Glencoe-Silver Lake School Board
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICT #2895
PLACE: GSL Schools Community Room #443/444
DATE April 9, 2018
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
Board Chair Alsleben called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following board members were present: Christianson, Kuester, Lindeman, Twiss, and VonBerge. In addition, Superintendent Chris Sonju; Business Manager Michelle Sander, Lincoln Elementary Principal Bill Butler, Lakeside Assistant Elementary Principal Joy Freitag, GSL High School Principal Paul Sparby, Administrative Assistant Brenda Langanki, Mike Morris/GSL Technology Staff, Jakob Kounkel/McLeod County Chronicle, GSL Art Teachers, Shanda Landes and Andrea Wigern, GSL Art students Amy Hernandez, Militza Medina, community members Sue and Rylee Magnuson, Tammy Mrkvicka, Marissa Johnston, and Robert Hernandez. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Announcements The next regular School Board meeting will be on Monday, May 14, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the GSL Schools Community Room #443/444.
Acknowledgments Board Member
Lindeman acknowledged the teaching staff, students and presenters for their impressive display of art work presented March 5-17, 2018 at the Minnesota State Capitol and for their presentation to the Board on Youth Art Month. Students that received awards and recognition at the State Capitol Rotunda on March 17th, 2018 were: Rayen Culpepper, Amy Hernandez, Aubrey Lindeman, Rylee Magnuson, Militza Medina, Nailea Ramirez and Claire Verdeck – as well as their teachers Shanda Landes and Andrea Wigern. Also acknowledged, FFA and their pork chop dinner and Jazz band event April 9. Solution Focus Team for their work and continuing efforts working with students. GSL Band and Choir for receiving a “Superior” rating in the Large Group contest. GSL Speech Team – going to state competition. Vicki Harris and Knowledge Bowl Team – Class A Sections competition. Congratulation to students inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS). Thanks to Mayor Randy Wilson who was the keynote speaker at the NHS induction ceremony. No public input to the agenda was given.Reports/Presentations Superintendent Sonju introduced and welcomed Shanda Landes and Andrea Wigern, along with GSL Art students Amy Hernandez and Militza Medina. A power point presentation about the importance and impact of Art curriculum was presented by the group. Art essays were recited by Art students Amy Hernandez and Militza Medina. Elementary Principals Butler, Freitag and High School Principal Sparby, reported to the board. No student government report. No committee reports. Superintendent Sonju reported to the board noting agenda items; regarding the school plan for 2018-19, new hires to replace retiring staff. He talked about Community Schools meeting set for Thursday May 3rd. He reported that he met with local law enforcement regarding school safety and crisis planning – a good collaboration and positive meeting.
Superintendent Sonju expressed his appreciation to the voters/community support for the school building project – the additional spaces and upgrades to classrooms are serving the school well for learning and activities. He noted that the new Community Ed catalogs is now available and was sent out with the Glencoe Advertiser/Shopper, and is also available on-line, the Panther Field House, and District Office. Our Community Ed program offers a variety of classes and activities to our surrounding 6 communities.Board member Christianson motioned to approve the agenda with addendum, Director Twiss seconded. All in favor, motion carried. Board member Lindeman motioned to approve the Consent Agenda, with addendum seconded by Member Christianson. All in favor, motion carried. Bills: March bills are on file and available for review at the Superintendent’s Office, 1621 East 16th Street, Glencoe. Minutes: Regular Board Meeting minutes of February 12, 2018 Hirings: Hannah Thinesen, as 2nd Grade Teacher- Long Term Sub for Bertina Schraw maternity leave.Annie Frey as Elementary Paraprofessional at Lakeside Elementary, replacing Carrie Chap.Shane McConkey, High School Science, replacing Matthew Alitz.Jared Saunders, High School Science, replacing Jeff Delwiche.Monica Amaya, Special Education Paraprofessional at Lakeside Elementary, replacing Renee Vasko. Reduction in position hours from 8 hrs. per day to 7.5 hrs. per day, since new hire will not be riding the bus to assist student. Resignations: Kenneth Kantack- Junior High School Football Coach. Matthew Alitz, High School Science Teacher. Carrie Chap, Lakeside Elementary Paraprofessional.Nicole Degner, Elementary EBD/Special Education Teacher- Lakeside, effective June 1, 2018.
Leave Requests: Amanda Kottke, 7th-8th Grade Science Teacher. Maternity leave from start of 2018-19 school year in August, until September 26, 2018 (nineteen days) Mary Kohr, High School Special Education Paraprofessional, extend medical leave to April 30 (previous request was until April 16). Terminations/Reductions: Carrie Rose, Special Education Paraprofessional - reduce work hours by 15 minutes, student needs decreased after increase to hours was made. (Approved on March consent agenda) Courtney Zajieck, 9 hours per week Special Education Paraprofessional, position eliminated as student no longer required additional assistance.
