School Board Minutes

Red Rock Central District No. 2884

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education, District No. 2884, was held in the Board Room in Lamberton on Tuesday, February 18, 2014.  Members present were:  Clarke, Erickson, Kelsey, Rasmussen, and Stavnes.  Bierl and Rogotzke were absent.  A quorum of 5 was present.  Superintendent Brennan, Principal Goetstouwers, and Lead Teacher Altermatt were also in attendance.

 

Vice President Kelsey called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

Upon motion of Rasmussen, seconded by Erickson and unanimously carried, to approve the agenda as amended, the minutes of the January 27, 2014 meeting, and the treasurer’s report.

 

Lead Teacher Altermatt presented the following reports:

January 2014:  We have reached the half way point of the school year.  The staff is busy trying to keep on track with lessons after having late starts and early outs.  The testing for the NWEAs has been going on last week and this week.  They finished Friday the 24th.  Report cards will be going out on Wednesday the 22nd, some by email and others by regular mail.  The student council sponsored a poster contest for grades pre-K through 4th.  The winners were announced on the 22nd of January and were each presented with a prize and they took a group picture.  The Rescue Dogs visited our school.  Miss Karnitz set this program up for us.  Walter brought in his two rescue dogs and talked about what the dogs are used for and how he got the dogs.  The children enjoyed the visit and the dogs were wonderful.  The third and fourth graders participated in the Timberwolves-Read to Achieve.  Their information has been sent in and they now are waiting to see if they are awarded any prizes.  This past month Randy and I worked on trading our one dumpster for a recycling dumpster. It has not been used for some time now.  It has not come yet.  With the weather, deliveries have been delayed.  We will be able to recycle paper, cardboard, our milk cartons, plastics and aluminum.  Each classroom will have a bin and they will be responsible for emptying it each day.  We don’t have to sort anything.  In the lunch room we will have to empty the cartons before we recycle, but we have a plan as to how it will work.  There was no charge for exchanging the two dumpsters and the cost per month will be much less.  They will empty twice a month.  The third and fourth grades are participating in the 3-R Challenge:  Reduce, Reuse and Recycle through Prairie Ecology Bus Center.  The program is brought to the school and the classes will have hands on activities to do and learn from.  This will work well with our new recycling dumpster and perhaps they will have some more ideas for us in our recycling process. 

February 2014:  Our recycling dumpster is finally here.  It is $35/month and we don’t have to sort (cartons, glass, plastic, cardboard, paper, cans).  There is also milk cartons savings.  The 3R Challenge:  Reduce, Reuse and Recycle was January 31st.  Winter NWEA test scores:  Reading – 93% of students gained and Math – 87% of students gained.  It’s I Love to Read month.  We played I Love to Read Bingo - one Bingo prize and one for a blackout.  Students from FCCLA visited with each classroom for “Hands of Kindness”.  Each student received two hands to write their act of kindness on.  They are displayed outside each of the classrooms.  Dr. Suess is celebrated on March 3rd.  We will have green eggs and ham for lunch.  The Read Coast to Coast goal is 5 million quizzes (a reading renaissance program).  The third and fourth grade applied for the Minnesota Ag Grant but did not get it.  It is needed for more grow boxes, seed, dirt and distilled water.  We need to find another way to fund this project they started last year. Integration Day for the third and fourth graders is March 4th.  They will be attending the Marshall Community Symphony Orchestra.

 

Principal Goetstouwers gave the following report:  The winner of the 2nd Quarter Falcon Pride Award was ninth grader, Taylor Price.  The Random winner was Rachel Kedl.  Midterm is this Thursday.  Grades will be emailed out to all on Friday.  D-‘s, and F’s and I’s are also mailed out on Friday.  The One Act Play took 3rd place at sub-sections.  Rehearsals for the spring play, “Murder by Indecision”, have begun.  Rachel Karnitz led Junior Night on February 3rd.  This is the first time it was offered and roughly 1/3 of families of 11th graders were represented.  Mr. VanMaasdam, Mrs. Frasher and 12th grader Tyler Luttman went to MMEA

                                                                Page 2 – February 18, 2014

 

All-State last week.  This is the second year that Tyler was chosen to be part of the All-State choir.  2,000+ try out, but only 240 are chosen.  Snow Week was February 3-7.  We had dress-up days, 5-12 grade Bingo for activities day and a dance at night.  Last week was FCCLA week.  It was advertised in the paper and on our website.  FCCLA buttons were passed out.  35 students will represent RRC at State.  This week is FFA week.  Russ Derickson and Troy Erickson helped get Dr. David Kohl, Economist, as a speaker to our FFA members today.  WWG and Wabasso FFA chapters were also represented.  The sugar beet factory tour to Renville is rescheduled for this Thursday.  There is an FFA trivia question every day this week.  An article and picture are in the newspaper.  Winter sports update:  The wrestling team lost to Adrian in semis.  Individuals are this week at Pipestone.  Boys’ basketball will host subsections this Thursday against Edgerton.  Girls’ basketball regular season ends next Monday.  Their first subsection game will either be next Thursday or Saturday.

 

Vice Chair Kelsey reported that they are working on the sound in the auditorium.

 

Upon motion of Clarke, seconded by Erickson and unanimously carried, to pay claims in the amount of $119,380.83.  Receipts were $510,982.01.

 

Upon motion of Stavnes, seconded by Rasmussen and unanimously carried, to acknowledge the retirement of Vicky Missling as Head Cook in the Jeffers building, and Shirley Wolf as Assistant Cook in the Jeffers building effective May 31, 2014, and to thank them for their many years of service to the District.

 

Upon motion of Erickson and seconded by Clarke, to hire Jodi Smith as Driver Education teacher and to split the cost of the extra coursework for licensure to teach this program between Mrs. Smith and the District (approximately$2,500 each).  Roll call vote was taken.  Voting yes:  Clarke, Erickson, Kelsey, and Rasmussen.  Voting no:  Stavnes.  Bierl and Rogotzke were absent.  Motion carried  4-1.

 

Upon motion of Clarke, seconded by Stavnes and unanimously carried, to honor the request for an expenditure of $6,665.37 plus transportation to help support the FCCLA members attending the Sate STAR Event competition and convention.

 

Upon motion of Rasmussen, seconded by Erickson and unanimously carried, to accept the resignations of Kerri Zimmermann as Special Ed van driver effective February 21, 2014 and Margaret Mary Deignan as English teacher effective the end of the 2013-2014 school year.

 

Discussion was held regarding the Student Activity Fund.

 

Upon motion of Stavnes, seconded by Rasmussen and unanimously carried, to adjourn at 6:45 p.m.

 

 

_________________________________                   ________________________________

Alan J. Clarke, Clerk                                                                             Denise Clarke, Recorder