All speakers are asked to complete the Listening Session Sign-in Form including as much detail as possible and including a printed / written copy of your presentation if one is available. This is an opportunity for the Board to listen, the Board will not engage in dialogue. As a general rule, the Board will not comment on or respond to any comments made by speakers. Please do not include names of Greenbush Middle River employees or representatives, their title, or location in your remarks for your own legal protection and the legal rights of staff.

Each speaker will have five (5) minutes to speak: speakers may not roll their time to another speaker. Speakers will be timed and are asked to complete their comments in this time frame. Board members may ask questions if needed.  Please begin your presentation by stating your name and topic only.
In the spirit of fairness to all participants, we request that you respect the format above. Thank you for taking the time today to attend this meeting and share your concerns and suggestions.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, members of the public may wish to email Board communication(s) to <info@greenbush.k12.mn.us>

see attached Treasurer's Report

o  01 General Fund
o  02 Food Service
o  04 Community Services
o  07 Debt Redemption
o  08 Scholarships
o  09 Student Activities
• *see attached 

Border State Bank donated school supplies prior to the start of this school year.  THANK YOU.

Polaris Industries donated school supplies for the GMR School.  THANK YOU


Motion by Board Member _______________ and seconded by ________________ to accept school supplies donations from Border Bank and Polaris Industries.

Absentee Balloting began on September 17, 2021 in the GMR School District Office.

Referendum information has been posted on the School's website (front page Navigation panel).

Public information efforts relating to Special Ballot question for an operating referendum as a part of the November 2, 2021 Special School Election may include but are not limited to:

Local Newspaper;
Radio talk show (KQ 92)
Virtual Meetings (eg:  Zoom);
Various Social Media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook);
Small group settings (eg:  GB Fireman, Greenbush/Badger Lions);
etc.
see attached referendum public information efforts

See attached referendum presentation given to Greenbush Fire Dept. on Sept. 13, 2021 (up-dated on Sept. 20, 2021)

Suggested Board Action:    Motion by Board Member __________________ and seconded by ____________________ to accept the resignation of Mrs. Jerri Puttbrese as per submitted letter.

Suggested Board Action:  Motion by Board Member ________________ and seconded by _________________ to approve employment of Kaitlyn Bulow as a Cook in the Food Service Department.

EXHIBIT A


COMBINED POLLING PLACES       ELECTION JUDGES


Greenbush Community Center                   
         Head Election Judge                Anita Loken                             
                                                          Bernie Nelson                         
                                                            Pat Miesner                                
                                                            Geraldine Nubson                    

Middle River Community Center               
                Head Election Judge     Michelle Kern                          
                                                      Virginia Sovde                          
                                                      Karol Savage                              
                                                        Jessie Clark                                





 

The Truth-in-Taxation calendar indicated below refers to taxes levied in 2021 and payable in 2022 for use in the 2022-2023 school [budget/fiscal] year.

On or before Sept. 30:   School board members review and approve the proposed tax levy and send the certified levy to the [Home] County Auditor.  

Nov. 24:   Deadline for the County Auditor to mail a parcel-specific notice to each property owner in the GMR School District service area.

Dec.20:  GMR School Board includes as a regular School Board agenda item, the Payable 2022 School Tax levy and adopts the levy during its Regular meeting.   The certified levy is sent to the [Home] County Auditor.

On or before January 7, 2022:   The certified levy is sent to the Department of Education. The certificate of Truth-in-Taxation is sent to the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Because of the 2001 Tax Law Changes, the local levy effort for supporting school programming changed.   In the 2001 legislative session, the basic general education levy was repealed and replaced with state education aid.  As a result, local Levy authority is pretty much limited to areas such as Health & Safety, Crime Levy, Long Term Facilities Maintenance and Community Education (eg: School Readiness and Early Childhood Family Education).

Exhibit 10.3.1  PROPOSED School Tax Levy Payable in 2022  (- $32.66%)

Note 1  The specific dates and timeline are established by the MN Dept. of Revenue  

Note 2  Source(s): MN Dept. of Education & MN Department of Revenue

Note 3  As per statute, Board meetings containing a Truth-in-Taxation agenda item cannot begin prior to 6:00 pm.

From a PRELIMINARY [emphasis added] point of view, property taxes for the GMR School District are expected to decrease (-32.69%) next year.  The levy will be paid on 2022 property tax bills, and the money will be used to support the 2022-23 school year. School property taxes are one part of an overall property tax bill along with county and city or township levies. It is recommended the board vote to set the preliminary levy at the maximum allowed by the state to allow for adjustments before December, when the final levy will be certified.  Unless a school district adds a voter-approved levy, the final certified levy is usually similar to the preliminary. GMR has special election for an operating a levy on Nov. 2, 2021.


A motion was made by ______________, seconded by ______________, to certify the 2021 payable 2022 school tax levy for the "MAXIMUM" amount.

