Contracts
A letter of assignment for Trisha Beseman, an interpreter for the deaf was approved. Additionally, contracts for a speech pathologist, Kelsey Berg and a special education teacher, Linsy Hershberger, were approved subject to licensure requirements.
Organizational
Minnesota School Board membership was renewed at a one percent increase, as well as the fire and communication inspection contract with Simplex-Grinnell, at an increase of $132. There will be an additional cost of $120-$150 to inspect the new construction area.
Dr. Goodwin was authorized as fiscal agent for the district’s money market account at State Bank of New Richland.
Primary food vendor
This will be the district’s first year of operating food service under a Primary Vendor agreement. Via this agreement, the district agrees to purchase a minimum of 70 percent of food products (excluding dairy and bakery which are contracted separately) from low bidder Indianhead Foodservice Distributor. The contract can stand for five years.
Technician position
The board discussed advertising for a full-time technician to work with Technology Coordinator Angie Aaseth and provide support..
“As our district moves forward, the need for additional support will be required at both locations,” Dr. Goodwin wrote in a memo to the board. “Currently when a teacher is unable to use the technology in their classroom, the teaching effort at that time often comes to a stop.”
“Just what (technology) we’ve added in the last year makes this important,” said Anderson.
“There are now 150 staff connected,” said Gimberline. “We are adding 7th and 8th grades, and soon it will be another 150.”
Cell phones for administrators
Goodwin also recommended a reimbursement for administrator cell phone use, at a rate of $85 for administrators (Goodwin, Anderson, Bunn, Stork); $40 for Business Manager Karla Christopherson, Technology Coordinator Angie Aaseth and head custodians Richard Stenzel and Dan Bell.
Why?
“We expect our administrative team to be available after school hours,” said Christopherson.
Would this be just for the school year or for all 12 months?
“We’re all 12 months,” Christopherson explained. Administrators have work to do all year. Additionally, Activities Director Dan Stork needs a smart phone to run scheduling.
“We could do this, or you can provide a school phone that would require an additional contract.”
“If we do this, will the district be liable for what activity happens on the phone?” asked board member Michele Moxon.
“If we provided the phones, we’d be liable,” explained board chair Rick Schultz. But the proposal is only to provide reimbursement for business use of personal phones, and the district is not responsible for other use.
Long term building plans
Dr. Goodwin recommended that the Building and Grounds Committee be appointed to evaluate plans for current and future gym and/or auditorium construction.
This caused some amusement and some discussion between board members Michele Moxon, Mike Moen and Rick Schultz.
“We’ve done so much in the last few years,” said Moxon.
Since Moxon, Moen, and Schultz are the Building and Grounds Committee, the motion was approved with some skepticism about whether there would be anything to discuss in the near future.
