SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES/WORKING SESSION

February 1, 2012

SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES
November 14, 2011
BOARD OF EDUCATION
FRAZEE-VERGAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS ISD #23
 The Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of Frazee-Vergas Independent School District #23 was called to order by Chair Ziegler on Monday, November 14, 2011, 6:00 p.m. in the High School Media Center.  Members in attendance were Dana Laine, Keith Janu, Steve Jepson, Matt Bauer, James Nelson, Ken Fett and Rich Ziegler.
 Present were Administrators: Superintendent Charles Cheney, K-12 Principal Rob Nudell, Special Education Director Bardie Skjonsberg, Dean of Students Troy Haugen, Activities Director Dave Trautman, Executive Assistant Stacey Foss.   Media present; Frazee Forum Barbie Porter and KRCQ Jake Judd.  Approximately 15 guests were present.
 The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by board members and guests.
Citizen & Delegation Requests
 None.
Adoption of the Agenda
Motion Bauer, second Laine to adopt the agenda. Motion carried.
CONSENT  AGENDA
 Motion Bauer, second Fett to approve the consent agenda as presented. Discussion was held with member Ziegler listing the names and donations in the Accepted and Acknowledged Gifts and Member Laine thanked them for supporting the children of the district with their generous donations.  Motion carried. Consent Agenda included the following items:
 • Approved the adoption of the minutes from the October 10, 2011 regular board meeting.
 • Check Summary
 • Approved the hiring of Tom Johnson as Junior High Girls Basketball Coach
 • Approved the School District Enrollment Options Program Applications
 • Approved the Employee Assistance Program Agreement for 2 years - January 1, 2012
through December 31, 2013
 • Approved the 2011-2012 Seniority Lists for AFSCME, MSEA and FEA
 • Accepted and Acknowledged Gifts:
 – Wolf Lake Lions $400 for Band Department
 – United Community Bank $5,000 for Frazee Afterschool Arts and Athletics(FAAA)
 – Frazee Lions Club $300 for One Act Play and $300 for Gymnastics program
 – Janke’s Sew & Vac, sewing machine serger ( $599 value) for Family and Consumer Science (FACS) classroom
Communication Reports
Staff
 • Mr. Dave Trautman, Activities Director, had 3 Team Captains come and share some highlights from their fall season: McKinzie Tangen - Volleyball, Jason Laine – Cross Country,  Cody Piper - Football
Marsden, Buildings & Grounds
 • Presented HS Project Work during MEA and ongoing – 56 work orders completed.
 • Presented EL Project Work during MEA and ongoing – 41 work orders completed.
Mrs. Thorp, Director of Community Education
ECFE
 • “Evening with Ada Alden” on October 17 – 45 participants
 • Kinder Quest and 3’s Alone classes have 49 students with a waiting list of 9 for each class
 • ECFE Advisory Council met November 10th.
 • Upcoming activities include Santa Day activities in both Frazee and Vergas.
Community Education
 • Fall 2011 sessions continue as planning for Spring 2012 begins, with Defensive Driving and Student Driver Education dates already announced
 • Blood Screening took place at the Frazee Care Center on November 3rd – 90 people participated
 • Behind-the-Wheel continues on a year-round basis – five students in September and six students in October completed the 6-hour driving with an instructor     
 • Troy Haugen and Community Ed are working with Becker County Extension office to request the Bread Baking Program offered by King Arthur Flour Company, come to Frazee, for students in the 4, 5 and 6 grades. Possible date December 5 or 6.
 • Assisted Activities Directory Dave Trautman in researching booster clubs’ options for food sales fund raising.
 • Next Community Education Advisory Council meeting, Monday, December 5 at 4:00 p.m.
Mr. Skjonsberg, Director of Special Education
 • Working with Business Office on FY 2011 and FY 2012 State and Federal Budgets
 • Shared Record Review monitoring findings with applicable staff
 • Received additional data regarding Special Education Fiscal Monitoring scheduled for this school year
 • Coordinated Ipad-2 Training for special education teachers
 • Tentative Schedule: Parent/Teacher Conferences 11/10-11/11, HeadStart Memorandum of Understanding annual meeting 11/15, Behavior Support Team Training 11/18 and Regional SPED Director’s meeting 12/1
Mr. Haugen, Elementary Dean of Students
 • Enrollment  for K-6 – November 1, 2011  -  499
 • Buildings & Grounds Update – Facilities look great
 • Register Tapes for Education – in cooperation with Frazee Family Foods, Frazee-Vergas Elementary continues to participate in the Register Tapes for Education program. Last year FVE received 428,610 points through the program which were redeemed for equipment for the music & art departments.  Thank you to Heath & Cynthia Peterson with Frazee Family Foods for helping support our programming.
 • Reported on MCA Results
 • Conferences attendance was 92-93%
 • Member Fett thanked the Elementary for writing approx. 500 letters to send to troops overseas
Mr. Nudell, K-12 Principal
 • Student Discipline Report
 • MCA Scores from Spring of 2011
 • ACT Scores – increased scores, up 1.2%
 • Students of the Month for October: 7th-8th Isaac Courneya, 9th-10th Rebecca Karasch, 11th-12th Daniel Janu
 • Students “Step Up” October Recipients: Owen Peichel, Elizabeth Scott, Jackie Teiken, Jordan Holmer, Coby Newton, Mary Tyschen, Kayla Quittschreiber, Brett Gildersleeve, Tiffany Huwe.
Mr. Trautman, Activities Director
 • Fall Activities Report – Review of Fall
 • Winter Activities Report:  Preview of winter activities
 • Shared upcoming events – November 14th, Band Concert
Dr. Cheney, Superintendent
 • Asked if board members would like to renew their American School Board Journal subscriptions – yes, they will be renewed
 • Briefed the board on the “start up” difficulties with the boilers – action is underway to remedy the issue, Jason is doing a good job.
