January 14, 2019 at 6:30 PM - Executive

Description:  Bohnsack, Habben, Hesse, Humbert, Schurman, and Wesenberg. 

Student Representatives: Emily Haus, Alexa Hennen Grace Sauer, AnnaMaria Tomovic

Description:  The School Board Chair will lead the board and attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Description:  This is the first meeting of the new term of office.  The previous terms for Lisa Demuth, Kara Habben and Jason Wesenberg have expired.  Elected in November were Jennifer Bohnsack, Kara Habben, and Jason Wesenberg.  These three members will be sworn into office by the presiding officer.

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.  The organizational agenda includes the items required for calendar year organizational issues.

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 ROCORI School Board need to be filled.  The offices include Board Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Clerk. 

The Vice-Chair will lead the election of the Board Chair.  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 and as directed by the Chair.

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 2019 calendar year. 

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 #2-5 indicates that the School Board Chair will be the official spokesperson for public information.  The potential for a change in leadership at this meeting necessitates confirmation of the role of the Chair as spokesperson for the School Board.

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:  As a practice, the ROCORI School Board has expected the Superintendent and Director of Business Services to conduct district business within the parameters of the budget that has been approved and authorized.  It would be appropriate, however, for the school board to formalize the practice with specific action to authorize the Superintendent and Director of Business Services to make expenditures within the budget parameters.  

Recommendation:   Motion to authorize the Superintendent and Director of Business Services to make expenditures for the ROCORI School District within the budget parameters.

Description:  For a considerable time and per policy #2-4, the district has recognized senior high students as representatives to the school board.  The Student Senate would like to continue to place student representatives to the school board.  Previous approach to this relationship has been that the Student Senate could place up to four students as representatives to the board with the expectation that the younger representatives would continue in their "term" throughout their high school experience. 

Recommendation:  Motion that the School Board authorizes up to four student senate representatives to serve as student board members.

Description:  The Cold Spring Record has been the official publication for the school district.  The Record meets the requirements of school districts in regard to public reporting processes. 

Recommendation: Motion to name the Cold Spring Record as the official publication for district records.

Description:  In the past, the district has established compensation for school board members at the organizational meeting at the start of the fiscal year.  The current rates were set in October of 2018 at $300 per month for the chair, $275 for the Treasurer, $1,400 per board negotiator, and $250 for all other board members.  These figures have been used in the development of the FY19 preliminary budget.

Recommendation:  Adopt Board Member compensation rates as outlined.

Description:  The School Board has traditionally delegated the authority to make electronic transfers to officials within the district office.  In the past, the School Board has authorized the Superintendent, Director of Business Services, and the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent to make electronic transfers for the district.

Recommendation:  Motion to authorize the Superintendent, Director of Business Services, and Executive Assistant to make electronic transfers for calendar year 2019.

Description:  The Granite Community Bank of Cold Spring, PMA/MN Trust,  and the Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund have served as the official depositories for the district and it is recommended to continue with these agencies for calendar year 2019.

Recommendation:  Motion to designate Granite Community Bank, PMA/MN Trust, and Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund as official depositories for the ROCORI School District.

Description:  The ROCORI School District has, historically, used a variety of legal firms as legal counsel.  The nature of the particular issue requiring attention has dictated the legal firm consulted for advice and direction.  The school district has used the legal firms of Ratwik, Rozak and Maloney, P.A., and Kennedy and Graven Law Firm as legal counsel for educational issues and concerns.  The firm of Knutson, Flynn & Deans has been secured as legal counsel for election issues.  Willenbring, Dahl, Wocken and Zimmermann has been used for issues that are more local or property legal issues.  Because of the relationships with these firms and the particular attorneys within these firms, it is recommended that these firms be named as legal counsel for calendar year 2019.

Recommendation:  Motion to designate Ratwik, Rozak and Maloney, P.A.; Kenndey and Graven Law Firm, Knutson, Flynn and Deans; and Willenbring, Dahl, Wocken, and Zimmerman as legal counsel for the ROCORI School District.

Description:  The calendar of School Board meeting dates for the calendar year must be adopted as part of the organizational process.  The proposed calendar of dates was shared at the last June meeting.  Action must be taken to implement a calendar for the fiscal year.  

This calendar is most consistent with District Policy 2-2 regarding School Board Meetings.  

