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.
Members of the public may wish to email Board [listening session] communication(s) to <info@greenbush.k12.mn.us>

See attached

see attached

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

Congratulations the B/GMR Girls Basketball team for being Section 8A Champions and participating in the State Girls Basketball Tournament March 15-18.   Brad Dahl is the Head Coach.

NOTE:  Thank you to a number of GMR School District residents / entities who donated funds to purchase a charter Bus for the Girls Team.

Sarah Pulk (8th) grade became GMR's 1st State Girls Wrestling Champion in her weight class.  The State Girls Wrestling Tournament was March 3-4, 2023.

GMR's 1st Robotics Team won the Great Northern Regional Competition in Grand Forks nearly two weeks ago.  The Team qualifies for World Competition in Houston, Texas April 17-24.
The 1st Robotics Team will participate in State competition in Mpls. May 5-7.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Competition is being held in the Twin Cities March 26-28.

Elizabeth Gust (12) is competing in an on-line National Event - Chapter Website Design.  On-line competition is being judged in advance of the State in-person competition.  Elizabeth has qualified to compete at the 2023 National Leadership Conference in Denver, Colorado this summer.
 
Advancing with this on-line National Event is a first for the GMR FCCLA Chapter!   

 

The GMR Knowledge Bowl is advancing to Regional competition on March 22, 2023

Thank You and recognition of donations to the school.

- $50.00 donation to Close-Up from Ericco Tool & Manufacturing 
- $2,200.00 anonymous donations to First Robotics
- $500.00 donation to Softball Bathroom Project from Karlstad Eagles Aerie#3486

Motion by Board member ______________ and seconded by __________ to accept March 2023 donations to the School.

As per Supt. Report during January 2023 School Board Meeting:

"The GMR-ED [teachers] have elected to participate in the Public Employee Insurance Program (PEIP) for the past six years.  Prior to that, teachers participated in an insurance pool with approximately 41 other NW MN School Districts offered by the NW Service Cooperative.  Non-teachers eligible to participate in District paid H & H insurance benefits are in the  NW Service Cooperative pool.

The Public Employees Insurance Program (PEIP) was created by special legislation (Minnesota Statute 43A.316) to make a comprehensive package of medical insurance benefits available to employees of Minnesota's cities, townships, counties, school districts and other units of local government.   source:  <mn.gov/mmb/segip/peip/>

Every two years, a process for H & H renewal takes place.  See attached.  Teachers have the option to participate in one of the two insurance options available.  

H & H insurance bids for plan year July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 are due to the District Office at 5:00 pm on March 21, 2023.
Bids will be opened on March 27, 2023 @ 3:30 pm."
------------------------------------
The NW Service Coop provides H & H to eligible GMR Administrators and Supervisors.

A representative of the NW Service Cooperative contacted the District Office on March 16, 2023 and indicated they will NOT be participating in the H & H insurance renewal process for Teachers.  The reasons for not participating include:  (1) claims experience from the teacher group; and (2) underwriting principles/criteria on the part of the NW Service Cooperative.  (eg:  GMR-EA Agreement includes Cash-in-lieu of).

The  NW Service Cooperative WILL continue to offer H & H insurance to eligible GMR Administrators and Supervisors.

Options for a 2023-2024 School calendar were presented during the February School Board meeting.
Teachers indicate a calendar preference for a longer Christmas Holiday Break rather than the calendar option for a longer Thanksgiving Break.

Suggested motion: Moved by _____________ and seconded by ______________ to accept Option _________ as the 2023-2024 School Calendar.

More to follow on this. 

In summary, school districts are waiting for the 2023 Legislature to determine school funding for the next two years.
The Legislature adjourns on May 22.  In order to meet timelines for budget reductions it would be wise to pass the resolution and have this Board action completed.  As we move towards the end of the Legislative session, many entities besides public education desire to access funding from the $17.5 state budget surplus.  Meaning, early legislative optimism for State funding of PreK-12 Public Education is being downgraded.

Suggested resolution:  Member ________________ introduced the following resolution and moved
its adoption:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION
TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REDUCTIONS
IN PROGRAMS AND POSITIONS AND REASONS
THEREFOR.

