Approve purchase of 12-passenger van
By a vote of 4-3, Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) School Board members approved the non-renewal of Superintendent Lisa Shellum’s contract relating to her 50% job description as superintendent, effective June 30, 2016. The action does not affect her 50% position as principal and curriculum director.
Voting in favor of the non-renewal were Board Chair Joel Penner and Board Members Leon Wenner, Andy Pierson and Tammy Wolle. Those voting against the resolution were Board Members Kristy Haseman, Diane Peterson and Renae Meyer.
The action was taken on a resolution written by School District Attorney Kevin Rupp on the proposed non-renewal of Superintendent Shellum’s contract. Board Chair Penner stressed that the reasons for the non-renewal are private data.
Prior to the deciding vote, however, board members faced off in a testy, emotional and often accusatory discussion. This action, the final on the meeting agenda, also boiled over into the Open Forum which followed.
Haseman began the board back-and-forth by asking, “Who consulted with the school attorney? Who knew of this? Joel and Andy were the only ones who knew of this? What gives the two the authority to direct the school’s attorney to write this resolution?”
She went on to speak against the action and in support of Superintendent Shellum, “You want to railroad this through. Lisa brought us through SOD (Statutory Operating Debt), many school remodeling projects completed without a bond referendum, enrollment is up, the report from Clifton, Larson and Allen shows an increase of $217,000 in the general fund. What part of that shows that she is not doing a good job? Mr. Hoffman (B-OPS Acting Superintendent while Superintendent Lisa Shellum is on Family and Medical Leave Act) says Lisa has done a good job.”
Hasemen went on to challenge those in favor of the non-renewal to vote in that direction, but told them that, “You do so because you have a personal vendetta. You have no business being on the board hauling around your personal agenda.
Additionally, Haseman spoke about the superintendent evaluation form and process, stating she anguished over it while filling it out. She also stated that the process was bizarre, adding, “Mr. (Keith) Dixon, who did the evaluation of Lisa as principal; part of that evaluation was done in a hotel room with select community members and select teachers. How can we do this to our administrator? She needs to be commended.”
She also disagreed on the approval and release of the superintendent evaluation summary as public information. “This board has broken so many laws.”
Peterson, meanwhile, questioned the protocol of the move. “It (the resolution) did not go through the Negotiations Committee. What is next? Barry’s (Principal Barry Schmidt) contract? Teachers’ contracts?”
In responding to these points, Pierson questioned, “Why not one word said about academics? Our proficiency scores are some of the lowest in the state over the past six-to-seven years. What good is a huge fund balance if we aren’t educating our students?”
He went on to add that, “Students are riding the bus to St. James to get business and Spanish classes. We need teachers in this building to teach those courses. One of my sons hasn’t had an English class since June 1. This has been going on for years.”
He also pointed out that Board Members Haseman and Meyer had requested Dixon to write the evaluation summary.
Responding to comments related to test scoring, Haseman noted, “As far as test scores, Barry showed that we are improving. I know, one class just colored in the dots; that is still in our history. Is it just Lisa’s responsibility alone on test scores? And English teacher Dawn Johnson told me that students receive adequate English instruction. Shame on you who are out to get her. I don’t know how some of you people sleep at night.”
Wenner addressed the fact that he had requested an evaluation of Superintendent Shellum in 2013, saying, “It never happened, and now we have done it.”
Mediation was the point brought up by Wolle, asking what had happened since the idea of mediation between the board and Superintendent Shellum was raised at the May 19 school board meeting. At that time, board members approved to enter into mediation to address and have resolution of the differences between the school board and Superintendent Shellum. Peterson requested at the meeting that the mediation be held as soon as possible, and by consensus, the other board members agreed.
In response, Board Chair Penner stated that he had sent an e-mail to Superintendent Shellum focusing on that topic, but that she had said she first needed to speak with her attorney. “I never heard anything back,” Penner reported. At one point he interjected that Superintendent Shellum had not let the school board know she wanted her contract renewed.
He also said that there were things he could not say due to data privacy. “Decisions have to be made to protect the district, protect all kids – based on facts, not emotions.”
Board Chair Penner noted that Superintendent Shellum has the opportunity to address the non-renewal, including 10 days after passage of the vote to request a meeting with the board.
Four people from the public in attendance at the meeting spoke in Open Forum.
The first, Lisa Wolle, read a statement from Valerie Ommodt, former school board member. She also asked if the school board members were going to evaluate themselves.
