May 11, 2022 at 6:00 PM - Independent School District 507 Regular School Board Meeting

Description:  The school board meeting is a meeting in the public, not a public meeting.  Nicollet School Board Policy provides that persons who wish to have a subject discussed at a public school board meeting are encouraged to notify the superintendent’s office in advance of the school board meeting.  The school board chair will recognize one speaker at a time and will rule out of order other speakers who are not recognized, violations of data privacy, or inappropriate comments.

Description: 

1. We are obtaining quotes to patch and repair the parking lot.  Some of the work may be scheduled after July 1^st so it applies to the next fiscal year.  This may be a multi-year project.

 

2. A staff development session with the teachers was conducted on April 22^nd.  I appreciate the engagement and commitment demonstrated by our staff members.  We made some progress and identified areas in need of development.  Bolstering our framework for improving and integrating data, systems, and practices to positively affect student outcomes is a priority for our school district.  The following activities are underway:

• The S.I.R.S. referral form will be modified and simplified by this fall.
• Minor behaviors infractions will be tabulated weekly beginning this fall.  Three minor infractions will count as a major infraction.
• The August 29^th workshop day will focus on improving our PBIS.
• Workshop days throughout the 2022-23 school year will include PBIS development and implementation.  
• The student handbook will be updated with the discipline disposition.

 

3. Lindsey Heine and I are meeting with Kerrie Riley and Carrie Hoffman over the next several weeks to develop financial solutions for the school readiness program.  Approving the community education fund budgets (which include the daycare and school readiness programs) will be an action item for the school board June 8^th.  

Description:  MS 123B.02, Subd. 6 permits the school board to accept donations or gifts for the benefit of the district.  The Superintendent recommends approving the donations received.

Description: 

These adjustments, developed by Lindsey Heine, Kendra Hoffman, and the superintendent balance the budget for FY 23.   The information was presented to parents at the May 4^thNECC parents meeting. 

• Tuition for the toddler and infant rooms will increase by 5%.

Preschool:

• One formula option will be available for infants.
• The preschool program will change its DHS license from "licensed" to "certified".  This will make some staffing requirements less stringent and reduce expenses.
• Lunch and breakfast will be available for purchase through the school food service program.
• The weekly maximum hours for Infant/Toddler will be 45 hours.  An hourly rate will be charged when over contracted hours.
• The drop-in rate for a toddler is $60 per day and for infants it is $65.

The FY 23 daycare fund was deficit spending by $52,037 before the adjustments.  After the adjustments, daycare program fund balance should improve by $18,310.

TOTAL				TOTAL
BALANCE	REVENUES	EXPENDITURES	VARIANCE	BALANCE
6/30/22				06/30/23
-67,139.00	510,300.00	562,337.00	-52,037.00	-119,177.00
-67,139.00	476,120.00	457,809.54	18,310.46	-48,828.54

Description: 

5. The school board could authorize a "district dialogue".  This might occur 20 or 30 minutes before a school board meeting.  Two school board members and the superintendent would be present.  It could be scheduled before 3 different board meetings giving all board members an opportunity to participate. The superintendent recommends that this activity be considered within the following framework:
   1. It is important to establish the purpose for this endeavor.  Customarily, schools engage this activity to solicit input on an upcoming referendum, school closing, attendance boundary change, or a district strategic plan.
   2. There are 2,500 residents in the Nicollet School District.  Input from a few people may not represent the majority.
   3. The four school district stakeholder groups are parents, staff, students, and community members.  The stakeholder groups often have competing interests.
   4. Stakeholders currently have e-mail and visitor comments available to express opinions.  (Staff members can also utilize district discussions or the leadership team.)  

Description: 

5. The superintendent recommends amending District Policy 613 Graduation Requirements.  MDE has changed the number of required credits for science from 3.5 to 3 credits.  Minnesota Graduation Requirements.  So, the policy is revised accordingly.  Also, our policy does not specify the required total of 21.5 credits for graduation, so that is added. NPS Science Classes.