II. PREVIEW OF AGENDA - SUPERINTENDENT HESS

III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The motion was offered by ____, seconded by ____, and carried (    ) to approve the agenda.

IV. REQUEST TO REMOVE TOPIC(S) FROM CONSENT AGENDA

V. CONSENT AGENDA
The motion was offered by ____, seconded by ____, and carried (    ) to approve the following Consent items:

V.A. Meeting Minutes from the November 20, 2017 & December 4, 2017 School Board Meetings.

V.B. Current Bills and Special Checks Totaling: $4,767,503.69

V.C. Noncertified Staff Resignations

V.D. Certified Staff Appointments

V.E. Teacher Seniority List

V.F. Release from Contract Request

V.G. Second Reading and Adoption of Revised SBR 400-25-2: Student Promotion, Retention, and Program Design

V.H. Second Reading and Adoption of Revised SBR 700-10-1: Enrollment of Nonresident Students

V.I. Request to Submit Grant Application - Region2Arts Council

V.J. Request to Submit Grant Application - Target Corporation

V.K. Request to Accept Grant - Region2Arts Council

V.L. Request to Accept Grant - Region 2 Arts Council (LHS)

VI. SPECIAL TOPICS

VII. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS

VIII. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

IX. LISTENING SESSION REVIEW

X. DONATIONS

XI. NEW SCHOOL PLANNING

XI.A. Gene Dillon Elementary School Construction Update

XII. EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT OPERATIONS

XII.A. First Reading of Revised SBR 300-20-1: Finance - Establishment and Adoption of School District Budget

The motion was offered by ____, seconded by ____, and carried (    ) to approve the first reading of revised SBR 300-20-1: Finance - Establishment and Adoption of School District Budget.

XII.B. Second Reading and Adoption of Bemidji High School Media Center Name Change

The motion was offered by ____, seconded by ____, and carried (    ) to approve the second reading and adoption of the name change for the Bemidji High School Media Center to the Charles W. Scrutchin Media Center.

XII.C. Second Reading and Adoption of Policy Revision SBR 400-30-8: Instruction - School District Curriculum and Instruction Goals

The motion was offered by ____, seconded by ____, and carried (    ) to approve the second reading and adoption of revised SBR 400-30-8: Instruction - School District Curriculum and Instruction Goals.

XII.D. First Reading of Policy SBR 400-90-5: Instruction - Staff Development Standards

The motion was offered by ____, seconded by ____, and carried (    ) to approve the first reading of revised SBR 400-90-5: Instruction - Staff Development Standards.

XII.E. Resolution to Fully Fund Special Education Services (Minnesota)

____ offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:

RESOLUTION TO FULLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES (MINNESOTA)

WHEREAS, local boards of education place a very high priority on ensure that ALL students receive high quality special education programs and instruction; and

WHEREAS, in 1975 Congress enacted the Education for all Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) now known as The Individuals with Disabilities Act IDEA to: improve access to education for children with disabilities by guaranteeing a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment; assure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected; assist States and school systems to provide for the education of all children with disabilities; and to assess and assure the effectiveness of efforts to educate all children with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, when IDEA became law in 1975, the federal government promised to fund 40 percent of the additional cost of educating children with disabilities; and yet the federal government has failed to adequately fund the mandated programs and services arising under IDEA, never providing more than 15 percent of the additional cost; and

WHEREAS, sufficient federal funding for IDEA would significantly enhance the ability of local school systems to provide an excellent education for all students; and

WHEREAS, the special education cross-subsidy continues to be a major obstacle for Minnesota School Districts to grapple with, due to the growing number of students receiving special education, more specialized services and rising costs associated with those services and inadequate funding; and

WHEREAS, the state special education funding system has not kept pace with the rising cost of mandated services and supports for students with special needs; and

WHEREAS, the cross-subsidy for school districts for FY2016 is $679 million; a 5.6 percent increase from FY2015; and

WHEREAS, between rising need and insufficient state and federal aid, the amount of funding school districts as a whole in Minnesota will be forced to pay for special education costs will reach an average of $815 per student in FY17;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we urge the Governor and Legislature to strenuously advocate for significant increases in federal special education funding and meaningful special education reforms at the federal and state levels; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that there is an urgency the Minnesota Legislature to convene a task force to work on special education funding, specifically with a focus on the impacts of the new special education funding formulas, the projected cross-subsidy and recommendations with a timeline to eliminate the cross-subsidy.

The motion for the foregoing resolution was seconded by ____, and a tabulation of votes is as follows:

AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:

WHEREUPON, the foregoing resolution was duly passed and adopted.

