Small Town News

REGULAR MEETING (UNOFFICIAL MINUTES) BOARD OF EDUCATION OCTOBER 21, 2009 IND. SCHOOL DISTRICT 739 KIMBALL, MN

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The meeting was called to order by Chair Helgeson at 6:30 p.m. with all members except Peglow present.

The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all in attendance.

Dockery/Laabs approved the agenda as presented.

Community items included information shared by Community Ed. Director Kris O'Brien regarding the proposed trip to San Jose, California for the National Service Learning Conference in March 2010. Ten students will be allowed to attend the conference and will complete an application process to be selected. Dockery/Laabs motioned to approve the trip request. MC

Four members of the local LEO club were present to share "green" initiatives of the group to be accomplished throughout the year. These projects range from recycling, to making and selling rain barrels, to building composting bins at the elementary and turning food scraps from the lunch program into compost to be used on the garden at the elementary.

The board congratulated the students on their achievements and enthusiastic endeavors, and thanked them for sharing with the board.

Ms. O'Brien also had a request of the board to allow for sponsorship to be sold to help defer costs of the Cub Prints publication that is published three times each year.

Laabs/Dockery motioned to approve the selling of sponsorships for Cub Prints publications, seconded by Dockery. Motion carried with member Zipoy opposing the motion.

Celebrations and successes of students and staff included Jason Mortenson and Melissa Herrington attending the Leadership in Education and Excellence Award (LEEA) banquet at the St. Cloud Civic Center. On September 30 the FFA Forestry team took 4th place earning the team a trip to the State Convention. Currently five students along with Ms. Nelson are attending the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Football won their game against Rockford on Tuesday, a great game and a great end to the season. Volleyball is doing very well with 18 wins currently and another couple games on Thursday and Friday. Jr. High is finishing up with their activities this week as well. Overall it was a great fall season for Kimball athletics.

Mr. Widvey presented a grant application for funds through the Minnesota State High School League put together by Activities Director Bruce Holmseth. He also reported on the first quarter ending in only two weeks, and Homecoming activities of the junior and senior classes went too far over this year.

Mr. Clark reported on Grandparents Day being a very well-attended, a proposal was brought forward requesting differential pay for special education paraprofessionals who are required to perform specific duties that present additional hazards to the position beyond the normal duties of a paraprofessional. Because two sub-categories at Kimball Elementary and Kimball High Schools did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), the recent 2-hour late-start time on October 7th was spent by all staff breaking into groups and putting down on paper the issues, barriers, and strategies for Planning Resources & Curriculum, Engaging Families & Community, Culture of Learning, and Professional Development.

Mr. Tritabaugh reported on upcoming meetings - Negotiations on 10/26, Regional SEE meeting on 10/29, Special Board Meeting to canvass the election results on 11/4 at 7:00 p.m., Benton-Stearns Education District meeting on 11/18 as well as Health and Safety, and the next Regular Board Meeting. On November 20th there will be a General SEE meeting. As a levy update, there was few community members in attendance at the open informational meeting held on Monday, October 19th. Good questions were raised by those in attendance, and good information was shared. On Monday, October 26th at 9:15 a.m., Mr. Tritabaugh along with the superintendents from Eden Valley-Wat-kins and Paynesville will be on the air on KASM radio 1150, Albany to discuss the upcoming levy election.

A list of elementary field trips was included in the board books. A letter of concern was received by the superintendent that with the current economy, AYP status, test scores, etc, perhaps the number of field trips taken should be reviewed and considered. Members Helgeson and Zipoy will join Mr. Tritabaugh and Mr. Clark to determine which field trips may need to be removed from tradition at the elementary level.

Mr. Tritabaugh reminded the board that he had attended the required meeting regarding integration. As a result of this meeting, he will attend a collaborative meeting with other districts. A local committee will then be formed to create a plan for the district in regards to integration. This plan will then be brought to the board for approval or rejection. Mr. Tritabaugh also reported the results of the MSBA board election that members had voted on at the September meeting.

Member Zipoy wished to acknowledge and thank members Laabs, Dockery, and Helgeson for their good words spoken at the levy meeting on the 19th. They were much appreciated.

Committee reports included: Negotiations - Stenger, Stearns County Family Services Collaborative - Laabs, SEE - Mr. Tritabaugh, Meet & Confer - Laabs, Benton-Stearns Education District - Laabs.

There were no communications.

Stenger/Laabs approved the listed bills in the amount of $161,541.56. MC

Laabs/Dockery approved the consent agenda. MC The consent agenda included:

Approve minutes of September 16, 2009 Regular Board Meeting

Accept donation from PIE in the amount of $500 toward the purchase/replacement of playground equipment

Accept donation from Kimball Sports Boosters in the amount of $340 toward the Cheerleading program

The treasurer's and quarterly reports were reviewed and discussed.

Stenger/Laabs approved winter coaching assignments: Girls' Basketball - Head - Jeremy Kue-chle, Assistant - Gary Riess, 9th - Melissa Carriveau, 8th -- Eric Primus, 7th - Barry Strand; Boys' Basketball - Head - Jay Klein, Assistant - Scott Schafer, 9th - Rick Hendrickson, 8th - Eric Primus, 7th - Barry Strand; Wrestling - Head - Mike Schindler, Assistant - Paul Sundin, Junior High - Ryan Bollman; Speech - Jody Markgraf; One-Act-Play - Jody Markgraf. MC

Laabs/Dockery approved the hiring of Jeanne Schmidt, ECFE and Community Education classroom assistant, at Category II, Step 3 of the non-licensed agreement. MC

Laabs/Stenger approved Nancy Bonnifield to fill Jr. Class Advisor vacancy. MC

Laabs/Zipoy approved hiring of Jolene Stang, elementary parapro-fessional, at Category II, Step 0 of the non-licensed schedule. MC

Laabs/Dockery accepted resignation received from Beverly Paskewitz, elementary parapro-fessional, effective October 9, 2009. MC

Zipoy/Stenger accepted request for family leave of absence beginning October 30 with re-evaluation of leave in January 2010, received from Penny Blanchard, high school paraprofessional. MC

Dockery/Zipoy approved lane change for Shirley Senart from BA+45 to MA, effective at the start of the 09-10 school year. MC

Fundraiser requests for the year were presented and reviewed. Zipoy/Stenger approved listed fundraiser requests for 2009-2010, with the knowledge that this will be reviewed for next year. MC

It was noted that Mr. Linn's father, Clayton Linn had passed away, as did Lorraine Rose's mother /Brenda Newman's mother-in-law, Jennie Newman.

Member Zipoy asked for clarification that the schools are not putting the word out for sick students to tough it out. The principal's indicated that the policy at both building is for the sick students or staff to stay home until fever-free without medication for 24 hours.

Stenger/Laabs to adjourn at 9:12 p.m.

Robin Dockery, Clerk

(This is a summary of the full minutes of the School Board. To obtain a full copy of the official minutes, contact the District Office at 398-5585, or check the District Web site at <www.kimball.kl2.mn.us>.)

Published in the Tri-County News Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.



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© 2010 Tri-County News Kimball, Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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