August 26, 2010 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Meeting

Description:  Dr. Julia Espe, Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and Luis Saenz, Director of Equity Services, will present monitoring reports regarding Vision Cards A1 and A2.  In particular, reports will center around Student Learning MCA scores, Equity MCA scores and Equity Measures of Academic Progress scores by student group.  Information is attached. 

Description:  Board Member Jerry Von Korff, Chair of the Board Personnel and Negotiations Committee, will review the proposed amended Superintendent's Contract between Bruce Watkins and St. Cloud Area School District 742, which extends his time commitment from one year to two years and encompasses the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 years.  A draft copy is attached.

The Board Personnel and Negotiations Committee recommends approval of the amended Superintendent's Contract between Bruce Watkins and St. Cloud Area School District 742 for a term commencing July 1, 2010, and ending June 30, 2012.

Description:  Board Member Jerry Von Korff, Chair of the Board Personnel and Negotiations Committee, will review the Superintendent's Goals.  A copy is included with background materials.

The Board Personnel and Negotiations Committee recommends approval of the Superintendent's Goals as presented.

Description:  Superintendent Bruce Watkins and Dr. Elisabeth Lodge Rogers, Executive Director of Special Education/Student Services, will request authorization to begin planning and sending out a Request for Proposals for a Special Education Study which would assist the Administration in future efficiency recommendations.

The Administration recommends Board authorization to move forward with a Request for Proposals for a Special Education Study.

Description:  The Superintendent may present information on current activities in District 742.

Description:  Standing Committee Reports will be presented as follows:

      Board Development Committee (Deb Lalley, Chair)
      Community Linkages Committee (Bruce Mohs, Chair)
      Finance and Audit Committee (Bruce Hentges, Chair)
      Integration and Equity Committee (Les Green, Chair)
      Legislative Committee (Cindy Harner, Chair)
      Personnel & Negotiations Committee (Jerry Von Korff, Chair)

Description:  Board of Education members may suggest items/topics for future Board Meeting agendas.  Items brought forth should have been previously discussed with the Board Chair or Vice Chair, Board Standing Committee, or at a prior Board Work Session/Meeting.

September Work Session Topics will include:
     Student Expulsion Checklist
         

Description:  The Administration recommends approval of the payment of bills and other financial transactions in the amount of $3,325,507.31 (Check Numbers 186549-187099), P Card total of $517,107.30, for a grand total of $3,842,614.61.

Description:  The Administration recommends approval of the following personnel changes pursuant to relevant laws and appropriate provisions of negotiated agreements between the Board of Education and exclusive representatives.  For new hires, the indicated rates are consistent with current negotiated agreements and Board approved rates of pay.  All rates/salaries listed do not include fringe benefits.

Description:  Child Care Leave
 
Melissa Thiebaut, Early Childhood Educator, Roosevelt Early Childhood Center, action effective for September 13, 2010, through November 5, 2010.
 
Leave of Absence
 
Judith Blommel, Language Arts Teacher, South Junior High School, action effective for 2010-2011 school year (30% of a full time contract).  Ms. Blommel will be a 70% of a full time contract teacher.
 
Bonita Schwinghammer, Special Education Teacher, Riverwoods, action effective for August 30, 2010, through October 20, 2010.
 
New Hire
 
Julia Bjerke, Sixth Grade Teacher, Talahi Community School, action effective for the 2010-2011 school year, Lane MA+30, Pay Level 2 (full time contract for 188 days).  Ms. Bjerke’s salary for this assignment will be $42,695.00.
 
Leah Gagne, Social Studies Teacher, Area Learning Center (70%) and Technical High School (30%), action effective for the 2010-2011 school year, Lane BA, Pay Level 2 (full time contract for 188 days). Ms. Gagne’s salary for this assignment will be $33,397.00.
 
Kristen Mattick, Choir Teacher, Kennedy Community School, action effective for the 2010-2011 school year, Lane MA, Pay Level 2 (20% of a full time contract for 188 days).  Ms. Mattick’s salary for this assignment will be $8,267.20.
 
Britt O’Neal, English as a Second Language Teacher, Discovery Community School, action effective for the 2010-2011 school year, Lane BA, Pay Level 4 (full time contract for 188 days).  Ms. O’Neal’s salary for this assignment will be $35,816.00.
 
Steven Roenfeldt, Science Teacher, South Junior High School, action effective for the 2010-2011 school year, Lane BA+60, Pay Level 2 (full time contract for 188 days).  Mr. Roenfeldt’s salary for this assignment will be $39,598.00.
 
Joel Vagle, Technology/Industrial Arts Teacher, Apollo High School (60%) and Technical High School (20%), action effective for the 2010-2011 school year, Lane BA, Pay Level 2 (80% of a full time contract for 188 days).  Mr. Vagle’s salary for this assignment will be $26,718.00
 
Reassignment
 
Brian Baloun, Interim Principal, Area Learning Center, action effective for the 2010-2011 school year, Lane AB, Pay Level 1 (full time contract).  Mr. Baloun’s annual salary will be $87,066.  Mr. Baloun’s previous position was a Teacher on Special Assignment.
 
Christine Blauer, Interim Elementary Principal, Lincoln Elementary School, action effective for the 2010-2011 school year, Lane AC, Pay Level 5 (full time contract).  Ms. Blauer’s annual salary will be $92,020.  Ms. Blauer’s previous position was Assistant Senior High Principal.

Carol Potter, Interim Assistant Senior High Principal, Technical High School, action effective for the 2010-2011 school year, Lane AD, Pay Level 1 (full time contract).  Ms. Potter’s annual salary will be $85,388.  Ms. Potter’s previous position was Licensed Supervisor.

