INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 94 CLOQUET, MINNESOTA FEBRUARY 12, 2012 REGULAR MEETING

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 94

CLOQUET, MINNESOTA

FEBRUARY 12, 2012

REGULAR MEETING

The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 was called to order by Board Chair Gary Huard, 302 - 14th Street, in the City of Cloquet, on February 12, 2012 at 6:07 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call - the following board members were present on roll call:

-Gary Huard

-Jim Crowley

-Duane Buytaert

-Sandy Crowley

-Dan Danielson

Also present:

-Superintendent Ken Scarbrough

-Education Minnesota-Cloquet Representative Catherine Schroeder

Principals Present:

-Warren Peterson, Senior High School

-Connie Hyde, CAAEP and Senior High School

Absent: School Board Member David Battaglia; Principals David Wangen, Randy Thudin, and Tom Brenner; Indian Education Director Tara Graves, and Student School Board Representatives Lyndsey Bushnell and Kyle Lau.

Copies of resolutions are on file in the Superintendent's Office.

APPROVAL OF BOARD AGENDA

RESOLVED by J. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves the February 13, 2012 School Board Agenda, as presented. S. Crowley moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by a unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES - Jim/Sandy

RESOLVED by J. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves the January 18, 2012 School Board Working Session minutes; the January 23, 2012 School Board Meeting minutes; and the February 1, 2012 School Board Working Session minutes, as presented. S. Crowley moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by a unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

OPEN FORUM

AFSCME Paraprofessional Union Steward Judy Nelson addressed the Board concerning the proposed reduction of 10 student instructional days for the 2012-2013 school year calendar.

Reports were provided by the building principals, LIEC President Gerard Sordelet, and Education Minnesota - Cloquet Representative Cathy Schroeder.

CLAIMS, TREASURER'S REPORT, INVESTMENT'S REPORT, AND WIRE TRANSFERS

RESOLVED by S. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves the Claims, January 2012 Treasurer's Report, January 2012 Investment's Report, and Wire Transfers, as presented: General: $1,888,714.02; Food Service - $101,624.71; Transportation - $270,839.07; Community Service - $108,482.79; Capital Outlay - $56,452.30; Building Construction - $0; Debt Redemption Fund - $0; OPEB Irrevocable Trust - $59,472.45; OPEB Debt Service - $0, for a total of $2,485,585.34, and Wire Transfers: $350,000.00 on January 31, 2012 and $400,000.00 on January 31, 2012, as presented. J. Crowley moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

BUDGET DISCUSSIONS

Business Manager Kim Josephson presented a memo to the Board regarding Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) investment options that are available for investing at this time. Mr. Donn Hanson with PFM Asset Management LLC will be presenting several options to the Board during the working session on February 27.

2012-2013 School Year Calendar - Superintendent Ken Scarbrough presented a draft Option #2 calendar for the 2012 - 2013 School Year for review. He made a recommendation to approve the proposed calendar structure which includes 10 less student days of instructional time. The high school would be the only school that would require additional instructional minutes to be included in the student day. A proposed scenario would add five minutes to the beginning and ending time, and shortening the lunch period to accommodate the total of 21 additional instructional minutes. All remaining schools are currently within the minimum state required guidelines. With the passage of this scenario, the district would reduce over $200,000 of the $600,000 budget deficit the district is facing for the 2012-2013 school year. In addition, another $300,000 will also need to be reduced from the budget. Discussion followed. Board Member S. Crowley made a motion to amend the resolution to include a stipulation that the administration submit specific ways instructional time will be maximized during the school year with the calendar option being proposed. D. Buytaert seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by a yea vote of all members present on roll call.

RESOLVED by S. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves Draft Option #2 (10 less days) format for the 2012-2013 School Year calendar, to include the amended motion that the administration submit to the Board specific ways instructional time will be maximized during the school year. A final 2012-2013 School Year calendar will be presented to the Board for their approval at the March 26, 2012 meeting. D. Buytaert moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

RESOLVED by D. Danielson that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves the reorganization of the Developmental Kindergarten structure to an "All Day - Every Other Day, plus some Fridays" format for the 2012-2013 school year, as presented. J. Crowley moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by four to one (4:1) yea vote of all members present on roll call. Board Members S. Crowley, D. Danielson, J. Crowley, and G. Huard voted yea. Board Member D. Buytaert voted nay.

