Set 2017 Proposed Levy at the maximum amount
Ninety-three-year-old Esther Anderson, who attended school in Odin, was presented the first-ever Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) Honorary Diploma at the B-OPS School Board’s regular September meeting on Monday, September 19, in the school’s Media Center.
A large contingent of Anderson’s children, grandchildren and friends were on hand for the special ceremony.
Criteria in the awarding an honorary diploma includes –
+ Attended a Butterfield-Odin Public School District elementary or secondary school, or a school which subsequently was made a part of the school district.
+ Did not graduate from a Butterfield-Odin Public High School.
+ Demonstrated lifelong exemplary service to the community, state and nation.
+ Demonstrated through this lifelong service character consistent with the school district’s mission statement and core values.
2016 Payable 2017 Proposed Levy set
The B-OPS School Board also approved setting the 2016 Payable 2017 Proposed Levy at the maximum amount, with Truth and Taxation to be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 19.
School districts may lower the levy after it is set, but cannot raise it, which is why the board set the maximum amount.
In other business
+ Accepted negotiable quotes for the sale of the district’s four-vehicle bus fleet.
- Three of the buses were sold to Spec Tran, Inc. of Hanley Falls. Spec Trans purchased the 2010 Bluebird Vision for $25,000, the 2007 Thomas C2 for $13,500 and the 1995 Thomas International for $2,000.
- Richard Linscheid of Butterfield purchased the 1990 Chevrolet for $1,050.
- The school district will retain the 1998 Thomas International.
- B-OPS has entered into a one-year proposal with Full Warranty Bus Leasing of New Ulm. The district is leasing one bus, contracting one bus – and keeping the 1998 Thomas International as a shuttle bus for classes and as an activities bus for field trips. The district also received a back-up bus from Full Warranty. Bus driver Steve Christensen, who drove for the B-OPS School District, remains with the fleet as a bus route driver. Full Warranty contracted and hired a driver for the second bus route. The bus proceeds were paid up front, and are being kept in a separate account. If the decision is made after one year to discontinue the contract, the district will be able to purchase back the buses.
+ Designated half-time Interim Superintendent Allen Stoeckman as the Identified Official with Authority to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Superintendent Stoeckman is the authorized user to access MDE secure websites, and has the responsibility of assigning job duties to the staff at B-OPS District #836.
+ Approved the hiring of Brigette Glienke to a food service position. Glienke’s salary for the 2016-2017 school year will be $9.85 an hour, rising to $10.10 an hour in 2017-2018. She began her duties with the school district on September 9.
+ Approved the second reading of Policy 616, School District System Accountability (a mandated policy) and set a tentative board workshop date, time and location on the policy for Monday, October 3, beginning at 3 p.m., in the school’s Media Center. The purpose of this policy is to focus public education strategies on a process which promotes higher academic achievement for all students, and ensures broad-based community participation in decisions regarding the implementation of the Minnesota Academic Standards and the No Child Left Behind Act (as of December 2015, the new federal Every Student Succeeds program). Minnesota Statute requires school districts to adopt such a comprehensive long-term strategic plan that addresses the review of curriculum, instruction, student achievement and assessment.
+ Received information on Homecoming Week 2016. Coronation will be Monday, September 26, at 7 p.m., in the school’s gymnasium. It will be a week full of dress-up days for grades K-12, school decorating, sports contests, Homecoming Parades, Pep Fests, and a Homecoming After-Party on Friday, September 30, at the football field in St. James following the game.
+ Received the September 2016-2017 enrollment report from Superintendent Stoeckman. There are a total of 216 students enrolled at B-OPS in grades K-12 as of September 2016. There are also 19 four-year-olds in the Preschool Program, with eight enrolled in the three-year-old class.
+ Changed the time of the regular December 19 to 5 p.m., followed by Truth and Taxation. The time change was made due to the Holiday 5-12 Band and 7-12 Choir Concert that evening at 7 p.m.
+ Heard the principal’s report from B-OPS K-12 Principal Barry Schmidt –
- Principal Schmidt noted that bus transportation is going really well with the implementation of the new system.
- He presented a potential proposal to increase the physical time of half-time science teacher Clifford Anderson for the freshman class, as he is a certified teacher. The move would be an assist with ESL (English as a Second Language) students. Anderson is new to the faculty this year, teaching biology, chemistry, earth science and anatomy.
- The principal informed board members that the school’s technology coordinator, Steve Christensen, is collecting quotes for new servers.
- Schmidt impressed on board members the already-noticed improvements in student reading following the implementation of classroom libraries and 30-minute daily reading times. He shared that a student told him that they now have reading goals – after not reading a book in five years, and in another student’s case, three years.
- He next told school board members that faculty and paraprofessionals have participated in workshops on de-escalation measures with students.
- Schmidt presented that there is beginning discussion on bringing back the 5th- and 6th-Grade School Patrol.
- He also shared that interviews are being conducted for a part-time custodian.
- His last point highlighted the meeting tomorrow morning (Tuesday, September 20), with Watonwan County Sheriff Gary Menssen and members of the Butterfield Fire Department with the focus on buildings, grounds and safety.
+ Heard the superintendent’s report from Superintendent Stoeckman –
- Superintendent Stoeckman shared that he is a “policy nut,” noting that the school board establishes policies and follows policies. He requested, and was granted, permission to go through, update and bring policies to the board for review. He also stated that those policies should be posted on the school’s website.
- He raised the idea of creating a separate capital budget for classroom furniture, technology infrastructure, curriculum programs, so that those funds are not just pulled from the general budget. “I like to see long-range plans and specific ‘pots;’ so much in this pot of money, etc.”
- In discussing the school’s website, Stoeckman stated that, as it promotes the school, it needs an overhaul in order to “make it engaging and easy to navigate. It should only take three ‘clicks’ to find the information you want.”
+ The next regular school board meeting will be Monday, October 17, at 6:30 p.m., in the Media Center.
