MINUTES REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION – ISD #361 02/21/12

MINUTES REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION – ISD #361

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MINNESOTA

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 – 5:00 p.m.

Falls High School Cafeteria

1.0    CALL TO ORDER:  

    Meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairperson W. Kostiuk at 5:00 p.m.

2.0    ROLL CALL:  

    Members present were Mark Lassila, Will Kostiuk,  Michelle Hebner,             Darrell Wagner, Stuart Nordquist,  Dena Wenberg and Student             Representative Aleena Wilson.  Also present was Superintendent Jeff             Peura.

    Media Present:  The Journal

3.0    PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

4.0    PROCLAMATION AND PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES:  

    Certificates of Appreciation were presented to board members in             recognition of School Board Recognition Week.  

5.0    APPROVAL OF AGENDA

    D. Wenberg requested item 12.1.6 be separated from the program             consent agenda and 12.2.1 and 12.2.2 be separated from the             personnel consent agenda. S. Nordquist also requested 12.2.8 be             removed from the personnel consent agenda.  J. Peura clarified that         items 12.2.4 through 12.2.7 be changed to reflect 2012, not 2012-13.  J.         Peura also noted correction on item 12.1.3 the actual contract should         be corrected to state “2012” camp program.  Motion to approve             agenda with amendments was seconded by member D. Wagner.              Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

6.0    ELECTION OF BOARD CHAIR:  

    Moved by D. Wenberg to nominate S. Nordquist as Chairperson.  Motion     was seconded by W. Kostiuk.  W. Kostiuk called for further nominations.          Moved by M. Lassila to nominate M. Hebner for position of Chairperson.      W. Kostiuk called a third time for nominations.  With no further             nominations a vote was called for candidate S. Nordquist.  Those voting         in favor were W. Kostiuk, S. Nordquist, D. Wenberg and D. Wagner.   Vote         was called for candidate M. Hebner.  Those voting in favor were M.             Lassila and M. Hebner.   S. Nordquist was voted as Chairperson with a         majority vote.  

7.0    DESIGNATION OF BUSINESS OFFICE PERSONNEL TO PERFORM DUTIES         OF THE OFFICE OF CLERK AND TREASURER.

    Moved by M. Hebner seconded by M. Lassila to designate Stacy             Frederickson, Business Manager, to perform the duties of the office of         Treasurer and Susan Karsnia to perform the duties of the office of Clerk.         Motion failed due to lack of a majority vote with members M. Lassila,          M. Hebner and D. Wagner voting in favor and members S. Nordquist, W.         Kostiuk and D. Wenberg voting against.  

8.0    NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING:

    A special school board meeting will be called for Tuesday, February 28         at 5:00 p.m. in the Falls High School Cafeteria to act on bids for several         capital outlay projects.

9.0    OPEN FORUM

    9.1    A Student of the Month certificate was presented to Katlyn                 Briggs.

    9.2    Local 331 highlighted Teachers of the Month designations to Lisa             West, Dawn Schindeldecker and Heather Sundsvold.  

    9.3    Local 4798 presentation of Educational Support Professional of                 the Month certificates were presented to Patty Bahr and Ashley             Kostiuk.

    9.4    Barb Plasky, Falls Swim Booster Club President presented a check             received from the Mesabi East Swimming and Diving Booster Club             in the amount of $120.00 towards the pool renovation project.                  Karen Bates, Falls Swim Booster Club presented a check in the                 amount of $2,500.00 raised through letters sent to FHS swimming             alumni.  

    9.5    Representatives from the Positive School Environment Initiative                 Group showed a video they produced and presented to the 8th             grade class on anti-bullying.

    9.6    Michelle Boelk, FHS Band Director, addressed the Board seeking             permission to fund raise for a Band trip to Chicago in Spring of                 2013.  

    9.7    Jeannie Strand, Elementary Music Teacher, addressed the Board             with the impact a proposed plan for exchanging of grades 5 & 6             and EC, 1 & 2 would have on the elementary music program.  She             questioned the use of a “music cart” versus a classroom and gave         the challenges faced with the proposed use of a “music cart”.                  Potential solutions were also offered.  

    9.8    Cedulie LaVigne of Cedulie’s Photography addressed the Board             with her concern over the School Photography Contract for the             2012-13 school year.

