October 18, 2021 at 7:30 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  All speakers are asked to complete the Listening Session Sign-in Form including as much detail as possible and including a printed / written copy of your presentation if one is available. This is an opportunity for the Board to listen, the Board will not engage in dialogue. As a general rule, the Board will not comment on or respond to any comments made by speakers. Please do not include names of Greenbush Middle River employees or representatives, their title, or location in your remarks for your own legal protection and the legal rights of staff.

Each speaker will have five (5) minutes to speak: speakers may not roll their time to another speaker. Speakers will be timed and are asked to complete their comments in this time frame. Board members may ask questions if needed.  Please begin your presentation by stating your name and topic only.
In the spirit of fairness to all participants, we request that you respect the format above. Thank you for taking the time today to attend this meeting and share your concerns and suggestions.

Description:  See attached Sept. 20, 2021 School Board Meeting minutes

Description:  see attachments

Description:  see attached

Description:  o  01 General Fund
o  02 Food Service
o  04 Community Services
o  07 Debt Redemption
o  08 Scholarships
o  09 Student Activities
• *see attached 

Description:  The Friends of the Library donated $400.00 to each elementary teacher to them to purchase books from Scholastic.  In addition, they donated $400.00 to the school library.  THANK YOU!

Description:  Polaris Industries provided donuts [as a part of its "Polaris Gives" program] to the school staff on Oct. 11.

Description:  Thank you to Honker Flats for providing a Gladiola arrangement to school staff on Sept. 9th 

 

Description:  A required Notice of Special Election mailing to all property owners in the GMR School District was mailed via U.S. Postal Service on October 15, 2021.

A required Notice of Special Election is being published in The Greenbush Tribune and The Honker newspapers the week of Oct. 18 and the week Oct. 25.

School Board members along with Superintendent Guggisberg have been offering / presenting at public information sessions in the GMR District about the upcoming November 2, 2021 special school election on the district’s proposed operating referendum.  See attached.

The goal is an informed citizenry and to get as many people as possible to polling places on Nov. 2 and to make sure they go to the polls with the correct information and vote however they want to vote,
 

Description:  Motion by Board Member ______________ and seconded by _______________ to approve the resignation of Ms. Lynsi Emergy as a Para professional.

Description:  Suggested Board Action:  Motion by ________________ and seconded by ____________ to approve employment of Mrs. Elizabeth (Liz) Klien as a High School Mathematics Long Term Substitute Teacher.

Description: 

All school districts must complete an Assurance of Compliance with state and federal law and verify Mandated Reporting training by November 15 each year.  GMR submitted its Assurance of Compliance online the week of Oct. 4, 2021.

By completing all sections of the Assurance of Compliance and Mandated Reporting, school districts provide written assurance that they do not discriminate in their use of funds provided through the Minnesota Department of Education and that they have informed all mandated reporters of their reporting duties.  Mandated reporting training to GMR staff (25 licensed staff and 16 unlicensed staff) was held on August 30, 2021.

This assurance is given by each district in consideration of and for the purpose of obtaining any and all federal grants, loans, contracts, property, discounts, or other federal and state financial assistance extended to the district by the U.S. Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).

MDE no longer requires a paper copy of the Assurance of Compliance certificate. However, it is important to note that by submitting the Assurance of Compliance online, that you are verifying that the Superintendent is electronically signing this assurance on behalf of the school board. Though the paper copy is no longer required, the approval of the board is per Minnesota Rule 3535.9910.

Motion by Board member __________________ and seconded by _____________ to approve the Greenbush Middle River School District's 2021-2022 Assurance of Compliance with state and federal law and verification of Mandated Reporting.

Description:  The Board must pass a resolution to canvass the results of the November 2 special election between the third and tenth day following the election (November 5, 2021 and November 12, 2021).  The County Auditor's Office in each county in which the school district is located in whole or part and the MN Dept. of Education must be informed of election results.

Consider:  Moving regular meeting to same day as Canvassing the results of the election?   

Board decision.

Description:  Presentation to Board Members:

School Board Policies are on the GMR website.  Policies provide a guidepost or a comprehensive legal guide to be used in the efficient management of all aspects of a school system.  Past, present and future school board policies are a joint product of the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) and the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA).
All model policies have been carefully examined by the law firm Ratwik, Rozak, and Maloney to insure compliance with federal and Minnesota laws.
MSBA provides a Policy Service to its member districts.  Most school districts do not have the time and personnel to develop a comprehensive policy manual that includes policies, administrative regulations, and forms organized into helpful categories.  In addition, school districts would require substantial legal assistance to develop policies on their own.
School District Policies by category

• Series 100 School District
• Series 200 School Board
• Series 300 Administration
• Series 400 Employees / Personnel
• Series 500 Students
• Series 600 Education Programs
• Series 700 Non-Instructional
• Series 800 Buildings & Sites
• Series 900 Community Relations

A number of policies must be reviewed annually by the school board, they include: 
Policy #           Description:
410                  Family and Medical Leave Act;
413                  Harassment and Violence;
414                  Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse;
415                  Mandated Reporting of Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults;
506                  Student Discipline;
514                  Bullying Prohibition Policy;
522                  Student Sex Nondiscrimination;
524                  Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy;
616                  School District System Accountability;
806                  Crisis Management Policy.

Discussion:  Approval process
 

Description:  With the exception of Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), during the previous school year (2020-2021) Community Education programming did not take place because of the Covid Pandemic.  The District is reviving after school programming in 2021-2022.

4-H Cloverbud activities
Dance Class
ATV Training
Youth and Adult enrichment classes

Description:  The Veterans Day Program will be held in the GMR School Gym on Thursday, November 11, 2021 @ 2:00 pm.

This year's speaker is Class of  2000 GMR graduate and veteran service member David Truscinski

Description:  October 5, 2021 email from Head Girls Softball Coach:

"I just received word today that our last year's softball team was ranked #11 in the country in team GPA as conducted by the National Softball Coaches Association.
Below is the list:
1 Lone Oak ISD (TX) 3.941 
2 Kellenberg Memorial High School (NY) 3.889 
3 Loogootee Community High School (IN) 3.865 
4 Apex Friendship High School (NC) 3.863 
5 Topeka High School (KS) 3.84 
6 Rochester Adams High School (MI) 3.837 
7 West Monroe High School (LA) 3.835 
8 Elysian Fields High School (TX) 3.829 
9 Cleveland Central High School (MS) 3.82 
10 River Oaks High School (LA) 3.796 
11 Badger-Greenbush-Middle River High School (MN) 3.79  

Thank you to the teachers in both Greenbush-Middle River and Badger for your hard work and to the players for their outstanding accomplishment!!!  As you can imagine, we are the smallest school on the list"

Description: 
Motion by__________________        Second by ____________________ to ADJOURN

Description: 

• Special School Board Meeting to Canvass the ballots  - November _____, 2021     
• Regular April School Board Meeting - November 15, 2021 @ 7:30 p.m. in GMR School Cafeteria