REGULAR BOARD MEETING                                                                                      March 18, 2008

A regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 518, Worthington, Minnesota, was held at the Worthington High School Media Center, 1211 Clary Street, Worthington, Minnesota on March 18, 2008, at 5:15 p.m.

The following were present:  BOARD MEMBERS - Joel Lorenz, Lori Dudley, Steve Schnieder, Bob Jirele, Linden Olson, Brad Shaffer, Lowell Nystrom

ADMINISTRATORS - John Landgaard, Superintendent, Dave Skog, Director of Management Services

Correspondence and Recognition:  The board recognized the following staff and students:  Cheryl Carlson was named Teacher of the Year and Worthington Middle School student Gordy Moore will be participating in the state geography bee.

1.      Motion by Member Dudley, seconded by Member Shaffer and unanimously passed to approve the Consent Agenda for the March 18, 2008, School Board meeting with the addition of 4.2.6. resignation of Mike Timmerman as Custodian at the Middle School.

2.      Motion by Member Olson, seconded by Member Lorenz and unanimously passed to approve the Main Agenda for the March 18, 2008, School Board meeting.

3.      Motion by Member Lorenz, seconded by Member Jirele and unanimously passed to approve the minutes of the February 19, 2008, Regular School Board meeting.

4.      Motion by Member Olson, seconded by Member Lorenz and unanimously passed to approve the action of the items on the Consent Agenda as follows:

4.1         Financial Reports -

A.     Approved Investments Matured and Purchased

B.     Approved Wire Transfers

                  C.   Approved Claims and Accounts for March 18, 2008, as per Board Check Register

D.     Approved District Imprest Cash Account and Community Education Imprest Cash Account for February 2008.

E.      Reviewed the Middle School, High School, Prairie Elementary and the Area Learning Center Activity Accounts for February 2008.

4.2.1.        Approved retirement of Mary Batcheller as Health/Physical Education Teacher at the Middle School effective the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

4.2.2.        Approved retirement of Marilyn Nieland as Special Education Teacher at Prairie Elementary School effective the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

4.2.3.        Approved retirement of Betty McAllister as Special Education Director for the School District effective June 30, 2008.

4.2.4.        Approved retirement of Ellen Curley-Copperud as English Teacher at the High School effective June 2, 2008.

4.2.5.        Approved retirement of Kathleen Miller as 5^th Grade Teacher at Prairie Elementary School effective the 2007-2008 school year.

4.2.6.        Approved resignation of Mike Timmerman as Custodian at the Middle School effective March 31, 2008.

4.3.1.        Approved employment of Stephanie Fletcher as long-term substitute Kindergarten Teacher at Prairie Elementary School effective February 19, 2008, through April 14, 2008.

4.3.2.        Approved employment of Sandy Wood as Assistant Boys’ & Girls’ Golf Coach with the High School effective February 26, 2008.

4.3.3.        Approved employment of Ron Wood as Head Boys’ & Girls’ Golf Coach with the High School effective February 26, 2008.

4.3.4.        Approved employment of Shelly Gieselman as long-term substitute Paraprofessional at Prairie Elementary School effective March 3, 2008, through May 30, 2008.

4.3.5.        Approved employment of Brian Iverson as B-squad Boys’ Baseball Coach at the High School effective March 12, 2008.

4.4        The board accepted the following donations for the month of February 2008: Prairie Elementary Parent Group for Accelerated Reader Quizzes and from the Peace Maker Foundation for the Middle School student programs.

4.5        Approved an employee’s request for child care leave (without pay) from March 25, 2008, through May 30, 2008.

4.6        Approved  the following Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative contracts for 2008-2009: 

4.7        Approved a reduction in hours for an employee from 6 hours a day to 3 hours a day only when school is in session.

5.       Motion by Member Dudley, seconded by Member Shaffer and unanimously passed to approve the Nobles County Integration Collaborative Commitment for 2008-2009.

