MINUTES REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION – ISD #361
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MINNESOTA
September 21, 2009

School Board Members present: Mark Lassila, Will Kostiuk, Darrell Wagner, Roger Jerome, Michelle Hebner, and Stuart Nordquist. Also present were Don Langan-Superintendent, and Kevin Grover-Assistant Superintendent

School Board Members absent: none

Media Present: KGHS-KSDM, The Daily Journal

Board Chair D. Wagner amended the agenda with the removal of Personnel Consent Agenda items 9.2.17 and 9.2.18 and the addition of personnel item 9.2.22. Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by W. Kostiuk to approve the agenda as amended.

Bruce Elson, addressed the board regarding the agenda item for his non-renewal as Head Girls’ Hockey coach. Kelly Gordon, parent, sought to refute several comments made by Mr. Elson. Mike Bolstad, parent, spoke in support of Mr. Elson as Head Girls’ Hockey coach.

Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by M. Hebner and carried unanimously to set a special meeting of the board on Thursday, November 5 at 5:00 p.m. to canvass special election results. Motion also included changing the time for the regular meeting in December to 7:00 p.m. to allow for public comment on Truth in Taxation. Future meeting dates of September 24, October 1 and October 8 all at 6:00 p.m. for 331 negotiations were announced.

Moved by W. Kostiuk, seconded by M. Lassila to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of August 17, 2009 and the special meeting of September 10, 2009. Motion was amended by R. Jerome, and amendment seconded by W. Kostiuk to amend the minutes of August 17, 2009 to have personnel item 8.2.1 to reflect “accept the leave of absence request from Stuart Nordquist as head football coach for the 2009-2010 season due to medical reasons. Superintendent D. Langan cautioned the board that if amended motion was passed the result would be potentially two head football coaches for renewal or non-renewal for the 2010-2011 season. Motion carried by a four to one vote with Board Member M. Lassila voting against and Board Member S. Nordquist abstaining.

Moved by M. Lassila, seconded by S. Nordqjist to approve the bills due and payable in the amount of $435,101.04. Motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by M. Hebner to accept the program consent agenda items as presented. Motion carried by a unanimous vote.
9.1.1 Approve donations for the month of August in the amount of $3,100.
8/15/09 Boise; School Calendars $1500.00
8/15/09 TruStar; School Calendars $ 250.00
9/18/09 James Miller/Adena Borodkin; FHS $ 100.00
8/31/09 Super One; School Calendars $ 500.00
8/31/09 Bremer; School Calendars $ 250.00
8/31/09 Coca Cola; School Calendars $ 500.00

9.1.2 Certify the proposed 2009 Levy payable in 2010 to earn the maximum state aids and levy revenue for education as authorized under Minnesota Statutes.
9.1.3 Approve a contract extension between Mesabi Range Community and Technical College and ISD 361 for concurrent enrollment for the 2009-10 academic year.
9.1.4 Approve the post-secondary educations options contract between ISD 361 and Rainy River Community College for the 2009-2010 school year.
9.1.5 Approve an agreement to amend the contract with Rainy Lake Medical Center for provision of rehabilitation services to extend from 8/31/09 to 8/30/2010.
9.1.6 Approve a contract with KGHS/KSDM for the School Matters Program for the 2009-2010 school year at the rate of $90 per program.
9.1.7 Approve the purchase of operating referendum services from Ehlers & Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1500.

Moved by S. Nordquist, seconded by R. Jerome to remove Personnel Item 9.2.21 from the consent agenda. Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Moved by S. Nordquist, seconded by M. Hebner to accept personnel consent agenda items 9.2.1 through 9.2.16 and items 9.2.19, 9.2.20 and 9.2.22. Motion carried by a unanimous vote.
9.2.1 Appoint Kevin Grover as the High School Section 504 officer and Jerry Hilfer as the elementary Section 504 officer for the 2009-10 school year.
9.2.2 Hire Rachel Amdahl as the 2009-2010 Student Council Advisor in accord with Schedule D of the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 331.
9.2.3 Appoint Chris Hemstad as the 2009-2010 National Honor Society Advisor.
9.2.4 Accept the resignation of Jenny Taylor as an Educational Support Professional effective August 18, 2009.
9.2.5 Increase Jeannie Strand, elementary/secondary music from .90 to 1.0 fte effective September 2, 2009.
9.2.6 Approve the hire of Jennifer Hargis as an educational support professional in accord with the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 4798 effective September 2, 2009.
9.2.7 Approve the hire of Ashley Kostiuk as an educational support professional in accord with the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 4798 effective September 2, 2009.
9.2.8 Approve the hire of Heather McBride as an educational support professional in accord with the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 4798 effective September 2, 2009.
9.2.9 Approve the hire of Rachel Leali as an educational support professional in accord with the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 4798 effective September 2, 2009.
9.2.10 Approve the hire of Cherie Serrano as an educational support professional in accord with the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 4798 effective September 2, 2009.
9.2.11 Approve the hire of Kyra Briggs as an educational support professional in accord with the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 4798 effective September 2, 2009.
9.2.12 Approve the hire of Jamie Wayer as an educational support professional in accord with the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 4798 effective September 2, 2009.
9.2.13 Approve the hire of Luke Zika as an assistant football coach for the 2009-2010 season in accord with Schedule C of the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 331.
9.2.14 Approve the hire of Glen Anderson as an assistant football coach for the 2009-2010 season in accord with Schedule C of the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 331.
9.2.15 Acknowledge Bruce Englund as a volunteer baseball coach for the 2009-2010 season.
9.2.16 Approve the assignment of Andy Fougner as the RtI Coordinator for the 2009-2010 school year.
9.2.19 Approve the hire of Angie Schwartz as an hourly elementary reading instructor for the 2009-2010 school year with total hours not to exceed 306 hours and in accord with Schedule D of the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 331.
9.2.20 Approve the hire of Marc Glowack as an hourly elementary math instructor for the 2009-2010 school year with total hours not to exceed 306 hours and in accord with Schedule D of the master agreement between ISD 361 and Local 331.
9.2.22 Accept the resignation of Bethanne Slatinski as discipline monitor effective September 25, 2009.

