Various Donors; FHS Band Trip $ 558.00 8.1.2 Approve a contract with Interquest Detection Canines for substance awareness and detection services for the 2009-2010 school year. 8.1.3 Adopt the 2009-2010 School Calendar with in-service days for Q- Comp optional as noted. 8.1.4 Accept the low bid from Mavo Systems Inc. in the amount of $84,970 for the asbestos tile abatement project at Falls High School. Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by W. Kostiuk to accept the personnel consent agenda as presented. Motion carried by a unanimous vote with S. Nordquist abstaining on Item 8.2.9. It was noted by D. Langan that backup documents for personnel items such as letters of resignation would not be placed in media packets due to possible privacy issues. 8.2 Personnel 8.2.1 Approve Kate Anderson, Jaime LeDuc and Monica MacCallister as volunteer girls track coaches upon completion of criminal background checks. 8.2.2 Approve Dave Tomevi as a volunteer boys track coach upon completion of a criminal background check. 8.2.3 Approve Gerald Bolstad as a volunteer girls softball coach upon completion of a criminal background check. 8.2.4 Approve the termination of Kim Nelson as an Educational Support Professional pursuant to Article 11, Section 3 of the Master Agreement between ISD 361 and Local 4798. 8.2.5 Approve the resignation of Jaime Bodette as Girls B Team Basketball Coach effective immediately. 8.2.6 Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between ISD 361 and Local 510 with regards to Article 5, Section C, Subd. 1 and Article 7, Section B. 8.2.7 Approve a contract with Colleen Nardone for provision of school psychological services for the 2009-2010 school year. 8.2.8 Approve a contract with Bemidji Regional Interdistrict Council for renewal of school based intervention services for the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. 8.2.9 Approve an early retirement incentive package to be offered to qualifying Union 331 employees. 8.2.10 Approve the resignation of George Fraik, secondary special education teacher effective May 29, 2009.
Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by W. Kostiuk to adopt the 2009 Resolution on the Spending of Federal Economic Renewal Grants to Independent School District No. 361. Resolution was carried by a unanimous vote. 2009 RESOLUTION ON THE SPENDING OF FEDERAL ECONOMIC RENEWAL GRANTS TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 361 WHEREAS, the economic downturn is having a critical impact on everyday Americans who are struggling to maintain or find jobs in an increasingly difficult environment, and WHEREAS, those same Americans are the taxpayers that provide the revenue needed to operate essential government services, and WHEREAS, Congress and President Obama are planning a taxpayer-sponsored economic recovery package that will provide billions of dollars to help economically devastated cities and states immediately provide jobs to millions of out-of-work Americans through considerable infrastructure rebuilding, green energy projects and other projects that will require manufactured components, and WHEREAS, our taxpayer dollars should be spent to maximize the creation of American jobs and restoring the economic vitality of our communities, and WHEREAS, any domestically produced products that are purchased with economic recovery plan monies will immediately help struggling American families and will help stabilize our greater economy, and WHEREAS, any economic recovery plan spending should to every extent possible include a commitment from Independent School District No. 361 to buy materials, goods and services for projects from companies that are produced within the United States, thus employing the very workers that pay the taxes for the economic recovery plan spending in the first place. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we the undersigned will work to maximize the creation of American jobs and restoring economic growth and opportunity by spending economic recovery plan funds on products and services that both create jobs and help keep Americans employed. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, we commit to purchasing only products and services that are made or performed in the United States of America whenever and wherever possible with any economic recovery monies provided to Independent School District No. 361 by the American taxpayers, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, as legislators of Independent School District No. 361, we commit to publish any requests to waive these procurement priorities so as to give American workers and producers the opportunity to identify and provide the American products and services that will maximize the success of our nation s economic recovery program. Attest:// Mark Lassila, Will Kostiuk, Darrell Wagner, Stuart Nordquist, Roger Jerome, Michelle Hebner Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by M. Hebner to let bids for milk and transportation contracts for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years. Motion carried by a unanimous vote. Moved by S. Nordquist, seconded by M. Hebner to adopt the FY2010 tentative expenditure budget as presented.
Tim Everson, Falls High School Principal gave the following report: Enrollment is 625. A Q-Comp peer review will be conducted on Monday. A committee of individuals will interview team leaders, classroom teachers, mentors, Quality Oversight Committee members, School Board members and administration regarding the Q-Comp program. The baseball team leaves on Sunday, March 22 nd for Florida. The band leaves on Tuesday, March 24 th for New York. They are looking at enrollment projections to prepare for 2009-2010 scheduling. Jerry Hilfer, FES/WES Principal, gave the following report: Enrollment is currently 619. Dates to remember: o Friday, March 20 th ; end of third quarter o Thursday, March 26 th ; School Readiness Open House for 2009-10 o March 23-April 9; NWEA spring testing for FES and WEE students o April 15-16; elementary parent-teacher conferences o April 16-17; Donuts with Dad in the FES cafeteria. In conjunction with this event students will be encouraged to ride their bikes or walk to school this day as part of the Safe Routes to School program. The Professional Development Committee will present a formal presentation on staff development needs at the April board meeting. Kevin Grover, Assistant to the Superintendent, gave the following report: Reggie Engebretsen from the Northland Special Education Cooperative will address the board at the April meeting regarding district special education services. The Connect Ed system was used on March 11 th to notify district staff, students and parents of the school closing due to the snowstorm. Ninety-five percent of the contacts were made which is extremely good. He commended the maintenance personnel on a great job of snow removal and would appreciate any input regarding the school closing procedures. R.Jerome thanked the administration on behalf of the boys basketball team for allowing the team to practice on the closure day as they had a playoff game the next day. Proposed guidelines for possible reimbursement of students and staff for travel to state competition will be brought to the next meeting. He is seeking data from area schools. Don Langan, Superintendent gave the following report: Senate File 11 which outlines on-line-learning procedures is now revised to make local school districts the determiner of acceptable on-line courses used for high school diplomas. This bill brings together the providers and the school districts with a common purpose. It has passed the senate committee and is now on the Senate floor. Testimony will be given on Friday in the House committee.
Required Services Bill: A concern with this version of the bill is that the State will maintain a master list of approved vendors and items. If a district does not purchase one of these approved items a Memorandum of Rationale needs to be attached to the appropriate purchase order. This would be very time consuming. He is still awaiting final work on the rules of how these dollars will be awarded. He would like to finalize a facility plan and present it to the appropriate agency in order to qualify for some of these dollars. R. Jerome reported there is a Recreation Commission meeting on Wednesday at 5:45. W. Kostiuk relayed that at the last meeting a one-time donation was given to the wrestling club for uniforms. B. Long, Student Council Representative reported on the following: Open skating was held at the arena this past weekend. They are planning an event at the elementary school whereby parents could leave their children for a night out and student council would have activities for the children. Prom is April 18 th. They are continuing to work on fundraising. M. Lassila, Community Education Advisory Committee reported on the following: They reviewed adult, youth and PALS activities The Early Childhood budget will receive a reduction in $3,000 state aid. They were notified that Red Cross will still maintain a local office Moved by S. Nordquist, seconded by R. Jerome to close the meeting at 5:55 p.m. to discuss negotiations strategy for 2009-2011 employee contract negotiations. Motion carried by a unanimous vote. Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by M. Hebner to reopen the meeting at 6:35 p.m. Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by W. Kostiuk to adjourn the meeting at 6:35 p.m. Attest: Roger Jerome, Clerk