6.       Motion by Member Lorenz, seconded by Member Olson and unanimously passed to approve District Budget Amendment.

7.       Member Nystrom, introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:

RESOLUTION DISCONTINUING AND REDUCING

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND POSITIONS

WHEREAS, the School Board of Independent School District No. 518 adopted a resolution on March 18, 2008, directing the administration to make recommendations for reductions in programs and positions, and

WHEREAS, said recommendations have been received and considered by the school board,

BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent School District No. 518, as follows:

That the following programs and positions, or portions thereof, be discontinued:

1.       District-wide Operations/Program

2.       Elementary School Programming

3.       Middle School Programming

4.       Elementary Education Programming

5.       Special Education Programming

6.       Alternative Learning Center Program

7.       Special Services Program

8.       Community Education Program Reductions

The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Member Jirele, and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof:  Steve Schnieder, Lowell Nystrom, Linden Olson, Bob Jirele, Brad Shaffer, Lori Dudley, Joel Lorenz.

and the following voted against:  None.

whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.

8.       Motion by Member Lorenz, seconded by Member Nystrom and unanimously passed to approve working with a student from the Area Learning Center on developing a 504 plan and retaking the BST math test prior to graduating.

9.       Motion by Member Shaffer, seconded by Member Dudley and unanimously passed to approve the District goals with the understanding that specific building goals/objectives will be presented to the board by the August board meeting.

10.   Motion by Member Jirele, seconded by Member Dudley and unanimously passed to approve a credit waiver of up to 0.5 credits to enable students to participate in graduation ceremonies at the High School and Area Learning Center.

11.   Motion by Member Lorenz, seconded by Member Dudley and unanimously passed to approve the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school district calendar as presented.

12.   Motion by Member Olson, seconded by Member Lorenz and unanimously passed to approve an out reach contract with the Minnesota Department of Human Services in supporting a part-time Myanmar translator position.

13.   Motion by Member Olson, seconded by Member Shaffer and unanimously passed to approve a bid from Otto Landscaping for $138,005.47 for the installation of 3 sets of playground equipment and related playground surfacing materials.

14.   Motion by Member Shaffer, seconded by Member Dudley and unanimously passed to approve the hiring of 1.5 FTE teacher increase.

15.   Motion by Member Olson, seconded by Member Lorenz and unanimously passed to approve a proposal from Degroods Appliance and Electronics to install a sound system in the Prairie Elementary gym.  Total cost of the project is $24,013.00.

16.   Motion by Member Shaffer, seconded by Member Olson and unanimously passed to approve salary agreement for 2008-2010 for the NCIC Coordinator, salary and benefit increase of 3.47% for 2008-2009 and 3.58% for 2009-2010; NCIC Youth Initiative Coordinator salary and benefit increase of 3.28% for 2008-2009 and 3.40% for 2009-2010; and NCIC Program Aides salary and benefits increase of 3.17% for 2008-2009 and 3.08% for 2009-2010.

The Board further discussed and reviewed the following matters: Investments and financial status; reports on: Superintendent’s Report – Mr. Landgaard reported the following:  Brooklyn Center School District running online school recruiting; registration numbers from the High School, Middle School and Elementary school are stable for next year; Middle School Showcase held tonight from 6-8 p.m.; working on staffing for next year; announced retirements; NCA interview schedule on April 7^th from 12:30-1:30; NCA exit summary report on April 9^th at 1:30 p.m.; and discussed negotiations and the 20/20 pay issue.  Instructional Committee Report – None.  Operations Committee Report – None.  Nobles County Integration Collaborative Report – Mr. Schnieder reported the committee accepted the budget for next year and approved some mini grants.  Technology Committee Report – Mr. Olson reported the committee reviewed the capital outlay for next year which included purchasing additional smart boards; reviewed areas of incompatibility of the communication policy and handbook; and technology projects for next year.  Other Business – Mrs. Dudley announced Adrienne Poppen was chosen as Worthington’s Crailsheim exchange student and Svenja Wieser as Germany’s Crailsheim exchange student and Mr. Olson indicated the staff development committee met and discussed staff development mentorship and curriculum.

Meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

                                                                        Linden Olson, Clerk

                                                                        Lisa Ahrenstorff, Deputy Clerk