Vocational Education Feasibility Study Report - High School Principal Warren Peterson provided the results from a feasibility study he completed with regard to the possibility of adding an additional vocational education class at the high school. Additional time will be needed to put together a comprehensive plan for implementation of an additional program. Several board members asked if he could put together a draft of what the program would entail, including cost, if they were to approve it for implementation fall of 2012, and asked that this topic be placed on the next meeting agenda.

CONSENT ITEMS - Sandy/Dan

RESOLVED by S. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves that the consent items be approved, as submitted. D. Danielson moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call. Superintendent Scarbrough and the Board thanked Randy Thudin for his 16 years of service to the students, parents, and staff of the Cloquet School District and wished him well in his retirement.

OLD BUSINESS

District Strategic Planning Update - The date of March 16th has been scheduled for Bruce Miles to meet with all district staff regarding our strategic planning process. A date for Mr. Miles to meet with community members and the board is yet to be determined.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

Superintendent Ken Scarbrough discussed the formation of a committee to review business management services. Board members J. Crowley and D. Buytaert volunteered to serve on this committee. D. Battaglia will also be asked to serve on the committee.

Superintendent Ken Scarbrough addressed the board about holding a working session to finalize the Superintendent Goals. A working session will follow the March 12th regular meeting.

SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORT

The Student Enrollment Report as of February January 18, 2012 was reviewed. We are maintaining good student enrollment at this time.

NEW BUSINESS

RESOLVED by J. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves "The Beach at Pinehurst Park Staff Manual", as presented. D. Buytaert moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

RESOLVED by J. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves "The Beach at Pinehurst Park Staff Concessions Manual", as presented. D. Buytaert moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

RESOLVED by J. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves Cloquet Special Education Contract for Service #31 with Brih Design for the services of licensed psychologist Jan Ostrom, for education evaluation and behavioral consultation services for one student. The contract reflects up to 20 hours of service at an hourly rate of $190.00 plus travel expenses at an hourly rate of $75.00. The total contract cost will not exceed $5,000.00. D. Danielson moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

RESOLVED by J. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves the Memorandum of Understanding for Clerk/Secretary Leave of Absence, as presented. S. Crowley moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

RESOLVED by D. Danielson that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby authorizes the administration to pursue a new location for the Setting IV Elementary and Junior High School programs, and associated programming options. D. Buytaert moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

RESOLVED by S. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby authorizes the administration to contract up to an additional five (5) days of time for psychological testing purposes, as presented. Note: last year these services cost $60.00/Hour. D. Buytaert moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

Superintendent Ken Scarbrough presented a handout that identified steps for the hiring process to fill the principal position at Washington School. He asked the board for volunteers to serve on a steering committee that will oversee and direct the hiring process. Board members S. Crowley and D. Danielson volunteered to serve on this committee. D. Battaglia will be asked if he would be willing to serve on this committee as well. A position posting will be created and disseminated to begin the process.

RESOLVED by S. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby authorizes the superintendent to post the principal vacancy of Randy Thudin due to his upcoming retirement on June 29, 2012. D. Buytaert moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

RESOLVED by S. Crowley that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves the Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative By-Law changes, as follows: 1) Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative (NLSEC) Board Chair is responsible for supervision of the NLSEC Executive Director; and 2) Changes to flow-through and billing of federal special education funding. D. Buytaert moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

AGENDA ADDENDUMS

RESOLVED by D. Danielson that the School Board of Independent School District No. 94 hereby approves the acceptance of $1,600.00 for the 2011-2012 Archery in the Schools Grant award from the Minnesota DNR, as presented. D. Buytaert moved the adoption of the resolution and it was declared adopted by unanimous yea vote of all members present on roll call.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

-ISD #94 Health and Wellness Newsletter, January 2012

-Cloquet Educational Foundation Announcements

UPCOMING EVENTS

-(K-5) Parent/Teacher Conferences - February 13th & 16th

-(6-8) Parent/Teacher Conferences - February 13th & 15th

-February 20 - 24 (Spring Break - No School for Staff/Students)

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss, Board Chair G. Huard adjourned the meeting at 7:42 p.m.

Clerk of the School Board

ATTEST:

Chair of the School Board

Tags: legal notices, legals