WHEREAS, there has been a reduction in student enrollment, and,

WHEREAS, this decrease in student enrollment must include discontinuance of positions and discontinuance or curtailment of programs, and

WHEREAS, a determination must be made as to which teachers' contracts must be terminated and not renewed and which teachers may be placed on unrequested leave of absence without pay or fringe benefits in effecting discontinuance of positions,

BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent School District No. 2683, as follows:

That the School Board hereby directs the Superintendent of Schools and administration to consider the discontinuance of programs or positions as a result of a reduction in enrollment, make recommendations to the school board for the discontinuance of programs, curtailment of programs, discontinuance of positions or curtailment of positions.

 The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Member
__________________________________ and upon vote being taken thereon, the following
voted in favor thereof:

and the following voted against the same:

whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted / failed.

Deb Aune has been with the GMR District for nearly three decades.

Motion by Board member _______________________ and seconded by ____________________ to approve the resignation [retirement] of Art Teacher Mrs. Debra Aune effective with the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year.

A licensed teacher acquires tenure in a Minnesota school district after three consecutive years of service in a Minnesota school district or after one year of service in a Minnesota district - if the teacher had already acquired tenure in another Minnesota school district.  The school board may terminate a non-tenure teacher at the end of any school year if the teacher had not already acquired tenure in the school district.

Teacher tenure is most important because it provides certain employment protections and recall rights in the event a teacher is placed on Unrequested Leave of Absence (ULA) in accordance with MN Statutes and the working Agreement between the GMR School District and GMR-Education Association.

 

Member Sue Ann Wahl introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:


RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE TERMINATION
AND NONRENEWAL OF THE TEACHING CONTRACT OF
MELINDA R. HELLE, A PROBATIONARY TEACHER.

WHEREAS, Melinda "Mindy" Helle is a probationary teacher in Independent School District No. 2683.

BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent School District No. 2683, that pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 122A.40, Subdivision 5, that the teaching contract of Mindy Helle, a probationary teacher in Independent School District No. 2683, is hereby terminated at the close of the current 2022-2023 school year;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that written notice be sent to said teacher regarding termination and non-renewal of her contract as provided by law, and that said notice shall be in substantially the following form:

NOTICE OF TERMINATION AND NON-RENEWAL

Melinda R. Helle
15095 200^th Street NE
Thief River Falls, MN  56701

Dear Ms. Helle:

You are hereby notified that at a regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 2683 held on March 20, 2023, a resolution was adopted by a majority roll call vote to terminate your contract effective at the end of the current school year and not to renew your contract for the 2023 - 2024 school year.  Said action of the Board is taken pursuant to M.S. 122A.40, Subd. 5.

You may officially request that the School Board give its reasons for the non-renewal of your teaching contract.   However, the Superintendent should receive such request within ten days after receipt of this notice.

For your information, however, this action is taken for reasons which include your probationary teacher status.

Yours very truly,

SCHOOL BOARD OF
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2683

__/s/ Allison Harder_________________
Clerk of the School Board


The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Brandon Ignaszewski and upon vote being taken thereon, the following

voted in favor thereof:  Brandon Ignaszewski, Allison Harder, Joe Melby, Sue Ann Wahl, Peter Kern, and Kurt Stenberg

and the following voted against:     None

whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
 

See attached Legislative up-date provided by the MN Rural Education Association

Stand-alone Legislation:  eg:  Universal School Meals

Omnibus Education Bill:  Collection of legislation wholly approved by the House & Senate

The [new] Commissioner of Education [Dr. Willie Jett] sent a communication to all school districts in the State indicating he or a representative of his intend to visit each school district in the State.  There are approximately 331 school districts in the State of MN.  No other details (eg:  date and time of site visit) were provided.

Principal / Activities Director Report

Principal / Activities Director will report on the Joint Sports Meeting held on March 20, 2023.

A resolution to form a wrestling cooperative with Greenbush Middle River and Badger was unanimously approved during the Tri-County School February Board meeting.   A similar resolution was passed by the Greenbush Middle River School Board during its February Board meeting.  And finally, a similar resolution was passed by the Badger School Board during its March Board meeting.  The next step is to make application to the Region VIII Committee for committee approval.

Motion by__________________        Second by ____________________ to ADJOURN

• Regular April School Board Meeting - April 17, 2023 @ 7:30 p.m. in GMR School Library