School Board Minutes

Red Rock Central District No. 2884

Monday, March 15, 2010

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education, District No. 2884, was held in the elementary school library in Jeffers on Monday, March 15, 2010.  Members present were:  Bierl, Clarke, Johnson, Kelsey, Rogotzke, and Westerman.  Stavnes was absent.  Superintendent Brennan, Gerald Dammann, ValRee Graff, Mary Hewitt, Denise Clarke, and Joe Dietl were also in attendance.

 

Chairman Kelsey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

Upon motion of Clarke and seconded by Rogotzke, to approve the agenda, the minutes of the February 16, 2010 meeting, and the treasurer’s report.  Voting yes:  6.  Voting no:  None.  Absent:  1.  Motion carried.

 

Lead Teacher Riley’s report was distributed to the Board:  The lyceum we had on bullying on February 18th was fantastic.  Ronald McDonald gave an excellent presentation on, first of all what is considered bullying, and then he helped our students understand the difference between tattling and reporting.  He also gave them suggestions on how to handle such situations and practice strategies for dealing with bullying.  The program was free of charge.  One student from each grade level’s entry was chosen and then sent to the state level competition of the Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Contest.  We should know by the end of March if we have any state winners this year.  We have had several state winners and even two national winners in the past.  We celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss on March 2nd.  We talked about this famous author’s life and read many of his books to our students.  The cooks helped us out by having green eggs and ham as part of the lunch menu that day.  Our 3rd and 4th graders went on a field trip with other schools in our integration collaborative on March 5th.  They went to Marshall to hear an orchestra perform.  The 1st and 2nd graders will be going on an integration field trip to New Ulm to see a play sometime in mid April.  The 5th graders in our collaborative will be going to the Environmental Camp near Lake Carlos May 5-7.  As soon as the weather warms up we will complete the 2 fire drills and the 1 evacuation we have left for this year.  Lockdowns are all completed.

 

Principal Olson’s report was also distributed to the Board:  The Student Council sponsored a Penny War for earthquake relief through the Red Cross.  The students have fun with this.  The bank is still counting the pennies.  I have observed the improved curriculum happening in our English classes with the new textbooks.  The supporting material is excellent with this book.  The spring play, “Diary of Anne Frank”, was well attended considering the fog for those two evenings.  The Junior Knowledge Bowl team advanced to the Regions and placed in the middle of the competition there.  They learned a great deal about this contest this year and are looking forward already to next year.  Cottonwood County and Mountain Lake schools have invited us to a drunk driving seminar.  We will be taking grades 9-12 for this presentation.  Grades 9 and 10 will be back to Lamberton for lunch, while grades 11 and 12 will have lunch at Mountain Lake schools and go to more break-out sessions in the afternoon.  They will return to

 

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Lamberton by school dismissal time.  The National Honor Society Induction is being held tonight.  We congratulate those students being inducted into this organization.  I am attending this tonight and will have a short message at the ceremony.  The large group music contest will be held on Tuesday at RRC High School.  This is a big undertaking and many music parents help with this as well as the Jazz Festival next week.  We do appreciate their efforts.  The Senior class trip is all set up.

 

Upon motion of Clarke and seconded by Westerman, to pay claims in the amount of $167,774.08.  Receipts were $369,849.34.  Voting yes:  6.  Voting no:  None.  Absent:  1.  Motion carried.

 

Upon motion of Johnson and seconded by Bierl, to approve Isaac Jenniges as the new Head Football Coach.  Voting yes:  6.  Voting no:  None.  Absent:  1.  Motion carried.

 

Upon motion of Clarke and seconded by Johnson, to approve the proposed budget of $45,147.16 for the Southwest Integration Collaberative as presented.  Voting yes:  6.  Voting no:  None.  Absent:  1.  Motion carried.

 

Upon motion of Rogotzke and seconded by Westerman, to honor the request for an expenditure of $2,053.47 plus the use of a school van and personal van to help support the FCCLA members attending the State STAR event competition and convention.  Voting yes:  6.  Voting no: None.  Absent:  1.  Motion carried.

 

Upon motion of Rogotzke and seconded by Bierl, to approve the following changes to our school calendar due to 3 snow days which need to be made up.

            March 23rd – make a school day from a workday with our Jazz Festival

            April 5th – make a school day (Monday after Easter)

            June 4th – will become a school day.

The 2 workdays for staff will be set the second week in June.

Voting yes:  6.  Voting no:  None.  Absent:  1.  Motion carried.

 

Upon motion of Clarke and seconded by Westerman to release the following paraprofessionals at the end of this school year:  Heather Huset, Melanie Hanneman, Rebecca Prell, and Darla Haugen.  Roll call vote was taken.  Voting yes:  Westerman, Clarke, Rogotzke, Johnson, Bierl, and Kelsey.  Voting no:  None.  Stavnes was absent.  Motion carried.

 

Upon motion of Westerman and seconded by Johnson to release Konnie Rogotzke as paraprofessional at the end of this school year.  Roll call vote was taken.  Voting yes:  Westerman, Clarke, Johnson, Bierl, and Kelsey.  Voting no:  None.  Rogotzke abstained from voting.  Stavnes was absent.  Motion carried.

 

Upon motion of Clarke and seconded by Johnson, to place Jodi Smith on Unrequested Leave at the end of this school year.  Roll call vote was taken.  Voting yes:  Westerman, Clarke, Rogotzke, Johnson, Bierl, and Kelsey.  Voting no:  None.  Stavnes was absent.  Motion carried.

 

 

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Upon motion of Westerman and seconded by Clarke, to reduce Bonnie Nielsen to 50% of the time she is now contracted for with the understanding that further cuts may occur in the next few months.  Roll call vote was taken.  Voting yes:  Westerman, Clarke, Rogotzke, Johnson, Bierl, and Kelsey.  Voting no:  None.  Stavnes was absent.  Motion carried.

                                               

Upon motion of Rogotzke and seconded by Johnson, to reduce Gerald Dammann 4 days to 12 extended days.  Roll call vote was taken:  Voting yes:  Westerman, Clarke, Rogotzke, Johnson, Bierl, and Kelsey.  Voting no:  None.  Stavnes was absent.  Motion carried.                                              

 

Upon motion of Clarke and seconded by Rogotzke, to reduce Tasha Frasher’s summer program from 25 days to 20 days.  Voting yes:  Westerman, Clarke, Rogotzke, Johnson, Bierl, and Kelsey.  Voting no:  None.  Stavnes was absent.  Motion carried.

 

The Board will meet on Monday, April 12, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in Lamberton to work on the Superintendent’s evaluation.

 

Discussion was held regarding District Goals and a referendum.

 

Upon motion of Clarke and seconded by Rogotzke, to adjourn at 8:55 p.m.  Voting yes:  6.  Voting no:  None.  Absent:  1.  Motion carried.

 

 

_______________________________                      _____________________________

Alan J. Clarke, Clerk                                      Denise Clarke, Recorder