Moved by M. Lassila, seconded by W. Kostiuk to approve the non-rewal of Bruce Elson as Girls’ Head Hockey Coach pursuant to M.S. 122A.33 and effective immediately. Motion carried by a five to one vote with Board Member S. Nordquist voting against.

Member S. Nordquist moved the adoption of the following Resolution:

RESOLUTION APPOINTING ELECTION JUDGES
FOR THE NOVEMBER 3, 2009
SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION

BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 361, State of Minnesota, as follows:

1. The individuals specified on EXHIBIT A attached hereto, each of whom is qualified to serve as an election judge, are hereby appointed as judges of election for the school district’s special election on November 3, 2009, to act as such at the combined polling place listed on said exhibit.

2. The election judges shall act as clerks of election, count the ballots cast and submit the results to the school board for canvass in the manner provided for other school district elections.

The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by

M. Hebner. On a roll call vote, the following voted in favor: M. Lassila, W. Kostiuk, D. Wagner, R. Jerome, S. Nordquist and M. Hebner

and the following voted against: none
whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.

EXHIBIT A

COMBINED POLLING PLACE ELECTION JUDGES

Backus Community Center Head Election Judge Carol Dalton Pat Kjellgren
Carolyn Davison Pat Hamalainen Alyssa Green
Alyce Mannausau
Mary Rolando
Dixie Worth
Connie Lacher
Sharalyn Schaak- Alternate
Kitty Ewald - Alternate

Tim Everson, Falls High School Principal gave the following report:
• Enrollment is currently a head count of 642 students.
• Homecoming is Friday, October 2. A pep fest and parade is being planned.
• He will seek two candidates to alternate as the student school board representative and present them at the October meeting.

Jerry Hilfer, FES/WEE Principal gave the following report:
• Elementary enrollment is currently 634.
• NWEA testing will be held October 5 through October 23.
• Reading and math sections have been created in 5th & 6th grades to allow for more individualized instruction in those subjects.

Doreen Swendsen, School Nurse gave the following report:
• School’s preparedness for upcoming flu season
• Phone/e-mail message has been sent to all families asking to report cases of flue for tracking purposes
• District website has information on H1N1 symptoms and is updated frequently

Dave Skwarok, District Technology Director gave a report on the district’s technology and improvements made since 2004. He credited the operating levy passed in November 2001 which has allowed the district to keep updated in their technology.

Kevin Grover, Assistant Superintendent gave the following report:
• The District and Board have been invited to present at the October 22nd Brown Bag Luncheon at the Holiday Inn. Topic to be presented is the operating levy referendum.
• Average Daily Memberships; He outlined the difference between headcount and actual adm based upon student’s schedules. In the eleventh grade 124 students translates into 100.93 ADM. In the twelfth grade 118 students translates into 88.79 ADM. A program has been created to attempt to track ADM’s on a monthly basis.
• A request has been made from the Community Education Director to have a change in benefits. A meeting of the Community Education Advisory Committee is scheduled for Thursday at 3:30 to discuss the issue. K. Grover is collecting information from area districts as to their level of benefits for similar positions. A recommendation will be forthcoming from the Community Education Advisory Committee to the Board in October.

Don Langan, Superintendent of Schools gave the following report:
• Northeast Service Cooperative annual meeting will be held to discuss potential bylaw changes.
• MSBA ballots have been distributed for the Board to vote on representation.
• Gail Rasmussen has agreed to chair the Citizens Committee for the operating levy referendum. A core group has already been formed and radio and newspaper spots have been reserved.
• Minnesota Public Radio has released a list of salaries of Minnesota superintendents and is available on their website.

Roger Jerome reported the Recreation Commission Board had no quorum at the last meeting.

Moved by R. Jerome, seconded by S. Nordquist to close the meeting at 6:35 p.m. to discuss negotiations strategy. Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Moved by S. Nordquist, seconded by M. Hebner to reopen and subsequently adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Attest: ____________________
Roger Jerome

The Daily Journal
October 29, 2009