Brenda Meyer brought up the question if the board can legally non-renew Superintendent Shellum’s contract when she is on FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act). She also said she felt insulted for the teachers attending the board meeting over Pierson’s comments on test scores.
The third speaker during Open Forum was Lori Urevig, Superintendent Shellum’s sister. “I don’t even know what to say . . . about the illegal activities of the elected majority coalition on the board.” She also called out individual board members, “Leon, what happened to you. You used to be so supportive. Andy, this school is not all about your boys, and teachers should be offended by your comments. Joel, you should resign. An evaluation is private data. What you did (releasing the summary evaluation) is illegal. It will cost the district, and it is on your shoulders.”
Barb Mathistad Warner was the lone speaker in support of the majority board’s decision. “Kristy (Haseman), an evaluation should have been done when you were the board chair. Nothing will be settled until you people get along. They (Penner, Pierson, Wenner and Wolle) were voted onto the board by the voters. Let’s get back to educating our kids. It is time to get along. It’s time.”
Van purchased okayed
Board members approved giving Acting Superintendent Allen Hoffman the authority and discretion to purchase a van for transportation of students up to a price of $33,000.
Information and bids are still being gathered.
In other business
+ Approved the Assurance of Compliance with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination. This is an annual report that must be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) that ensures the school district is in compliance with all state and federal laws.
+ Approved Monday, November 16 at 6 p.m. as the date and time for a public meeting to explain World’s Best Workforce and Integration Plan. All school districts are required to complete this prior to December 1. Acting Superintendent Hoffman, who has been working for the school district now for six weeks, explained that the goals for World’s Best Workforce as put forward by the MDE will help align school districts. Those goals include: all students are ready for kindergarten, all third-graders achieve grade-level proficiency, achievement gaps are closed, all students are career or college ready and all students will graduate. Specific B-OPS goals will be created and presented at the November 16 public meeting and the immediately following school board meeting so that they are ready to be submitted by the deadline. Kristy Haseman and Renae Meyer will serve as board member representatives.
+ Approved the 2014-2015 Staff Development Report, another annual report that has to be approved and submitted to MDE. Chair of the 2015 B-OPS Staff Development District Advisory Committee, elementary teacher Lucille Ammann, presented the names of the remainder of the advisory committee members. These include special education teacher Denise Mortenson, parent Renae Meyer, teacher Jen Harris, parent Terese Hall, Superintendent Lisa Shellum, teacher Dawn Johnson, Principal Barry Schmidt and paraprofessional Vickie Smith. The goals for 2015 are to continue to upgrade and research curriculum with areas that are on cycle, effectively meet the needs of a diverse population including the needs of at-risk children with disabilities and gifted children withing the regular classroom and other settings, improve student achievement of state and local education standards in elementary reading K-6, improve student achievement of state and local education standards/percentages on state assessment in high school match grades 7-12 and work with staff on the motivation of high school students regarding taking this exam and provide a balanced curriculum for students who are racially and culturally-diverse by making sure the curriculum is consistent with the state education diversity rule and the district’s education diversity plan. No budget has yet been developed. The group’s next meeting is Tuesday, October 27.
+ Haseman updated the board on Negotiations Committee work. The board’s negotiating team has meet with the teacher’s negotiating team and laid down the ground rules and discussed cleaning up the language in the contract. The board team also met with Acting Superintendent Hoffman and now will meet again with the teacher team. Haseman noted that the board team has been waiting on creating a financial package until Superintendent Shellum returns from FMLA.
+ Principal Barry Schmidt noted that PLC work and FAST data program have both been put into play as ways to intervene in Title I and special education. He also stressed that the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) for students missing assignments has been working, with more students getting their work done on time.
+ Principal Schmidt also shared two calendar notes. The first is that the school concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday, October 22, and that the annual “Rake the Town” will be done from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Friday, October 23. Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held this Thursday and Friday as well.
+ Board Chair Penner noted that the November board workshop will begin at 4 p.m. on Monday, November 16, and will deal with goal-setting.
+ Board Treasurer Pierson replied to questions regarding attorney fees by stating that they include 13 invoices, date back to July 2013 and total $12,635. He stressed that the details of each bill cannot be publicly shared, but can be presented to other board members upon request.
+ Peterson presented the Riverbend report, noting that the alternative education school remains in need of an assistant director and a psychologist.
+ The minutes of the September 3 special meeting were approved as amended and the minutes were approved for the September 21 regular meeting.