Description:  Health Leave
 
Michele Torgerson, Special Education Paraprofessional, Madison Elementary School, action effective for the 2010-2011 school year.
 
Leave of Absence
 
Cheryl Stang, Kitchen Helper, Discovery Community School, action effective for the 2010-2011 school year.
 
New Hire
 
Elton Cusick, Support Technician, District Media Services, action effective August 9, 2010, at a rate of 18.91 per hour.
 
Resignation
 
Jennifer Anderson, Special Education Paraprofessional, Kelly Inn, action effective August 11, 2010.
 
Termination

 Lisa Gilbertson, Interpreter, Discovery Community School, action effective June 16, 2010.

Description:  The Administration recommends acceptance of the following grant awards/donations:

1.  Donations to District 742 Schools from the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University for academic program and teacher support (in appreciation for hosting CSB/SJU Education students for field experiences), as follows:

             $500.00 - Madison Elementary School
             $750.00 - Kennedy Community School
             $400.00 - Lincoln Elementary School

2.  Donation in the amount of $500.00 to Madison Elementary School from the International Association of Lions of St. Cloud for SmartBoards.

3.  Teacher Preparation Initiative grant involving St. Cloud Area School District 742 in a partnership with St. Cloud State University.  SCSU has been accepted to be part of the Bush Foundation's initiative to transform teacher preparation. The overall goal for this initiative is to increase educational achievement for P-12 students.  The Teacher Preparation Initiative will partner with six local school districts (Holdingford, Monticello, Rocori, St. Cloud, Sartell-St. Stephen, and Sauk Rapids-Rice) to achieve success in preparing teachers.  The goals of the project include:  Recruitment, Preparation, P-12 Partnership/Support, Assessment and Technology.  Financial support is available for release time during work hours (substitute pay) and/or summer work (stipends) for teachers and District leaders to participate with ongoing work groups.  The TPI is designed not to be an added expense to either the District or SCSU's current budget.

4.  Donations to the Tech High School HOSA Program for national competition and trip, as follows:

          $50.00 - TruStone Financial
          $1,000.00 - Rasmussen College
          $60.00 - Microbiologics, Inc.

5.  Donations to the Tech High School Band Program, as follows:

          $50.00 - Steve or Julie Burns
          $30.00 - Laura Honkomp
         
6.  Donations to the Tech High School Skills USA Program as follows:

          $517.00 - Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association
          $150.00 - St. Cloud Lions Club, Inc.

7.  Donation in the amount of $500.00 to Kennedy Community School from the St. Joseph Jaycees for activity programs.

8.  Donation in the amount of $2,000.00 to the Tech High School-District 742 Scholarship program from the Millipore Corporation for a Kari Backes Math and Science Scholarship.

9.  Donations to the Roosevelt Early Childhood Center/Early Learning Council-Involved Parents Team to support Fall and Spring Family Activity Nights, and Run and Read Events, as follows:

            $100.00 - Karen and Joe Alvord, Morning Star Resort
            $50.00 - Shaun Burns
            $250.00 - Dan and Andrea Lodermeier
            $65.00 - Jon and Luann Reding
            $100.00 - Tim and Wendy Domeier
            $35.00 - Paul and Sharon Donnay
            $20.00 - Vern and Bert Hemminger
            $20.00 - Tim and Becky Herzog
            $25.00 - Terry and Ann Voigt

10.  Donations to the Tech High School Wrestling Program for the purchase of a new wrestling mat, as follows:

            $3,000.00 - Rebecca Nieland
            $1,000.00 - St. Cloud Tech Youth Wrestling

Description:  The Administration recommends approval for submission of  the following grant applications: 

1.  "Animals Can Be Fun" grant application by Kennedy Community School to the Toshiba America Foundation in the amount of $1,000.00.  The purpose of the grant is to obtain a variety of learning materials to enhance the animals units in kindergarten.  These materials will assist in literacy development for children who come into Kindergarten ready to read after a two-year early childhood education experience.

2.  "A Wholistic Evaluation of Curriculum Reinforcement and Topic Integration" grant application by St. Cloud State University and St. Cloud Area School District 742 to the National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA, in the amount of $265,944.00.  The purpose of the grant is to increase science content knowledge of teachers.

3.  "The Puppet Farm-Large Scale Puppetry" grant application by Kennedy Community School to the Central Minnesota Arts Board in the amount of $2,655.00.  Christopher D. Lutter-Garella of Puppet Farm Arts will conduct a one week residency with Kindergarten children on puppetry.  What makes this residency so unique is that children will be involved in constructing large scale puppets.

Description:  The Administration recommends approval of the GraNet Operating Budget for FY11.  The 2011 GraNet operating budget was approved by the GraNet Joint Powers which includes Board members Green and Hentges.  The budget has moved to the governing boards of both entities for approval.  The approval of this joint powers budget fits within the budgeted parameters the District has set .

Description:  The Bid for Apollo Grounds Building was opened on Friday, August 13, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time.  The Administration recommends that the Board of Education award the bid for Apollo Grounds Building to Preusser Construction, Inc., in the amount of $141,470.00, based upon low bid received meeting specifications.

The bid from Alliance Building Corporation was withdrawn after the bid opening.

This project will be funded by Operating Capital.

A bid tabulation is attached.

Description:  The Administration recommends approval of a two year extension to the current pupil transportation contracts for the 2010-2011 and the 2011-2012 school years with our current vendors at the negotiated rate of 0% and 1.5% respectively.  The vendors are Guardian School Bus Company, Spanier Bus Service Inc., Trobec Bus Service Inc., and Voigt Bus Service Inc.