 • Jim Ueke is attending a 1-day boiler licensing training in early December
 • Close-up Program Consideration – Tom Johnson and the Social Studies Department looking into this.
 • ECFE program has a waiting list, will try to come up with a solution to provide some level of service to them.
 • Listed the financial items on tap for December School Board Meeting
 • Shared with the board that the Budget Publication Requirements Report needs to be published by November 30, so the board may see it published before it comes before them. This report comes from the Audit Report and since our Audit was scheduled later, it was not available for this meeting.
 • There is some inquiry into a summer trip to Europe that Bonnie Tweeton is looking into – no obligation from the district, but would involve a staff member and students – just wanted the board to be aware of the trip and it was suggested checking with our attorney on the matter also.
 • Varsity gym floor is very slippery and Marsden is trying to remedy the situation – if they are not able to, we will look into whatever it takes to make the floor safe for activities held in the gym.
School Board
 • Member Bauer reported on his meeting with the auditors – everything looked good and they were pleasantly surprised how well it went with the staff being so new.
 • Ms. Laine reported on the MSBA meetings she attended – Military Child Education Coalition addressed the needs of families/children when a parent is serving and how we can be of help to them.  Approx. 15,000 children in MN have a parent serving in the Military/National Guard. The challenge is identifying the students with the data privacy issue.  She brought materials back that can be distributed throughout our media centers for all to read and share.  She also attended a Redesigning Government Caucus. They had round table discussions to try to identify the top 10 ways to change and save money. She was at the Educational table. They will send out a summary of the discussions that she will share when available.
Discussion  Items – No Action Required
7.A – Roofing Review
 Superintendent Cheney and the Buildings & Grounds Committee (Fett, Jepson, Janu) met with Mike Herzog. He said they were in good shape – vocational wing is the oldest (1994), High School (1996-1997), warranty until 2012-2013.  Capital Outlay Plan budgeted $700,000 for roof repairs, actual costs will be significantly lower for the 2010-2015 time period.  The Capital Outlay Plan for roofing projects will be reduced with the next plan update.
7.B – Amplification for Board Meetings
 Member Nelson’s question from the last meeting – does the board have any interest in pursuing the demonstration of a sound system?  Discussion was held: free service why not, don’t waste the presenter’s time if we are not totally on board, haven’t heard any complaints, let the board know if an audience member can’t hear, new board table arrangement seems to help. Consensus was no, we will not be pursuing a sound system at this time.
Consider Business Items – Action Required
8.A – Approval of Booster Club Credit Issue
 Discussion was held on the recommended motions: receive credit of $40 per participant (approx. $16,000); clarify coaching expenditures only; no credit for Free and Reduced who do not have to pay the activity fees;
 no district tax dollars, only from fees paid by participating student; approve annually; go by final numbers of participants or sign up.  John Gildersleeve, from the Wrestling Booster Club, wanted clarification on the 7-8th grade coaches (wrestling coaches are not labeled to work with a specific grade level) and expressed that they need equipment, warm-ups also. Money the Booster Club allocated for some coaches can now be used to purchase equipment/warm-ups.  Motion Janu, second Laine to approve: The District will credit Booster Clubs $40 per participant, after the first week of the activity, to be allocated for coaching costs, retroactive to the 2011-12 school year, to be reviewed annually. Motion carries.
8.B – Approval of ESEA Fund Allocation for 1.0 FTE Elementary Teaching Position
 Motion Laine, second Nelson to approve the ESEA Fund Allocation for 1.0 FTE Elementary Position.
Discussion.  Motion carries.
8.C – Approval of Hiring 1.0 FTE Elementary Teaching Position given approval of item 8B above
 Motion Jepson, second Janu approved the hiring of Sara Jacobson as Title I & II Classroom Teacher. Discussion.  Motion carries.
8.D – 2011-2012 FEA Negotiations Strategy-Closed Session as per MN Statute of 13D.03
 Motion Laine, second Janu to close meeting per MN Statute of 13D.03 for 2011-2012 FEA Negotiations Strategy at 7:30 p.m. Motion carries.
8.E – Reopen Closed Meeting at 8:15 p.m.
 Motion Nelson, second Bauer to reopen Closed Meeting at 8:15 p.m.  Motion carries.
8.F – Re-Vote on Item 8.A
 Upon returning to open session from the closed session to discuss Negotiation Strategies, the Board had a further discussion regarding the student activity fee credit to Booster Club issue.  Board member Jepson indicated that because the Wrestling Booster Club pays him for assisting with coaching with the wrestling program, he felt it was not appropriate for him to have voted on the prior motion. Upon further discussion, the Board chose to re-vote on this issue. Janu moved, Laine second : The District will credit Booster Clubs $40 per participant, after the first week of the activity, to be allocated for coaching costs, retroactive to the 2011-12 school year, to be reviewed annually. The following members voted in favor of the motion: Laine, Janu, Ziegler, Bauer, Nelson and Fett.  Member Jepson abstained.
Meetings/Workshops
 • Community Education Advisory Council , Monday, December 5, 4:00 p.m.
 • Regular School Board Meeting, December 12, 2011, 6:00 p.m., High School Media Center
 • Budget Hearing/Truth in Taxation Meeting, December 12, 2011, 7:00 p.m., High School Media Center
 • MSBA Winter Conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center, January 12 & 13, 2012.
Adjournment
 Motion Janu, second Bauer to adjourn meeting at 8:20 p.m. Motion carries.
(Frazee-Vergas Forum 12/15/2011)