Recommendation: Based on consideration of the language of Policy 2-2, adoption of the school board meeting calendar. with two meetings per month is supported.

Description:  The school district has typically conducted school and business operations on Columbus Day and Veterans Day. Columbus Day, October 14, falls on the second Monday of October and Veterans Day, November 11, falls on the second Monday of November this year. The school calendar includes regular operations on that date.  The resolution included in the exhibits has authorized the conduct of business on these dates and is recommended for adoption.

Recommendation:  Authorize school business to be conducted on Columbus Day and Veterans Day by approval of the resolution.

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.  As a general rule, items introduced in the opportunity for comments and requests do not receive action from the School Board, but are taken under advisement or consideration for future action.

Description:  Student senate representatives to the School Board have opportunity to share feedback or updates on activities with the full School Board.

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 action.  Any consent agenda item may be removed for further discussion and deliberation by any member of the board.

Description:  The minutes from the Regular meeting of December 17, 2018 are included in the exhibits.

Recommend approval of the minutes from the meetings.

Description:  Principal Jenson is recommending Sonia Eizenhoefer as a fulltime EL teacher at the ROCORI Secondary Schools for the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year.  Ms. Eizenhoefer will replace Leah Anderson.  Mr. Jenson is also recommending Johnny Benson as a Long Term Substitute Special Education Teacher beginning January 28, 2019 and continuing through the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year.  Mr Benson will be replacing Rachel Neutzling who is out on leave.

Director of Buildings and Grounds Neisinger is recommending Thomas Goerger as the Head Custodian for the John Clark Elementary School.  Mr. Goerger will replace Scott Cheeley.

Principal Skanson is recommending Summer Knudsen as a Long Term Substitute Teacher beginning approximately in March of 2019 and continuing for the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year. This will replace Arin Spindler while she is on leave.

Recommend approval of the offers of employment.

Description:  Five bids were received for the summer of 2019 roof project.  The bid results are included in the documents along with the recommendation letter.

Recommendation:  Approve the low bid from McDowall Company in the amount of $387,700 and the addendum of $67,000.

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 board members.  The resolution is included in the exhibits.  The resolution reflects the school district's relationship with the Cold Spring Bakery. 

Recommend adoption of the resolution.

Description:  The school district has experienced some changes to the plan for Safe Routes to School and those changes will have a greater cost impact on the district.  The Facility and Grounds committee has had conversation regarding these changes and is recommending that the district withdraw from the project.

Description:  Be It Resolved, by the School Board of ISD 750, ROCORI, as follows, that the following donation be accepted with gratitude: Thank you to all the organizations and individuals for their donations.  The school district appreciates your generosity and continued support.  Item donated: Tool box and tools; Donor: Terry Valentien; Designation: First Robotics. 

Description:  The School Board and Superintendent reviewed the formative evaluation in a closed session on December 17, 2018. A summary has been provided to the members.  

Recommendation:  Approve the formative evaluation summary as provided. 

Description:  Discussion items receive individual attention because of the nature of the issues and the need for introductory or other discussion in order to review the information prior to taking action.  This is also the agenda location for items which simply need school board review, but no formal action on the item is required.  Discussion items will typically return to the agenda at a future point for more specific action.

Description:  The following policies are being submitted for a second reading:
#4-15-Transportation
#4-17-Nonpublic Transportation
#8-5-School District Curriculum and Instruction Goals
#8-6-School District System Accountability
#8-20-Instructional Curriculum

Description:  A team from the Social Studies Department is expected to share information on the Washington DC and New York trip.  The intent is to provide an update to the School Board on the plans for the trip. 

Description:  Director of Buildings and Grounds Neisinger and Community Education Director Hillman have had difficulty filling the Custodial position that was approved last year for up to 30 hours per week.  They are requesting a change in this position as described in the attachment.

Community Education Director Hillman is proposing a Child Care Coordinator position for the 2019-2020 school year.  This request is based on the approval to add School Age Childcare (Spartan Spot) beginning next year along with the Kid Care program already in place. The Coordinator would help oversee both programs.

Description:  The School Board reviews the evaluation process and form(s) with new school board members following election and officially taking seat on the school board.

Description:  Board members will report on activities within their portfolio of committee and representative assignments.

Description:  The Superintendent is expected to have a report for the board regarding district activities and information.

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