Hands out winter extra-curricular assignments
At its regular monthly meeting on Monday, October 13, the Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) School Board reviewed the new one-year Indoor Swimming Pool Agreement with the City of Mountain Lake (January 1, 2015-December 31, 2015).
The Mountain Lake City Council had approved the contract at its last meeting.
Board members thanked the city for its continued financial support for pool operations, as well as the community group, Friends of the Pool, for their support and interest in keeping the indoor pool operating – a facility that has been serving the school district, community and area for 45 years.
Expenses for fiscal year 2014 totaled $45,609.43. Revenue for 2014 was $31,241.56. This leaves an operational deficit of $14,367.87. (Expenses DO NOT include utility costs – fuel, water and electricity; estimated to be an additional $20,000 in expenses.)
Extra-curricular winter assignments
No coaching change were made from last season’s coaching roster. Assignments for the winter extra-curricular season includes:
Boys Basketball –
*Shawn Naas, head coach, $4,.
* Nate Brinkman, assistant coach, $3,300.
* Tim Snyder/Ryan Jans, 7/8 Grade, $2,450 each.
* Volunteers – Steve Thiessen and Paul Metcalf.
Girls Basketball –
* Wayne Klassen, head coach, $4,350.
* Kyle Blomgren/Dave Bucklin, assistant coaches, $3,300 split.
* Sonja Stoesz/Karla Wendt, 7/8 Grade, $2,450 each.
* Volunteer – Amber Hughes.
Fine Arts –
* Alisa Nickel, head speech coach, $2,500.
* Julie Brugman, head one-act coach, $2,025.
* Crystal Fast, assistant one-act coach, $1,100.
* Jon Harder, head Knowledge Bowl coach $800.
* Jessica Svehla, assistant Knowledge Bowl coach, $550.
* One-Act Volunteer – Jerry Logue.
In 0ther business
* The Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) School Board discussed revised school policies specific to the School Board, en route to adopting the changes at their Monday, November 17 meeting.
Policies reviewed included:
– School Board officers.
– Order of the regular School Board meeting.
– School Board meeting agenda.
– Open and closed meetings.
– Public participation in School Board meetings, complaints and data privacy.
– Mountain Lake Public School open forum registration form.
– Development, adoption and implementation of policies.
– Conflict of interest with charter school board members.
– School Board committee.
* Approved the hiring of Mark Pankratz as a part-time custodian at a rate of $10 per hour, pending a successful completion of a background check. He will be employed for six hours per day, beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at 12 a.m.
* Approved the employment of Carolyn Wornson as a full-time elementary paraprofessional at a rate of $10.30 per hour, pending a successful completion of a background check.
* Reviewed and approved the Annual Report 2013-2014: Year 1 Southwest Minnesota FLY Consortium. Each year the Flexible Learning Year (FLY) Consortium creates an annual report that is sent to the Minnesota Department of Education. The report highlights student achievement progress among student populations in the school district, and among consortium schools. The report also describes various professional development activities conducted by consortium schools designed to improve classroom instruction.
* Reviewed the Preliminary Fund Balances June 30, 2014. State Mountain Lake Public School Superintendent Bill Strom, “We area continuing to make necessary and recommended adjustments to fiscal year 2014 financial documents in preparation for the final audit report. These adjustments are recommended by the school’s auditor, Eide Bailey. Our auditor will make a report to the school board at the regular November school board meeting.”
* Approved the following fund transfers – Moved $216,059.34 from the General Fund Unreserved – with a total of $181,132.61 assigned to Operating Capital, $14,758.30 assigned to Achievement/Integration and $20,168.43 assigned to Community Education.
* Discussed a postponed meeting between the School Board and the members of the Building Committee (Bryan Bargen, Vern Peterson, Tom Appel, Jerry Haberman, Shawn Naas, Bruce Swanson and Cheri Hanson). The two groups were to meet on Wednesday, October 1, in joint session, but the meeting was postponed because various Building Committee members and School Board members were unable to attend. Items on the agenda to have been discussed included – Building Committee organization, responsibilities and leadership; interviewing and hiring an architect, conducting additional surveys to determine public views on building costs and project priorities; sharing view on the next building project (new? remodel? combination of the two?) and getting advice from regional school leaders who are experienced in building referendum matters.
Information the Monday, September 22 regular meeting of the MLPS School Board
* Accepted donations to MLPS. From the City of Mountain Lake – $4,560.52; Summer Recreation donation from the City of Mountain Lake – $100 and Discover Preschool donation from Hy-Vee – $90.45.
* Approved open enrollments. Kami Mendez enrolled her first-grade daughter into the Mountain Lake Public School District, while Trista Kudea enrolled her sophomore daughter into the Butterfield/Odin Public School District.
* Dissolved the current Windom Hockey Agreement in order to form a new cooperative sponsorship adding Butterfield-Odin Public High School.
* Heard Workman’s Compensation update and Revised School Police Update by Superintendent Strom.
* Approved list of volunteers in extra-curricular fall sports and Community Education –
– Football – Nick Naxay and Mitchell Schroeder.
– Volleyball – Alisa Nickel.
– Dance Class – Candice Bartel.
– Computer Class – Jean Haberman and Pam Osland.
– Cooking Class – Laurie Bartsch.
– 4-H Adventure Club – Crystal Reith (Cottonwood County 4-H Leader).
– Elementary Volleyball – Kim Naas, Cheri Hanson and Michelle Ott.
– Elementary Boys/Girls Basketball – Shawn Naas, Nate Brinkman, Ryan Jans, Adam Bibbs and Justin Thompson.
– Prairie Ecology Eco Club – Prairie Ecology Bus Staff.
– Drivers Education – Annette Kunkel.
– Camera Class – Janell Bargen.
– Ladies Volleyball – Meridee Paulson.
– Open Gym – Willie Krahn.
– Adult Basic Education Classes – Jean Haberman
* Approved the resignation of Cindy Hansen as an Elementary Paraprofessional.
* Approved the posting for an Elementary Special Education Paraprofessional.
* Appointed Superintendent Strom and School Board members Tim Swoboda and Pam Hoek to meet with the Mountain Lake City Council to discuss the contract with the city concerning its support of the indoor swimming pool.
* Heard from Board Chair Doug Standerwick to provide an update on the school’s track at Munson Field.
* Approved that the proposed Levy Limitation and Certification 2014, payable 2015, be set at the maximum level.
* Approved the Assurance of Compliance with State and Federal Law prohibiting discrimination.
* Accepted a pair of Remick Foundation Grant donations subject to the approval of the Remick Foundation. These included – iPads, $1,780.32 and Choral Shells, $12,152.
*Held an open forum for members of the Building Committee. Heard from Michael K. Rich, PhD, executive director of the Southwest Marketing Advisory Center (SMAC) from Southwest Minnesota State University-Marshall (SMSU) SMAC was hired by the school board in spring 2013 to help the district recover from the December 2012 failed building bond referendum and move ahead, charting a path to lead to a successful outcome for the school and community. Dr. Rich presented information on the Building committee responsibilities and future events. Also, approved Tim Swoboda as the School Board Liaison for the Building Commitee.
