January 9, 2017 at 6:30 PM - Regular

Description:  Although this is the organizational meeting, Vice Chair Schurman will serve as acting chair of the meeting until the election of officers is complete.  At that time, the newly elected chair would assume responsibility for the conduct of the meeting.

Board Members: Demuth, Habben, Hesse, Humbert, Schurman, and Wesenberg.

Student Representatives:  Taylor Dingmann, Lisa Volkers, Nick Warne

Description:  The Presiding Officer will lead the board and attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Description:  Board action to approve the agenda for the meeting is expected.

Description:  As the first meeting of the calendar year, there are a number of annual organizational items for consideration.

Description:  Sunny Hesse and Shannon Humbert assume their seats on the ROCORI School Board at this meeting.  The district has established a process of administering the Oath of Office to new board members as a ceremonial, yet public commitment, step to assuming the position.  Acting Chair Schurman will oversee the process of swearing in the two new board members.

Description:  The following organizational issues require action at the meeting but may also include discussion among the board members. 

Description:  Four official offices for the School Board need to be filled.  The offices include Board Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Clerk. 

As the chair is chosen, the chair will assume responsibility for the conduct of the remainder of the elections and meeting.  Recommend action to fill the board officer positions.

Description:  The board has a number of standing committees and representative assignments.  The board chair has the authority to assign these positions but it is desired that the assignments be appropriate to the experience, interests, and skills of the members of the board. Discussion of assignments to all of the committees will be open during the meeting.  Recommend approval of committee assignments as discussed at the meeting.

Description:  It is the custom of the board to have discussion about the format of meetings during the organizational session.  Issues regarding items on the agenda, format of the meetings, and/or distribution of agenda information are appropriate topics for discussion at this time.  The question is whether the formats chosen have been effective for the board members or if there are changes that the members of the board would like to see incorporated for the 2017 calendar year. 

The board also considers whether the dates and times of the board meetings (second and fourth Monday of the month with a 6:30 pm start time) continues to be feasible. 

Discussion about the board meeting format would be appropriate at this time.

Description:  At the organizational meeting, it has been customary to discuss needs the board members might have for inservice, training, or work session experience.  The Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) offers a variety of training services the board could access.  The format of inservice opportunities can take various dimensions.  Discussion regarding the needs of the board members would be appropriate.

Description:  There are several items of organization that are defined in district policy and simply need confirmation through the consent agenda.

Description:  Existing board policy indicates that the board chair will be the official spokesperson for public information.  Recommend confirmation of the board chair as the official spokesperson of the board. 

Description:  With the reorganization of the school board, signature plates for checks and official district business must be authorized.  Recommend authorization of signature plates to reflect the positions elected earlier in the meeting.

Description:  The agenda is open to visitors of the meeting to offer comments to and/or requests of the school board. The comments and requests should follow the adopted district guidelines which are printed and available at the meeting.

Description:  Student representatives to the school board have opportunity to offer insight and updates on student activities or perspective for the members of the School Board.  Although student representatives may offer comment within the discussion of any items on the agenda, this time is an opportunity for the students to share issues of concern to them or the Student Senate.

Description:  Action is requested on the following items of the consent agenda. Consent agenda items are typically adopted without discussion of the individual items because they are routine or ordinary in nature.  Any board member may request removal of individual items for additional discussion or consideration.

Description:  The minutes from the regular session meeting of December 19, 2016 and the Special Meeting of January 4, 2017, are included in the exhibits.  Recommend approval of the minutes.

Description:  January is the time when the district typically receives invoices from the local business organizations seeking renewal of memberships.  The district has historically been a member of the Richmond Civic and Commerce as well as the Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce.  Recommend continuation of membership in both business organizations.

Description:  Several issues of personnel assignment and employment have taken place since the last meeting.  Action on the following employment assignments is recommended.

Mandy Mosher is being recommended as a Paraprofessional at the Secondary Building to replace Katelyn Theimer.  Her position is for 6.5 hours per day.

Taylor Lemke is being recommended as a Long Term Substitute for EL services at Cold Spring Elementary.  She will be covering for Gwen Anderson while she is on leave.

Activities Director Baumgarten is recommending Brian Athmann to fill the Winter Activities Event Coordinator position.  This position was approved at the meeting held on December 19, 2016.

Recommend approval of the assignments.

Description:  Action items receive individual attention because of the nature of the issues, the need to discuss or review the information prior to taking action, or the specific kind of action required for the item.

Description:  Because the school district conducts business with the Cold Spring Bakery, it is necessary to adopt a  formal resolution to contract with a board member.  The resolution included in the exhibits reflect the school district relationship with the Cold Spring Bakery .  Recommend adoption of the resolution.

Description:  At the last regular meeting of November, proposed goals for 2016-2017 were submitted to the board for consideration for superintendent activities and direction.  Although the board normally reviews this information in July and August, the delay in the superintendent evaluation process also delayed the development of professional goals.  The items included in the goal proposal are issues that have been part of the work for the superintendent through the Fall and do have relation to issues provided in the evaluation process.  The issue was tabled from the December meeting to allow discussion with new board members.  Recommend adoption, even with potential revisions, of the goals.

Description:  Members of the Administrative Team are expected to submit reports based on a schedule distributed among the team.  The reports are written and offered for board information.  The reports during the first meeting of the month are expected from the Academic team including principals and curriculum leaders.

Description:  A calendar of upcoming issues of concern to the school board is included as part of the agenda.