MLPS School Board discusses athletic participation policy

Sets proposed Certification 2016 Payable 2017 levy at the max

 

 

mlps school board

MOUNTAIN LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL (MLPS) School Board. Front, from left, Board Treasurer Pam Hoek, Board Chair Doug Standerwick, Board Vice-Chair Tim Swoboda and Board Clerk Julie Brugman. Back, from left, Board Directors Chad Pedersen, Tom Fast and Matt Gohr.

 

 

A chunk of discussion at the Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) School Board meeting on Monday, September 19, centered around the policy proposal for athletic participation. Specifically the fact that concerns have been raised about the district’s current practice and policy regarding allowing athletic participation of upper elementary students in junior high school athletic programs.

Approval for the policy came at a September 26, 2012 MLPS School Board meeting. In creating the policy, board members stipulated that –

  • They did not want the policy to break up team spirit for students in grades 5-8.
  • They wanted this practice to be rare.
  • They wanted unity of elementary grade teams to be intact.
  • They wanted the situation to reflect genuine need, not an extra player when there is already participants in grades 7-8 to create a winning situation.

The 2012 decision resolved that upper elementary students be allowed to participate in junior high athletic programs as needed from season-to-season, depending on the need and situation, with the permission of parents, principals, coaches and the activities director. Participation of upper elementary students in junior high athletic programs will not carry over for consecutive years without the permission of the individuals stated above.

The issue was raised this year in regards to a seventh-grade volleyball team. At the start of the season, there were four seventh-grade volleyball players, with one more participant bringing the number to five. Six players is the minimum necessary to field a volleyball team. At the beginning of the year, all sixth-grade parents were informed concerning participating on the junior high team, and that the sixth-graders would play as needed.

Another issue raised was that of the setter position on the volleyball team. The seventh- and eighth-grade coaches have reached out to all those team members in relationship to an interest in playing the position. Only one team member was interested, and coaches are now working with that athlete.

According to Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) Principal Michelle Larson, what the coaches are currently doing falls within the current policy.

No action was taken by the board on the athletic participation policy.

Proposed levy set at the maximum

Also at the meeting, Board Members decided to set the proposed Certification 2016 Payable 2017 levy at the maximum. A proposed levy cannot be raised, but can be lowered when approving the actual levy.

Each September, school boards must approve a proposed levy that results in property taxation of school district residents to provide funds for the school. once the proposed levy is approved by the board, the county auditor notifies taxpayers of the impact the levy will have on property taxes.

Levy highlights include –

+ 2016 Payable 2017 Total Levy for the district will increase $44,144,46 – from $1,001,408.58 to $1,045,553.03.

+ 2016 Payable 2017 General Education Levy will increase $49,855.06 – from $952,046.82 to $1,001,910.88.

+ 2016 Payable 2017 Community Services Levy will decrease by $5,710.60 – from $49,361.75 to $43,651,15.

In other business

Approved two grant applications to the Remick Foundation, with a total cost of $2,450, being written by MLHS Principal Larson.

  • The first is for the 40 sophomore students in the high school English class of Kim Syverson to attend a performance of the play, “The House on Mango Street” in Minneapolis in October, along with a meal at a restaurant. That grant is requesting $1,000.
  • The second grant request is for $1,450 by MLPS Instrumental Director Kurt Jahnke for clothing for performances.

+ Approved another Remick Foundation grant request, this for $3,740, being written by Mountain Lake Public Elementary School (MLES) fourth-grade teacher Pamela Anderson, for the purchase of 10 iPads to be used in the classroom.

+ Approved an initial list for four individuals as school district language interpreters – Nathan Harder, Ricardo Renteria, Miriam Rojas and Davianna Winger. Interpreters may be, depending on the need and situation, an unpaid volunteer, a short-term paraprofessional at the paraprofessional starting rate of $11.20 an hour or the rate used when interpretation is needed for a parent/teacher conference, $21 per hour. Posting was approved for additional school district language interpreters.

+ Approved the school district agreement and memorandum of understanding with Heartland Community Action Agency, Inc., Early Head Start/Head Start (to be known as United Community Action Partnership after October 1 when Heartland Community Action and Western Community Action merge).

+ Learned that MLPS Superintendent Bill Strom, along with MLHS Principal Larson and MLES Principal Karl Wassman, along with the Mountain Lake Education Association (MLEA) president, agreed to allow faculty to participate in a doctoral study being conducted by Chris Fenske of St. Cloud State University. The study is being done to gather information on perceptions of factors relating to attrition. It will examine teachers’ perceptions of administrative support, working conditions, relationships with colleagues and salary. Participation is voluntary.

+ Approved open enrollments – 12 students entering the district from Windom Area Public School, one entering from Butterfield-Odin Public School, one leaving the district for Windom Area Public School, one leaving the district for Butterfield-Odin Public School and two leaving the district for Worthington Public School.