School Board and Teacher representatives began negotiating in early August 2021.   The teacher and school board negotiations representatives reached a tentative agreement on September 8.   It was approved by the union membership prior to today's meeting.

The Agreement gives teacher salary and extracurricular compensation schedule increases of 2.0 percent for the 2021-2022 school year and 2.0 percent for 2022-2023 school year.  The settlement calls for a two-year agreement (2021-2022 and 2022-2023) with a total package cost increase to the base year co-hort (2020-2021) to the School District at 7% for the duration of the Agreement.  The total cost increase includes all expenses paid by the School District including salary and fringe benefits (eg:  FICA, Teachers Retirement Association, Health & Hospitalization, etc.). 

Exhibit 10.4 - Negotiations summary

.Suggested motion: Moved by _____________ seconded by _____________ to ratify the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Agreement with the Greenbush Middle River Education Association as negotiated and recommended by the School Board’s teacher negotiation committee.

Representatives of the District's financial account firm of Eide-Bailly will be at the GMR School site on Sept. 21-22 to complete the District's 2020-2021 financial audit.

K - 13
1-6 - 102
7-12 - 111
K-12 - 226

see attached

During its regular August 16, 2021 school board meeting, the Board passed a resolution establishing a Ballot Board.

Included within the above-mentioned resolution is:  The Ballot Board must consist of a sufficient number of election judges trained in the handling of absentee ballots.  

Absentee balloting began on Sept. 17, 2021.  Trained (by Roseau County Auditor's Office) absentee ballots judges are:  Sharon Schultz, Amie Westberg, Larry Guggisberg and Karyl Langaas.

• School Meals are Free to students in 2021-2022

Due to supply chain labor shortage(s) from production to packaging to transportation, schools are being given notice about Food supplies for school meals.

• IMPORTANT SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE UPDATE

Food shortages are nationwide, and our school district is also experiencing unavailable items or last-minute food replacements from our food distributors.  Menus are subject to change, but we will do our best to notify you via social media and/or newsletter if/when there are menu changes.
We appreciate your patience and understanding!  We look forward to serving all of our students nutritious meals.
 

During the regular August Board meeting, a report was given on School facility improvement projects in and around the school.  Up-date to be provided.

An antenna tower was donated to the school by Efrem Novacek several months ago.  Equipment to up-grade the school's aging bus radios and handheld radios was purchased with revenue from Safe Schools Levy.

Attaining a license for a radio frequency from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) was problematic for the GMR School.   Because of the school's proximity to Canada the U.S. FCC and its counter-part in Canada had to approve a frequency.  The School recently [finally] received approval for a radio frequency.  Work towards final installation and radio programming is underway.

Roofing project above the Bus Garage Shop area was completed

Small roofing project in a section above the school library was completed.  Both projects were completed using Long Term Facilities Maintenance Levy funding.

On Wednesday morning, September 9, Buildings & Grounds responded to a fuel oil odor in the Family and Consumer Science (FACs) Classroom.  Through trouble-shooting to find the source of the fumes, it was determined the fuel oil tank used for the back-up heat system was empty.   The fuel oil tank was ~ half empty, meaning ~1,000 gallons of heating oil had leaked from the tank.

The GMR School District self-reported the fuel oil leak to the MN Pollution Control Agency [MPCA] on Sept. 9.  MPCA approved emergency management personnel came to the GMR School on the same day.  It was determined a faulty underground value leaked fuel oil from the tank.

The vapors of fuel oil only affected the Family and Consumer Science (FACs) classroom so some of her classes moved to other rooms on Sept. 9.

MPCA approved emergency management personnel set up a ventilation unit to eliminate the fuel oil smell.  Classes resumed in the FACs room on Sept. 10.

Attached is an Emergency Work Request form indicating the corrective actions to be taken in the days to come.   The district intends to apply to the Petrofund to pay for the costs of corrective action.  The district also reported this incident to its property & liability insurance carrier.

Petrofund

Leaks for petroleum storage tanks are one of the nation's leading causes of groundwater pollution.
To help address this problem, the Minnesota Legislature established the Petroleum Tank Release Cleanup Fund (Petrofund) which reimburses eligible applicants up to 90% of "reasonable and necessary" costs they incur in responding to a petroleum tank leak.

The Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board oversees the reimbursement program. It has five members: a petroleum industry representative, a person with claims adjusting experience, a public member, the Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency, and the Commissioner of Commerce.

Source:  https://mn.gov/commerce/industries/fuel/petrofund/


 

Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic in GMR School on Sept. 20, 2021

Motion by Board Member __________________   and second by ____________________ to ADJOURN

• Parent Teacher Conferences - October 14, 2021
• Regular October School Board Meeting - October 18, 2021 @ 7:30 p.m. in GMR School Cafeteria
• Special School Election on November 2, 2021