Heading to mediation in litigation with Lisa Shellum
Following a 74-minute closed meeting with the school’s legal counsel regarding pending litigation of former Butterfield-Odin Public School Superintendent/Principal Lisa Shellum against the school district, the Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) School Board approved proceeding with mediation within the parameters discussed during the closed session.
The closed meeting was a part of the school government group’s agenda for its regular Monday, March 27 meeting,
Staffing up
Board members approved the following action on staff:
- Approved Career/Geography/Keyboarding contract for Lauren Collier, increasing her to full-time teacher for the third trimester of the 2016-2017 school year. The $5,166 increase brings Collier’s total salary to $24,026.36.
- Approved the contract for Laura Dorn as a long-term fourth-grade substitute teacher (February 27 to April 14) at a Step 1 Lane MA + 15 at a salary of $239 per day up to 37 days.
- Approved a leave of absence for Wendy Besel for the 2017-2018 school year. Besel will return in the fall of the 2018-2019 school year.
- Approved a Special Education Adaptive Physical Education contract for Jane Kuhlman for the 2016-2017 school year to fulfill a student IEP (Individualized Education Program). Kuhlman will be paid a total of $344.80 for one hour a week for six weeks.
- Approved school district reimbursement of half-time Interim B-OPS Superintendent Ray Arsenault for reasonable hotel expenses associated with his performance of services for the district.
- Approved the paraprofessional contract for Kay Wohlenhaus for one hour a day (Period 5, 1:09 p.m. to 2:08 p.m.), at a salary of $9.84 an hour.
In other business
+ Addressed adding a third member to the Negotiations Committee. Committee members had included B-OPS Board Chair Kristy Haseman, B-OPS Board Treasurer Shannon Sykes and B-OPS Board Clerk Renae Meyer. Meyer stepped down from the committee, citing conflict of interest as her husband is the school district’s head custodian. B-OPS Board Director Andy Pierson submitted the name of B-OPS Board Director Joel Penner, based on Penner’s approval, for the position. Penner was named to the committee with B-OPS Board Vice-Chair Pam Xayaphonesongkham tapped as alternate.
+ Heard additional committee reports:
- Academic/Athletic Pairing (Haseman, Pierson and Sykes), Building/Grounds/Health/Safety/Transportation (B-OPS Board Director Leon Wenner, Pierson and Sykes) and River Bend Education District (Meyer), Watonwan Family Collaborative (Haseman and Xayaphonesongkham) and Wellness (Haseman).
+ Heard the first Superintendent’s Report from half-time Interim B-OPS Superintendent Ray Arsenault:
- Superintendent Arsenault was impressed at the good condition of the building for its age.
- A large portion of his initial days in the district have been observing teachers, staff and students in the classroom.
- He has met with Tim Harbo and Brian Grinnell of Unesco (a program management firm that assists school districts with the revitalization, renovation and new construction of educational facilities) to discuss the facility’s master plan. Arsenault stressed to board members the importance of discussing with district residents the needs of the school and the ranking of project necessity.
- Arsenault has also toured the St. James Public School athletic facilities.
- He shared that advertising for a new PreK-Grade 12 principal has been posted.
- Noted that he has received a Letter of Intent to negotiate from the district’s education association.
+ Were provided information by B-OPS PreK-12 Principal Barry Schmidt in the Principal’s Report:
- Principal Schmidt noted a recent program presented to students by a representative of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and social media.
- Shared that the Large Group Music Contest for the Senior High Band and Senior High Choir is this Thursday, March 30, in Madelia.
- Registration for first trimester classes for next school year will begin next week. Steve Christensen, currently on staff in many capacities, from technology coordinator-to-bus driver is certified in art, and he could be an instructor for on-site classes. Courses being looked at as possibilities for next year include Grade 12 Mathematics, College Literature, Coding, Robotics, one hour FACS (Family and Consumer Science) dependent on finding a teacher and Landscaping. Adding some or all of these classes is dependent on money and teacher availability. Schmidt also noted increased discussion bout ITV (interactive television) classes, allowing for B-OHS students to remain at the school and take courses taught at St. James Public High School.
- Schmidt stated that 9th-grade baseball will practice and hold home games on the B-OPS ballfield this spring.
- Stated that the High School Bands and Choirs spring concert will be in the gymnasium on Monday, May 1, beginning at 7 p.m.
- He also pointed out that, as construction on the new football field at St James will be ongoing in the fall, making the field unplayable, the district will be looking to find outside locations for “home” games.
+ Learned that the bus/van Minnesota Department of Transportation inspections will be done on Thursday, April 27.
+ During Public Forum, Lori Urevig, sister of former B-OPS Superintendent/Principal Lisa Shellum, had registered to speak, but withdrew making a statement until the April school board meeting when the full board was in attendance (missing were Penner and Sykes).
+ The next regular school board meeting will be Monday, April 24, beginning at 7 p.m. in the school’s Media Center.