10.0    APPROVAL OF PAST MEETING MINUTES

    Moved by W. Kostiuk, seconded by D. Wagner to approve the minutes         of the regular meeting of January 17, 2012 and the School Board Work         Session of January 17, 2012. Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

11.0    AUTHORIZATION OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

    Moved by M. Lassila, seconded by D. Wenberg to approve the bills due         and payable in the amount of $567,628.09.  Motion carried by a             unanimous vote.

12.0    CONSENT AGENDA

    12.1    Programs

        12.1.1    Accept donations in the amount of $2,728.00

            1/6/12    MSHSL Grant; FHS Activities Dept    $778.00

            1/12/12     United Way; Com. Ed School Readiness    $625.00

            1/12/12      Baseball Boosters; Scheela Field Improv.    $1325.00

        12.1.2    Adopt School Calendar for the 2012-13 school year which                 provides a four day Easter break.

        12.1.3    Approve a professional services contract with Kevin                     Gordon for summer hockey camp in July, 2012.  

        12.1.4    Approve the request from International Falls Figure                     Skating Club for summer ice time in the amount of                     $800.00

        12.1.5    Approve the agreement with International Falls Police                     Department for officer services for the period of January                 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014.

    Moved by D. Wenberg, seconded by W. Kostiuk to accept program             consent agenda items as presented.  Motion carried by a unanimous         vote.

        12.1.6    Approve a contract with Enstrom Studios for school                     photos for the 2012-13 school year.

    Item 12.1.6 failed due to lack of a motion.  Board directed             Administration to let bids for school picture contract.

    12.2    Personnel

        12.2.1    Approve the request from AFSCME Council 65 and Bob                 Hair to allow the reduction of Bob Hair from a 1.0 FTE to a                 .78 custodian effective April 12, 2012.  Removed from                     consent agenda.

        12.2.2    Approve the letter of resignation due to retirement from                 Bob Hair, Custodian, effective November 1, 2012 and in                 accord with the conditions as stated in said letter of                     resignation.  Removed from consent agenda.

        12.2.3    Approve the hire of Darrell Schmidt as a 1.0 FTE                     secondary English Teacher for the 2011-12 school year.

        12.2.4    Approve the hire of Jay Boyle as Head Football Coach for             the 2012-13 season and in accord with Schedule “C” of                 the Master Agreement between ISD 361 and Local 331.

        12.2.5    Approve the hire of Timm Ringhofer as Assistant Football                 Coach for the 2012-13 season and in accord with                     Schedule “C” of the Master Agreement between ISD 361                 and Local 331.

        12.2.6    Approve the hire of Nick Schoenecker as Assistant                     Football Coach for the 2012-13 season and in accord                     with Schedule “C” of the Master Agreement between ISD                 361 and Local 331.

        12.2.7    Approve the hire of Glen Anderson as Assistant Football                 Coach for the 2012-13 season and in accord with                     Schedule “C” of the Master Agreement between ISD 361                 and Local 331.

        12.2.8    Approve a request for leave under the Family Medical                     Leave Act for Rosa Christianson beginning February 24th.              Removed from consent agenda.   

        12.2.9    Accept the resignation of Hailey Silvers as an Educational             Support Professional effective immediately.

        12.2.10    Acknowledge the following volunteers for the girls and                     boys track teams for the 2011-12 season: Dave Tomevi,                     Courtney Olson, Liz Strandberg, Brandon Richards and                     Shawn Filipiak.

    Moved by W. Kostiuk, seconded by D. Wenberg to accept the personnel     consent agenda items  12.2.3 , 12.2.4 – 12.2.7 as amended and item             12.2.10.  Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

    Moved by W. Kostiuk, seconded by D. Wenberg to approve personnel         items 12.2.1 and 12.2.2.  Member M. Hebner moved the items be tabled     until the March meeting. M. Lassila seconded the motion to table.              Motion to table failed due to a tie vote.  Vote on original motion was         taken and failed due to a tie vote.  

    Moved by D. Wagner, seconded by M. Lassila to approve personnel             item 12.2.8.  D. Wagner rescinded his original motion and changed the         motion to grant emergency leave in place of FMLA.  Member M. Lassila         rescinded his second on the original motion and seconded the revised         motion.  Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

        Personnel, continued

        12.2.11    Accept the letter of request for Teacher Early Retirement                 Incentive from Susan Savard pursuant to M.S.122A.48 and             conditions as outlined in the letter of request received                     January 24th, 2012.

        12.2.12    Accept the letter of request for Teacher Early Retirement                 Incentive from Debra Ciminski pursuant to M.S.122A.48                     and conditions as outlined in the letter of request                     received January 23rd, 2012.  