+ Approved school district donations – $5,000 from the City of Mountain Lake for the Summer Rec Program, $3.881.19 for the Second Quarter Swimming Pool Program, $1,950 for an MAELC (Minnesota Agriculture Education Leadership Council) Ag Grant and $250 from Mountain Lake Fire & Rescue for Fire Safety Prevention Week activities.

+ Received the first day of school enrollment numbers from Superintendent Strom –

  • Early Childhood Special Education: 6.
  • Kindergarten: 30.
  • First Grade: 35.
  • Second Grade: 30.
  • Third Grade: 33.
  • Fourth Grade: 37.
  • Fifth Grade: 32.
  • Sixth Grade: 33.
  • Seventh Grade: 41.
  • Eighth Grade: 39.
  • Ninth Grade: 41.
  • Tenth Grade: 42.
  • Eleventh Grade: 39.
  • Twelfth Grade: 41.
  • ECSE-12 Total: 479.

+ Set the following Meet and Confer dates for school year 2016-2017 –

  • Monday, October 17, 2016; 3:15 p.m.; Room #1.
  • Monday, January 17, 2017; 3:15 p.m.; Room #1.
  • Monday, April 17, 2017; 3:15 p.m., Room #1.

+ Began work on policy updates, beginning with the most recent 2016 versions listed as needing updates by the Minnesota School Boards Association.

+ Approved an updated list of of upcoming school board meetings –

  • Monday, September 19, 2016, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Monday, October 17, 2016, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Monday, November 21, 2016, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Monday, December 12, 2016, Truth in Taxation meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Monday, December 19, 2016, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Tuesday, January 17, 2017, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Tuesday, February 21, 2017, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Monday, March 20, 2017, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Monday, April 17, 2017, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Monday, May 15, 2017, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Monday, June 26, 2017, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.
  • Monday, July 17, 2017, regular meeting, 6 p.m., Room #1.

+ Approved Kim Blomgren as a volunteer with the boys and girls cross country teams.

+ Accepted the resignation of Kyra Jungers as a paraprofessional at MLPS and thanked her for her service to the school district.

+ Hired Lance Leug as a part-time custodian at $11.20 per hour.

+ Approved a lane change for MLHS mathematics teacher Ryan Jans from BA to BA+ 15.

+ Approved the Assurance of Compliance Report prohibiting discrimination. Each year, school boards must affirm their assurance that the district is in compliance with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination. This is why school district have buildings designed to accommodate students’ (and others’) individual rights, why they provide students with teachers who create individual education plans (IEPs) in compliance with federal and state rules and laws, why discipline policies and practices must be adjusted for students with disabilities (and others), why there must be an equal number number of sports programs for students based on gender and why facilities require special entrance accommodations for students (and others), etc.

+ Heard from Dave Grev of the Wolverine Booster Club on fundraising being done to place lights at the Munson Field baseball diamond during Open Forum.

+ Heard a report on the Summer Breakfast and Lunch Program. The program was considered to be successful, however, meal participation numbers drop off in July because there are few district activities happening during the month. Food Service Director Tammy Wolle and Superintendent Strom discussed the possibility of spreading out summer activities through the month of July in order to increase meal program participation. Wolle would like to continue the program in summer 2017.

+ Heard a recap of the S.A.V.E. Yourself Training dealing with an active shooter, led by Chad Sheehan, held on Thursday, September 1. (S.A.V.E. is an acronym that stands for: S (shelter in place/lock down), A (awareness), V (violence stops violence as a last resort), E (evacuate). One session was a general three-hour presentation, followed by two active shooter sessions, one for elementary staff and one for high school personnel. The school district will have an ongoing training relationship with Sheehan and his organization that would include training as was held, a session with students to be conducted this fall or winter and a threat assessment of school buildings and policies.

+ Were presented a draft Capital Projects Report for 2015-2016. The following amounts were spent during that year on capital projects and building projects –

  • Deferred maintenance: $77,268.25.
  • Operating capital: $294,399.41.
  • Health and safety: $126,257.95.
  • Total: $497,926.61.

+ Heard a Disciplinary Incident Reporting System for 2015-2016 report. Each school year, districts must submit a report to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) on discipline incidents that occur in schools.

+ Heard a report on the Cottonwood County Housing Tax Abatement Program to address housing needs in the county.

+  Heard a report from the Building Committee. Members of the MLPS Building Committee include Chair Tim Swoboda and Vice-Chair Tom Appel, along with Cheri Hanson, Jerry Haberman, Bruce Swanson, Bryan Bargen, Vern Peterson, Shawn Naas and John Carrison. To learn what is being discussed for building proposals, go to: https://www.cross-countiesconnect.com/2016/07/mlps-school-board-meets-thursday-with-building-committee-architect/.

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