XII.F. Resolution to Fully Fund Special Education Services (Federal)

____ introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:

RESOLUTION TO FULLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES (FEDERAL)

WHEREAS, local boards of education place a very high priority on ensuring that ALL students receive high qualify special education programs and instruction; and

WHEREAS, in 1975 Congress enacted the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) now known as The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) to: improve access to education for children with disabilities by guaranteeing a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment; assure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected; assist States and school systems to provide for the education of all children with disabilities; and to assess and assure the effectiveness of efforts to educate all children with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, when IDEA became law in 1975, the federal government promised to fund 40 percent of the additional cost of educating children with disabilities; and yet the federal government has failed to adequately fund the mandated programs and services arising under IDEA, never providing more than 15 percent of the additional cost; and

WHEREAS, sufficient federal funding for IDEA would significantly enhance the ability of local school systems to provide an excellent education for all students; and

WHEREAS, the special education cross-subsidy continues to be a major obstacle for Minnesota School Districts to grapple with, due to the growing number of students receiving special education, more specialized services and rising costs associated with those services and inadequate funding; and

WHEREAS, the state special education funding system has not kept pace with the rising cost of mandated services and supports for students with special needs; and

WHEREAS, the cross-subsidy for Minnesota school districts for FY2016 is $679 million; a 5.6 percent increase from FY2015; and

WHEREAS, between rising need and insufficient state and federal aid, the amount of funding school districts as a whole in Minnesota will be forced to pay for special education costs will reach an average of $815 per student in FY17;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we urge the President and Legislature to strenuously advocate for significant increases in federal special education funding and meaningful special education reforms at the federal and state levels; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the State of Minnesota calls upon the Congress of the United States to pass appropriate legislation in order to increase funding for federal special education mandates to meet the urgent financial special education needs of our cities and towns; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of the Senate cause a copy of this resolution to be delivered to all United States Representatives and Senators representing Minnesota in the Congress of the United States.

The motion for the foregoing resolution was seconded by ____, and a tabulation of votes is as follows:

AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:

WHEREUPON, the foregoing resolution was duly passed and adopted.

XII.G. Potential Reduction in Programs and Positions

____ introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:

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

WHEREAS, the financial condition of the school district may dictate that the School Board must consider a possible reduction in expenditures, and

WHEREAS, shifts in elementary and secondary student participation might cause discontinuance of positions and/or curtailment of programs, and

WHEREAS, a determination must be made concerning 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;

BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent School District No. 31; That the School Board hereby directs the Superintendent of Schools and administration to consider the discontinuance of programs or positions to effectuate economies in the school district and to reduce expenditures; and make recommendations to the School Board for 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 ____, and a tabulation of votes is as follows:

AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:

WHEREUPON, said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.

XII.H. Superintendent Search Firm Contract

The motion was offered by ____, seconded by ____, and carried (    ) to contract with School Exec Connect to conduct the Superintendent of Schools search.

XIII. HIGHEST LEVEL OF STUDENT SUCCESS

XIII.A. State Competition Participant Recognition - Fall 2017

XIII.B. 2016-2017 World's Best Workforce Summary

The motion was offered by ____, seconded by ____, and carried (    ) to approve the 2016-2017 World's Best Workforce Summary.

XIII.C. University of Minnesota Student Teaching Agreement

____ introduced the following resolution an urged its adoption:

RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A STUDENT TEACHING AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

BE IT RESOLVED, that Bemidji Area Schools enter into an agreement with the University of Minnesota for the purpose of providing training experiences for the students of the University effective December 8, 2017 and remaining effect for five years.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the chairperson hereby is authorized to execute such agreement. 

The above resolution was seconded by ____, and a tabulation of votes is as follows:

AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:

WHEREUPON, the above resolution was declared passed and adopted. 

XIV. SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT

XV. UPCOMING EVENTS

XV.A. January School Board Meeting - Monday, January 22, 2018, 6:30 p.m. (Date change due observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day holiday.)

XV.B. Minnesota School Boards Association Leadership Conference - January 10-12, 2018

XVI. OTHER

XVI.A. 6:00 p.m. - Truth in Taxation Hearing

XVI.B. 2017 Payable 2018 Levy Certification

The motion was offered by ____, seconded by ____, and carried (   ) to approve the 2017 Pay 2018 Levy Certification at $11,235,416.72.

XVI.C. School Board Member Vacancy Process

XVI.D. Once Around the Table

XVII. ADJOURNMENT