Approve breakfast, noon lunch rate increases; non-certified substitute wages
Personnel decisions kicked off the Monday, July 18 Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) School Board’s meeting agenda.
Board members approved contracts for a pair of probationary teachers. These included a .6 FTE school social worker post for Tiffany Sandbo at a salary of $29,248 and a .5 FTE physical education position for Yolanda Geistfeld at a salary of $18,482. Geistfeld will also be a half-time paraprofessional (up to 20 hours).
In addition, the Board approved the non-renewal of food service assistant Denise Keech and van driver Mandy Fisch.
Also approved was the retirement of Kathy Crissler, ESL teacher, and she was thanked her for her years of service with the B-OPS School District.
The Board granted a request by Wendy Besel, kindergarten teacher, for a Leave of Absence for the 2016-2017 school year, but denied her request for medical insurance payment from the district. She has not taken district insurance in the past. Besel does have the option of COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act).
Changes made to breakfast, noon lunch fees; non-certified substitute wages increased
In addressing fee changes for the 2016-2017 school year, the B-OPS Board raised fees for breakfast and noon lunch. Meal prices for this school year will be a $1.75 breakfast fee for adults (all kindergarten students receive free breakfast and cost for students in grades K-12 is $1.25) Noon lunch prices will be raised 15 cents to $2.55 for students in grades kindergarten-to-6, $2.60 for grades 7-to-12 and to $3.60 for adults.
Non-certified paraprofessional and kitchen substitute wages were raised to $9.50 per hour, beginning as of August 1.
In other business
+ Approved the job description for Day Care Coordinator. The coordinator is responsible for the operational and activity leadership at the Day Care, trains and supervises staff, sets activity objectives and works to build a rapport with parents. The school district is the license holder, and the district’s insurance policy covers the Day Care.
+ Approved a contract with Sherri Steinbrink, Day Care Coordinator, at $17 per hour for Fiscal Year 2017 and $17.43 per hour for Fiscal Year 2018.
+ Approved the shared nursing agreement with Mountain Lake Public School. School Nurse Lana Sander will be in the district two half-days this school year, rather than the one full day she served this past school year.
+ Approved the first-round of questions for interim superintendent interviews, prepared with assistance from Sandy Dunlop of the Minnesota School Boards Association, with input from Board members.
+ Approved a cooperative pairing agreement for girls tennis with St. James Public School and Mountain Lake Christian for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years. Mountain Lake Christian has a student from St. James that wants to participate in girls tennis. St. James Public School had earlier approved the agreement.
+ Approved Dean Foods for the school’s milk contract and tabled the snow removal bids in order to research what is needed by the district and possibly have the two bidders re-bid. There were no bids received for L. P. gas.
+ Approved updated board policies concerning Family and Medical Leave, Harassment and Violence, School Weapons, Search of Student Lockers, Desks, Personal Possessions and Student Person, Student Discipline, Bullying Prohibition, Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records, Student Medication, Student Disability Nondiscrimination, Student Sex Nondiscrimination, Internet Acceptable Use and Safety, Hazing Prohibition and Use of Peace Officers and Crisis Teams to Remove Students with IEP’s (Individual Education Plan) from School Grounds.
+ Approved the Crisis Management Action Plan policy. B-OPS K-12 Principal Barry Schmidt noted that the major changes dealt with lockdown, and evacuation to the Butterfield Fire Hall.
+ Approved the first reading of policy concerning Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse, updating procedures into policy.
+ Approved the first reading of policy concerning the Awarding of an Honorary Diploma. Criteria in awarding an honorary diploma will include:
- 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.
- Demonstrates lifelong exemplary service to the community, state and nation.
- Demonstrates through this lifelong service character consistent with the school district’s mission statement () and core values.
+ Tabled the first reading of policy concerning School District System Accountability. School districts are required to adopt a comprehensive long-term strategic plan that addresses the review of curriculum, instruction, student achievement and assessment – and requires annual school board review.
+ Approved the 2016-2017 Student Handbook with minor changes, most notably the new six-period secondary schedule, elementary school schedule and St. James schedule. The shift to a six-period secondary schedule, instead of the previous five-period schedule, means the number of credits students earn will also change, which relates to grade placement. A student will be considered in the following grades until the required number of credits is attained to advance – 9th Grade, 0-18 credits; 10th Grade, 18-36 credits; 11th Grade, 36-54 credits and 12th Grade, 54+ credits. It also changes the credits required to graduate. For the Class of 2017, that requirement is a total of 57 credits (37 required, 20 elective); Class of 2018, 60 total credits (40 required, 20 electives); Class of 2019, 64 total credits (45 required, 19 electives) and Class of 2020, 64 total credits (47 required, 17 electives). The late start schedule will also have new class times for secondary students. In a two-hour late start schedule, 1st period will run from 10:25 a.m. to 11:04 a.m.; 2nd period from 11:07 a.m. to 11:46 a.m.; noon lunch for grades 9-12, 11:47 a.m. to 12:02 p.m. and grades 7 and 8, 12:02 p.m. to 12:17 p.m.; 3rd period, 12:21 p.m. to 1 p.m.; 4th period, 1:03 p.m. to 1:42 p.m.; 5th period, 1:45 p.m. to 2:24 p.m. and 6th period, 2:27 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. (6A, 2:27 p.m. to 2:47 p.m. and 6B, 2:49 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.)
+ Approved the 2016-2017 Faculty Handbook with minor changes.
+ Approved the Literacy Plan. The purpose of the plan is to ensure that all students will achieve grade-level proficiency as determined by the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) Reading Test (Meets the Standard) and read well by grade 3. It is divided into assessment, communication, instruction, intervention and professional development. The full plan is posted on the school’s website.
+ Heard the Principal’s Report from Schmidt. He reported on Summer School and current staff openings, including choir and elementary music, science (biology, chemistry and anatomy), ESL and kindergarten and/or preschool.
+ Heard the Superintendent’s Report from Acting B-OPS Superintendent Sandi Novak. She shared information concerning a technology report to be prepared by consultant Toeun Criset, along with recommendations by the Technology Committee to be presented at the September regular Board meeting. Novak also noted that there will be additions to classroom libraries, in place of new curriculum adoption. At the secondary level, that will mean reading more and reading from multiple texts offering a variety of different sources. For elementary students, the move will provide access to a wide array of books. Each teacher will receive approximately $1,000 to add titles to classroom libraries.
+ Planned to serve breakfast to all staff on the first full staff day on Tuesday morning, August 16.
+ Heard from B-OHS Class of 1999 member Karen (Penner) Mayes during Public Forum. Mayes expounded on the well-rounded education she had received from B-OPS that provided the foundation which prepared her for a college education and life. She noted the classes of history, mathematics and computer science, along with home economics and industrial arts courses such as woodworking and electrical.
+ Important dates:
- Thursday, August 4 – (special Board meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m.) – Screening meeting at which the School Board determines interim superintendent candidate finalists and interview questions and procedures are finalized.
- Thursday, August 11 – Interim superintendent interviews, 5:30 p.m.(special Board meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m.) – First round of interviews and selection of candidates for a second interview.
- Monday, August 15 – (special Board meeting beginning at 4:30 p.m.) – Second round of interviews and information presented by Penner on reference checks.
- Monday, August 15 (regular Board meeting beginning at 7 p.m. – start time backed up one-half hour due to interviews) – Included on agenda is the selection of finalist, and the beginning machinations to determine contract parameters and employment and contract negotiations with the selected School Board committee.