Internal Transfer:Julie Grams, transfer from First Grade Teacher to Second Grade Teacher, replacing Kathy Korth who is resigning. Old Business - None
New Business:
A. Close-Up coordinator Paul Lemke requested approval for the 2018-19 Close-Up trip to Washington D.C. – The trip dates scheduled for March 10-15, 2019. The participants in the program will cover all costs through private funds, fundraisers, or donations. Motion made by director Twiss to approve, seconded by Director VonBerge. All voted in favor, motion carried.
B. School Plan for 2018-19. Discussion only. Business Manager Sander reported to the board with a power point presentation covering updates on budget, fund balance, enrollment, class size, staffing and 2018-19 recommendations.
Termination and Nonrenewal-The following probationary teachers were terminated and nonrenewed by roll call vote because they are on a one-year variance: Monica Rakow – Special Education teacher at Lincoln Elementary. Member Twiss introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE
TERMINATION AND NONRENEWAL OF THE TEACHING CONTRACT OF MONICA RAKOW, A PROBATIONARY TEACHER.
WHEREAS, Monica Rakow is a
probationary teacher in Independent School District No. 2859.
BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent School District No. 2859, that pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 122A.40, Subdivision 5, that the teaching contract of Monica Rakow, a probationary teacher in Independent School District No. 2859, is hereby terminated at the close of the current 2017-2018 school year. BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that written notice be sent to said teacher regarding termination and non-renewal of his/her contract as provided by law, and that said notice shall be in substantially the following form: NOTICE OF TERMINATION AND NON-RENEWAL Ms. Monica Rakow
Dear Ms. Rakow: You are hereby notified that at a regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 2859 held on April 9, 2018, a resolution was adopted by a majority roll call vote to terminate your contract effective at the end of the current school year and not to renew your contract for the 2018-2019 school year. Said action of the board is taken pursuant to M.S. 122A.40, Subd. 5. You may officially request that the school board give its reasons for the non-renewal of your teaching contract. Yours very truly, SCHOOL BOARD OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2859
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Member Christianson and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Kuester, Lindeman, Alsleben,
VonBerge, Christianson and Twiss.and the following voted against the same: None, whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted. C. Chairman
Alsleben moved to bring back the policies listed below for adoption at the next School Board meeting: 102 Equal Educational Opportunity, 406 Public and Private Personnel Data, 410 Family and Medical Leave Policy, 412 Expense Reimbursement, 413 Harassment and Violence 418 Drug-Free Workplace/Drug-Free School 501 School Weapons Policy 506 Student Discipline
515 Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records 516 Student Medication 520 Student Surveys 521 Student Disability Nondiscrimination 531 The Pledge of Allegiance 532 Use of Peace Officers and Crisis Teams to Remove Students with IEP’s from School Grounds 533 Wellness Policy 534 Restrictive Procedures. Motion seconded by Director Lindeman. All in favor, motion carried.
D. Abatement Bonds for Parking lot improvements– Discussion/Action.
Business Manager Sander presented the preliminary estimates for parking lot improvements. Director Christianson thanked Business Manager Sander and acknowledged her work in providing the information to the board. Director Lindeman motioned to move forward with the bond for parking lot improvements not to exceed one million dollars. Seconded by Director Twiss. A school board public hearing on the bonds for parking lot improvements will be scheduled. All voted in favor, motion carried.
E. Operating Levy Referendum – Discussion only.
F. Resolution to Accept Donations. Motion made by Director VonBerge to adopt the resolution to accept donations. The following donations were accepted with gratitude. Thank you to all the organizations and individuals for their donations. The school district appreciates your generosity and continued support.
RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT DONATIONS BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent School District #2859, Glencoe-Silver Lake, as follows, that the following donations be accepted with appreciation: Haldemann-Homme $250.00, Robotics, Plato Lions Club $100.00 Robotics, Tim Proehl, Peyton & Paul Lemke Baseball Equipment GSL Panther Activities (batting cage, pitching machine with net guard, turf matting) and Community Ed Panther Boosters $480.22 Indoor Shot Puts Silver Lake Lions $250.00 BPA. The motion for the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Director Lindeman, and upon vote being taken thereon, all voted in favor, whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
G. Miscellaneous - None at this time.
H. Closed Session Director Lindeman motioned to clear the room for closed session to discuss negotiation strategy. seconded by Director Twiss. All in favor, motion carried. Board meeting went into closed session at 8:55 p.m.
I. Board meeting reconvened at 9:15 p.m. Director VonBerge motioned to adjourn at 9:16 p.m., seconded by Director Twiss. All in favor, motion carried.Meeting adjourned.
Glencoe-Silver Lake School District #2859 by: Anne Twiss, Board Clerk
These minutes are unofficial until
approved by School Board action.
(Published in The McLeod County Chronicle April 25, 2018)
Links:
[1] http://glencoenews.com/category/section/news/public-notices