MLPS School Board wrangles over whether or not to change school building plan architect

 Approve prelminary revenue, expenditure budget for 2017-2018

 

MOUNTAIN LAKE PUBLIC School (MLPS) School Board members. Officers in front are, from left, Treasurer Pam Hoek, Vice-Chair Tom Fast, Chair Chad Pedersen and Clerk Julie Brugman. Directors at back, from left, Doug Standerwick, Matt Gohr and Tim Swoboda.

The Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) School Board devoted a large part of the school government group’s Monday, June 26 meeting discussing the possibility of changing architects for any future school building project.

Prior to the 5:30 p.m. start of the regular monthly meeting, the school board held a joint meeting with building committee members to inform the committee on what the board is doing and why, thank them for their hard work and for delivering on the task the board had given them, apologize for not giving them clear parameters and seek to have them continue as committee members to strive toward a building plan goal. The meeting also included pushback from building committee members.

The district currently has a contract with Paul Youngquist of Architects Rego + Youngquist Inc. (ARY) of St. Louis Park.

However board members had earlier met in special session with Mark Lenz of MLA Architects of St. Paul whose firm specializes in K-12 Educational Programming/ Planning and School Design. The school district’s history with Lenz dates back almost three years. During July 2014, days after the school board created the current building committee on June 30, 2014, that committee consulted with Lenz about projects, problems, etc. facing the district. The committee had consulted MLA Architects because the company already has a thorough knowledge of the building needs and issues of the campus because Lenz has already done work for the district.

At another earlier meeting, board members had considered buying out Youngquist’s contract (and move to MLA Architects) for an amount found in a 2013 contract, $4,850. However, the 2015 proposal cannot be found, and Youngquist believes the district owes him $28,000.

(See post on that meeting at: https://www.cross-countiesconnect.com/2017/06/mlps-school-board-meets-with-mark-lenz-of-mla-architects/)

No action was taken on severing the school district’s ties with ARY and changing to MLA Architects.

 Preliminary revenue, expenditure budget

Also at the meeting, board members approved the preliminary 2017-2018 revenue and expenditure budget as presented.

The total expenses and revenue for Fund 1 (General Fund), fund 2 (Food Service Fund) and Fund 4 (Community Services Fund) are as follows:

  • Fund 1 – Expenses, $6,340,903.00; Revenue, $6,245,133.00.
  • Fund 2 – Expenses, $312,020.00; Revenue, $325,492.00.
  • Fund 4 – Expenses, $333,847.00; Revenue, $351,993.00.
  • Total – Expenses, $6,986,770.00; Revenue, $6,922,618.00.

District policies require that an initial revenue and expenditure budget be presented to the school board for adoption in June.

Further revisions to the budget may be needed to adjust for changes in enrollment.

In other business

+ Had no recommended motion at this time on the Long-Term Facility Maintenance Budget for the 2017-2018 school year. No changes had been made to the budget approved last year. Part of the reason no changes were made to the FY18 budget is because the district wants to use part of these funds for use in any future building project. Budget numbers cannot be assigned to a category until a project and a plan is approved.

+ Approved two Remick Grant requests:

  • First request is for $2,000 to present a speaker for an estimated 420 students in grades 7-12. The project, an intentional outreach to impact student culture and attitudes at Mountain Lake Public High School, is the result of collaboration between three teachers (Lindsey Brockberg, Kim Syverson and Jessica Svehla and Mountain Lake Public High School Principal Michelle Larson) and administration. Other staff involved will include licensed teachers, the school guidance counselor (Jody Lepp) and the school social worker (Amy Hartzler). The theme for the project and for next school year is “UP^3. Show up. Perk up. Step up.” The project has five components – involvement of 40 student leaders in grades 8-12, a motivational guest speaker, visual reminders, including a banner and individual student magnets for their lockers, goal-setting and rewards.
  • The second request of $13,379 is for new band/choir risers. The Music Department at Mountain Lake Public School (Instrumental – Kurt Jahnke and Vocal – Andrea Brinkman) has seen significant growth in the past 10 years. Nine years ago, the senior high choir had 63 students; today there are 107 members. In addition, the Vocal Music Department has added additional groups, including Junior High and Senior High Show Choirs and an a capella group, on top of the Junior High Concert Choir and the Senior High Concert Choir. The Instrumental Music Department has seen its numbers grow as well, expanding with additional ensembles and a guitar class. The risers are needed for overall safety of the directors, student performers and to present the best performance experience possible – acoustically, aesthetically and professionally. Approximately 230 students (in grades 5-12) will benefit from the new equipment, which will include platform risers, back guard and cart to move the equipment.

+ Accepted the resignation of Luke Winger as elementary physical education teacher.

+ Hired Brian Cook as elementary physical education teacher.

+ Accepted the resignation of Julie Brugman as fall play director.

+ Hired Sarah Tailowright as fall play director.

+ Hired Kelli Tucholke as assistant/music fall play director.

+ Accepted the resignation of Andrea Brinkman as assistant cross country coach.

+ Accepted the resignation of Jaime Banks as assistant volleyball coach.

+ Accepted the resignation of Brianna Friesen as a paraprofessional.

 

+ Approved a pair of donations from Milk Specialties – $360 for summer softball jerseys and $200 for Haydn to Hip Hop Class Trip.

+ Approved an open enrollment from Butterfield-Odin Public School to Mountain Lake Public School, and another from Mountain Lake Public School to Windom Area Public School.

+ Heard a report from the Pairing Committee. A pairing meeting in Windom was scheduled for today (Tuesday, June 27) to discuss adding Mountain Lake Christian to the wrestling agreement with Mountain Lake and Windom.

+ Week in Review notes from the past month from MLPS Superintendent Bill Strom:

  • Presented the summer 2017 summer project list – moving kindergarten/first grade wall, $32,000; technology infrastructure repair by Tech Check, $4,729.86; technology infrastructure repair by Thooft Tech, $17,608.63; new entrance doors to the 6th grade hallway, $8,266; roof repair near elevator, $9,000; light covers in the auditorium hallway, $1,278.25 and four new sensor switches in rest rooms, $608 – for a total cost of $73,490.74.
  • Introduced the new fourth grade teacher, Randi Doescher (pronounced “Dusher”), whose employment was approved by the board at a Tuesday morning, May 22 special meeting. She has five years of teaching experience; one as a two-time long-term substitute in Mankato and four years as a teacher in South Dakota. Randi grew up in Mankato, attended Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa and is licensed for K-6. She was hired as a BA, Step 4, pending permission granted by state licensing auhorities.

+ The next school board meeting will be Monday, July 17, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Room #1.

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