Legal Notice: March 18, 2015

REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

DISTRICT #881

MAPLE LAKE, MN

MINUTES

Board Members Present: Arnie Michalicek, Shelley McAlpine, Shelly Liljequist, Richard Thomas, Joe Paumen, Ben Elsenpeter and Joe Mavencamp

Others Present: Michelle Wang, David Hansen, Kris Harlan, Maureen Donohue and Katie Friedman

1. Meeting called to order at 7:01 p.m.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. “District #881 is proud of”  

A. Gymnast Jordan Sifferle for winning the Section 7A Championship and taking 7th place in   the vault at the State Tournament

B. Wrestlers Holden Youngs, Quinn Youngs, Tanner Vassar and Spencer Ogden for winning their weight classes in the Section Tournament and qualifying for the State Tournament. Ogden placed 6th and Vassar placed 2nd in the State Tournament

C. The boys basketball team for winning the Central Minnesota Conference Championship

D. David Stokman for breaking our high school’s career scoring school record in boys’ basketball

E. Daniel Upcraft for being a National Merit Scholar Finalist

F.  Maggie Larson, 6th grade artist, who designed this year’s St. Patrick’s Day button.

4. Recognition of visitors: Randy Benoit, Scott Carriveau, John Donohue, Becky Nies, 

5. M/S McAlpine/Paumen – Approve the Agenda for the regular school board meeting held on Monday, March 9, 2015.  Motion carries 7-0.

6. M/S Liljequist/Thomas –  Approve the Consent Agenda for the regular school board meeting held on Monday, March 9, 2015. Motion carries 7-0.

7. Open Forum-None

8. Unfinished Business

A. M/S  McAlpine/Liljequist – Motion to approve having the mock crash program. Scott Carriveau from the Maple Lake Fire Dept asked the board for permission to have a Mock Crash on May 7, with May 14 being a back up date.  Carriveau coordinates Mock Crash demonstrations for many area schools and this will be the 3rd time this powerful program will be shown to our 9th-12th graders.  Irish Mentors will be acting the parts of teenagers that are involved in a car crash with fatalities as a result of bad choices involving alcohol use and driving.  Emergency responders will be present to demonstrate rescue efforts.   Motion carries 7-0

B. February 27, 2015 Enrollment Figures: 885.4

C. M/S McAlpine/Mavencamp – Motion to approve updates to the following policies: 406, 410, 413, 425, 509, 524, 526, 805 and 806.  Motion carries 7-0.

D. M/S  McAlpine/Paumen –  Motion to approve the 2015-2016 school calendar.  Motion carries 7-0.

E. Update on the Highway 55 Beautification Project. Hansen and Mavencamp attended a meeting and shared plans and types of trees and bushes that are being considered for project.  Neutz did some research and found plant types that may be less allergenic and more salt tolerant. Project is in planning stage and is made possible by a $16,000 three-year grant.  Volunteers will be needed.

F. M/S Elsenpeter/McAlpine – Motion to approve a resolution discontinuing and reducing educational programs and positions. Up to 3.0 fte Licensed staff positions and additional reductions to account for the ADSIS grant, if necessary. Roll call vote:  Michalicek-Yes, McAlpine-Yes, Elsenpeter-Yes, Liljequist-No, Paumen-Yes, Mavencamp-Yes, Thomas-Yes. Motion carries 6-1.

9. New Business 

A. M/S  McAlpine/Elsenpeter – Motion to approve Kris Harlan as the District's LEA representative for Title I, II, V and homeless students. Motion carries 7-0. 

B. Discussion on board goals for the 2015-2016 school year. Liljequist spoke about wanting to make promotion of schools a priority and the importance of regaining financial stability.  Discussion will continue at later meeting.

C. First reading of the following policies: 501, 603, 619, 709 

D. M/S Paumen/McAlpine – Motion to accept a $957.31 donation to Maple Lake Elementary School from Target.  Motion carries 7-0. 

10. Representative Reports

A. District Leadership Team-Hansen said that discussion took place to explore the possibility of using extra Q-Comp money to alleviate some financial burden with no decision made yet.

B. Food Service Committee – Will set meeting. 

C. Meeker and Wright Special Education Cooperative-Thomas reported on budget talks. MAWSECO has expenditures that are month-to-month consistent. Future meeting sites will be rotated among member schools.

D. Minnesota High School League –Paumen talked about a change in bylaw 508 that redefines how contact sport practices are allowed. No single practices allowed over 2 hours per day and double practice days require a 2 hour rest in between.  

E. Safe Schools Committee-Harlan reported that an attorney presented some alarming statistics regarding sex trafficking in Wright County and a new safe harbor law.

F. Elementary School-Harlan reported that they are into the 3rd trimester. The elementary is involved with a service project where students raise money to buy goats for families in Haiti. One fundraiser event was “Gum Day” where kids raised $568.00. Goats cost about $50 each and they have raised enough for 42.5 goats so far. Kindergarten Round Up was held last week and 59 registrations are anticipated. PIE meeting was held earlier tonight with Deb Uecker as new president. April and May meetings will have a 6:15 time slot to see if more can attend. Next week is Family Engineering night. Science Museum will be out on March 17 from 6-7:45 p.m. and kids will rotate between various stations set up with activities. 14 science kits will be awarded as prizes and kids are invited to dress as wacky scientists. Grand prize will be 4 admission tickets to the Science Museum along with Omni passes. This will be the first year that initial MCA test results will be available instantly.

G. High School-Hansen reported that tomorrow’s late start will have test security training for first hour and working with technology during second hour.  April is packed with testing.

Juniors will take the newly required ACT test on April 28 from 8:15-12:45, will have lunch and then be dismissed for the day. Makeup date is May 14.  The Pop Concert was held last week and was fantastic. Blood Drive last month exceeded goal by 5 units to reach 55, and in doing so, qualified to receive a $250 scholarship to be awarded this spring. Planning to hold again around the same time next year so as not to conflict with other area drive dates. Consideration being given to  having the drive open to the general public. Spring Parent/Teacher conferences were steady but lightly attended.  Looking at ways to boost next year’s attendance. Applications have been given to seniors for local scholarships with a deadline of March 24.

Spring sports practices begin this week and next. Master schedule is being built.

11. Committee Reports-No reports

12. Set Meeting Dates

A. Activities Committee – 7:00 a.m. on March 19, 2015

B. Finance Committee – 4:30 p.m. on April 8, 2015

13. Other Business

A. Thank-You Notes

B. Upcoming Meetings:

1. Relicensure Meeting at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2015 in the Elementary Media Center

2. District Leadership Team Meeting at 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 in the Board Room

3. Schools for Equity in Education Meeting at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2015 in Cokato

4. MAWSECO Board Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 in Howard Lake

5. Wright Tech Center Board Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 in Buffalo

6. Regular School Board Meeting in February at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2015 in the Board Room

7. Safe Schools Meeting at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 in the Board Room

C. Miscellaneous Information:

1. Late Start on Tuesday, March 10, 2015

2. Chamber of Commerce Meeting at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

3. Mock OSHA Walkthrough at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2015

14. M/S Thomas/Liljequist  Motion to adjourn at 8:32 p.m.  Motion carries 7-0.                                           

Respectfully submitted

Maureen Donohue

Shelley McAlpine