Description:  

1.  We had a wonderful staff development on March 31st.  Staff present were able to work on Wellness in a variety of ways, including a presentation by Melissa Pribyl from BounceBack, work was also done with science curriculum meetings, paraprofessional training, prep time, and more.


2.  We have begun MCA testing in our schools.  This will continue through the middle of May.

3.  We are continuing to look at staffing for next school year.   We are excited that a number of grants will allow us to continue to keep staff and bring staff back that have been cut in recent years.  We are also excited for a number of summer grants allowing additional staff development, summer academy opportunities, and more.

4.  Referendum Update-Referendum Projects
March
Transportation Building
-Design coordination meetings occurring weekly
-Meeting with Becker Township March 30th and April 4th
-Completed DD drawings and are working into CD


Middle School & High School Projects
-Continuing in Design Development Phase, ongoing MPE existing condition
verification/inspections
-User Group Meetings 3/24

Primary School
-Design coordination meetings continue
-Working towards wrapping up DD drawings
-Will be scheduling user group meetings for the week of April 4th


Intermediate School
-Design coordination meetings continue
-Working towards wrapping up DD drawings
-Mechanical and electrical is performing existing condition validations
-Will be scheduling user group meetings for the week of April 4th


Multipurpose Field
-Continuing in Design Development Phase, working site layout with existing conditions

5.  Legislative Update-
The number of policy committee hearings will decrease now as the finance committees begin to put together budget bills to meet the Friday, April 8 deadline for budget bills.
April 1: Committees must act favorably on policy bills that met the first deadline in the other body
April 8: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
April 11- 18: Easter/Passover/Spring Break
May 23: Constitutional adjournment date

6. Graduation Rate-Becker Public School District graduation rate for 2021 was at 92.9% which is down slightly from our recent high of 95.5% in 2020.  The statewide average for 2021 was 83.3% (57,137 students) down from 2020 at 83.8%.


7.  Communication Plan-Attached is the Becker Public Schools Communication Plan.  This is a draft of the plan as worked on and with feedback from Community Education, Executive Team.  This is to allow the board an opportunity for feedback on the plan.  I will be sharing with the rest of our Cabinet Members and asking for feedback during our meeting this month.

 

Cindy Graham has given her written resignation with a last day of service March 15. Because of this vacancy, we will have to begin the appointment process.

Sarah Schafer has given her written resignation with a last day of service March 15. Because of this vacancy, we will have to begin the appointment process.

I recommend approving the proposal through Sourcewell in the amount of $1,836,700.

Policy 206, Public Participation:  Changes the word "Citizens" to "Persons"

Policy 208, Development, Adoption and Implementation of Policies-New Policy.

Policy 211, Criminal or Civil Action:  Adds an "s" to agreement and changes "It is the" to "The"

Policy 423, Employee-Student Relations:  Changes statute number from 8700.7500 to 8710.2100

Policy 519, Interviews of Students by Outside Agencies:  No change, only review.

Policy 533, Wellness:  Updates in Redline, based on new statutes for Food Service and Wellness.

Policy 532, Use of Peace Officers and Crisis Teams:  Has a few different changes.

Policy 603, Curriculum Development:  IIID is new and adds Dyslexia paragraph.

Policy 605, Alternative Programs: Minor Text updates

Policy 606, Textbooks and Instructional Materials: Updates references.

Policy 607, Organization of Grade Levels:  Updates references

Policy 608, Instructional Services; Special Education:  Minor text updates and reference update.

Policy 609, Religion:  No change

Policy 722, Public Data Requests:  New Policy

MSBA has reached out and will be using a variety of contact points which we will be using as part of the data gathering prior to the Strategic Planning Committee meetings.  We will be using surveys for internal and external feedback.  These surveys will be shared with the board and administration and allowed to be customized.  

Following is a possible schedule:

• Surveys available in late April/early May.
• Listening Sessions - Thursday, May 5, 2022 - five sessions during the day and early evening
• Strategic Planning Committee Meeting #1 - Tuesday, May 24, 2022 - late afternoon/early evening
• Strategic Planning Committee Meeting #2 - Tuesday, June 7, 2022 - late afternoon/early evening
• Strategic Planning Committee Meeting #3 - Tuesday, June 21, 2022 - late afternoon/early evening
• Review/Goal Alignment/Wrap-up In-service with Board-Superintendent Team - Monday, July 11, 2022 - late afternoon/early evening

Please review the dates for possible conflicts.  While it is important for all Board members to attend, MSBA and I realize that some may have conflicts on one or more dates.
Strategic Planning Committee Selection
The commitment includes attending a one-hour Listening Session and three 2-hour Strategic Planning Committee meetings.                            
 
The entire Board will be strongly encouraged to be active participants in all Strategic Planning Committee activities including the final review/goal alignment/wrap-up/adoption of the Strategic Plan In-service.
 
The Board and School District Leadership should suggest community members to serve on the Strategic Planning Committee.  Community members should represent a cross-section of the school community including business, agriculture, Cities, County, Townships, Chamber of Commerce, parents, 50+, and any other groups that are representative of the communities within the school district.  From their suggestions, MSBA would suggest inviting 6-8 community members.  
At the same time, the Superintendent should identify 4 - 8 staff members (combination of licensed and non-licensed staff); 4 - 8 students (combination of middle school through high school); and representatives of the Administrative Team/Upper-Level Management to serve on the Strategic Planning Committee.

After you review the information in this message let me know what questions you have.  If more information is needed through MSBA, please let Superintendent Schmidt know and he can share their contact information with you for email and/or phone connections.
 

1.  Safety & Security

Minn. Stat. 13D.05, subd. 3(d)
Meetings may be closed to receive security briefings and reports to discuss emergency response procedures and to discuss security deficiencies in or recommendations regarding public services, infrastructure and facilities, if disclosure of the information discussed would pose a danger to public safety or compromise security procedures or responses. Before closing a meeting under this paragraph, the public body, in describing the subject to be discussed, must refer to the facilities, systems, procedures, services, or infrastructures to be considered during the closed meeting. 

2.  Superintendent Evaluation

Minn. Stat. 13D.05, subd. 3(a)
A school board may close a meeting to evaluate the performance of an individual who is subject to its authority.