June 7, 2021 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting

Description: 

1.  Administrative staff met last week to determine plans for summer school.  Becker Public Schools has applied for and received grants for $75,000 for targeted services summer school district wide and up to $121,400 for summer school at a rate of $4/hour/student.  We have also applied for grants for PreK summer school and mental health increased support.  All of these grants have a number of requirements, and we are working hard on meeting those while staying in budget.

2.  Thank you to those who filled out the survey asserting the need for back filling ESSER/CCRSA/CARES/etc. funding.  Becker Public Schools is around the bottom 10 of all school districts on allocations based on ADM.

3.  July 5th is our next board meeting. 

4.  District staff will be making decisions on face coverings, physical distancing, contact tracing, quarantines, COVID-19 testing, mealtime and special area alignment.  Our current plan is to follow all requirements put forth by MDH or MDE.  This currently means we will require face coverings on all school district transportation, and we will require reporting of positive cases that we are aware of.  At this time, MDE/MDH has no other requirements for schools.  Becker Public Schools strongly encourages face coverings, physical distancing, and testing, particularly for those who are not vaccinated.

5.  Congratulations to the staff, administrators, and students for an excellent school year. There were so many challenges this year, yet everyone continued to stay positive and take on these challenges head on.  Next year, we look forward to continuing to build on the tradition of excellence we are known for.

6.  Graduation ceremony was held on Friday, May 29^th at 7:30 pm.  The Graduation Committee and High School Administration did an excellent job laying out the graduation.

7.  I would like to have a discussion on virtual meetings.  These are no longer required.  Would the board like to continue with these or go to our previous practice of recording and sharing recorded meetings?

8.  Minda and I continue to work on creating a safe and welcoming school environment.  Over the past month, we have held a number of meetings regarding groups within our school who feel unsafe.  We have met with the students who presented to the board last month, we have met with Outfront MN representatives, and we continue to gather information related to policy, procedure, and educational changes that benefit all students safety and well-being.  One opportunity we have access to is a training to our board and administration from Outfront and EdMN on safe spaces and the legal requirements and aspects of school district decisions.  We would like to plan this training as a special session.  These trainings have been found to increase educational outcomes, reduce suicide and suicide ideation, and create a safe learning environment for our students and staff.  We would like to combine this with a listening session involving James Turner.  Minda and I will continue to follow up and plan to meet with the students again in June or July. The dates available are August 5th and August 18th.

Description:  I recommend approving the personnel items as presented.

Description:  The individual contract committee (Mark, Ryan, Sarah) is in support of these contracts.  I recommend approving them.  Contract changes include language alignment and the listed financial increases from 2.47% to 2.59%.

Description:  MS 123C.01 requires individual school boards to authorize membership in the Minnesota State High School League each year. Approving MSHSL membership affirms: 
1) that the school district delegates control, supervision and regulation of MSHSL activities to MSHSL,
2) that the school district adopts the constitution, bylaws, rules and regulations of the MSHSL,
3) that the administration and responsibility for supervising MSHSL activities are assigned to the superintendent.
I recommend approving membership in the MSHSL for the 2021-22 school year.

Description:  Policy 706 Acceptance of Gifts permits the school board to accept donations or gifts under the terms of the policy.  I recommend accepting the gifts as described on the enclosure.

Description:  Kevin Januszewski and I recommend approving the Superintendent or Director of Business Services to enter into a lease-purchase agreement with First American as described. The lease is included with the preliminary FY 22 general fund budget.

Description:  MS 123B.595, Subd. 10 requires that school districts submit a long-term facilities maintenance revenue program application to MDE each year. The revenues are included in the approved FY 20 and 21 General Fund Budgets. The required form is enclosed. The 2015 Legislature established the Long-term Facilities Maintenance Revenue Program to replace Health and Safety Revenue, Deferred Maintenance Revenue and Alternative Facilities Bonding and Levy programs, effective in FY 2017.
Kevin Januszewski, The Facilities/Grounds Director, and I analyze the long-term facilities maintenance needs of the district each year to develop the long-term plan. The plan is revised annually.
Kevin Januszewski and I recommend approving Long-term Facilities Maintenance Revenue Program Application.