    Moved by D. Wagner, seconded by D. Wenberg to accept personnel         items 12.2.11 and 12.2.12.   Discussion clarified that the action would be     to accept the letters of request with formal action on the Early             Retirement Incentive and conditions to take place within 30 days.                Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

    12.3    Policy

        12.3.1    Approve the revised Policy 614 School District Testing Plan                 & Procedures.

        12.3.2    Receive revised Policy 400 Substitute Pay for adoption in                 March.

        12.3.3    Receive revised Policy 206 Public Participation in School                 Board Meetings/Complaints About Persons at School                     Board Meetings and Data Privacy Considerations for                     adoption in March.

        12.3.4    Receive revised Policy 524 Internet Acceptable Use and                 Safety Policy for adoption in March.

    Moved by D. Wagner, seconded by W. Kostiuk to accept the policy             consent agenda items as presented.  Motion carried by a unanimous         vote.

13.0    RECEIVE THE TENTATIVE FY2013 EXPENDITURE BUDGET.

    S. Frederickson, Business Manager, distributed two drafts of tentative             FY13 expenditure budgets for the  Boards’ consideration and formal             adoption in March.  

14.0    ADOPT THE FY2013 REVENUE BUDGET.

    Moved by D. Wagner, seconded by M. Hebner to adopt the FY2013             revenue budget as presented.  Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

15.0    DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLAN FOR             GRADE RECONFIGURATION OF FALLS ELEMENTARY AND WEST END             ELEMENTARY.

    Moved by W. Kostiuk, seconded by S. Nordquist to direct administration         to finalize plan to relocate grades EC, 1 and 2 to Falls Elementary and         grades 5 and 6 to West End Elementary. Motion carried by a majority         vote with members D. Wagner, W. Kostiuk, S. Nordquist and D. Wenberg         voting in favor and members M. Hebner and M. Lassila voting against.

16.0    ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

    16.1    Jerry Hilfer, FES/WEE Principal

        16.1.1    Enrollment is currently 662 for grades K-6.  He also on                     behalf of Mr. Everson that FHS enrollment is 560.  Parent-                Teacher Conferences for FHS will be held February 29th                 and March 1st.  A group consisting of teachers,                     paraprofessionals and administrators will be attending a                 Minnesota Bullying Prevention Workshop in Grand Rapids.              This is a “train the trainer” workshop which will enable                     information to be brought back and utilized in the district.

    16.2    Jeff Peura, Superintendent

        16.2.1    Discussion of student activity accounts; an updated                     policy will be brought to the March meeting for discussion             and later adoption.  

        16.2.2    Minnesota received a waiver on the No Child Left Behind                 law which enables districts to set new AYP targets,                     eliminates some of the financial set asides and flexibility                 to use federal funds and also in school improvement                     planning.  

17.0    DIRECTOR/COMMITTEE REPORTS

    17.1    M. Hebner reported on the Recreation Board meeting.  Past                 minutes were reviewed, the revised Joint Powers Agreement was             distributed for members and legal review to be brought back at             their next meeting for further discussion.  The status of the winter             youth activities were also reported on.

    17.2    S. Nordquist reported on Local 331 negotiations.  He and W. Kostiuk         were appointed by the Mediator to meet with Local 331                 representatives to discuss negotiations topics.  They have met and             will continue to meet in an attempt to make progress.

    17.3    Aleena Wilson reported on behalf of Student Council. Several                 fund raisers are being conducted to raise money for a floodlight             to highlight the banner received from the VFW.  A blood drive will             be conducted on Wednesday and Spring Sports Week is being                 planned.

    17.4    S. Nordquist reported that Local 4798 voted their contract down             and a date is being sought for another mediation session.

18.0    MID-YEAR SUPERINTENDENT PERFORMANCE REVIEW SUMMARY

    A mid-year Superintendent performance review was conducted with         the Board identifying areas for continuous improvement.

19.0    ENTER INTO A CLOSED SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF LOCAL 331,             LOCAL 4798 AND ADMINISTRATIVE NEGOTIATIONS AND PENDING             LITIGATION.

    Moved by D. Wenberg, seconded by W. Kostiuk to enter into a closed         session at 6:10 p.m.  Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

20.0    REOPEN AND SUBSEQUENT ADJOURNMENT

    Moved by M. Hebner, seconded by D. Wenberg to reopen and             subsequently adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m.  Motion carried by a             unanimous vote.

                    _____________________________

                    Attest:  D. Wenberg, Clerk

The Journal

April 7, 2012