School Board Minutes

Red Rock Central District No. 2884

Monday, September 20, 2010

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education, District No. 2884, was held in the Board Room in Lamberton on Monday, September 20, 2010.  Members present were:  Bierl, Johnson, Kelsey, Stavnes, and Westerman.  Clarke and Rogotzke were absent.  Superintendent Brennan, Principal Olson, Sheila Ryker, Tasha Frasher, 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 Westerman and seconded by Stavnes, to approve the agenda, the minutes of the August 16, 2010 meeting, and the treasurer’s report.  Voting yes:  5;  voting no:  none; absent:  2.  Motion carried.

 

Principal Olson reported that we have had one fire drill and will be doing a tornado drill on Tuesday.  In the next two weeks we will be having a lock down and evacuation drill.  The only new staff we have is Andrew Krupp who is our school psychologist and comes to us from the Service Coop.  The Student Council is getting ready for Homecoming next week.  They have come up with dress up and activity days.  The Student Council has been discussing ways to help out our school by possibly sponsoring a lyceum and/or helping out with the expense of the gravel that needs to be hauled to our parking lot.  Josten’s has been here to present to the sophomores options for class rings.  NRP was here today to kick off the magazine sales for the juniors.  We have had a very smooth start to the school year with our experienced veteran staff that just knows what to do.  They are very much appreciated by the students and administration.

 

Lead Teacher Riley’s report was distributed to the Board.  We tried something new at the Jeffers site for our Open House to kick off the new school year.  In the past, we had the parents come from 8:30-10:00 in the morning of the first day of school.  This year we invited our students and their parents to come September 2nd from 5:00-7:00 p.m. which was the evening of our last workshop day.  Our students were able to meet their new teachers, see where they were going to sit in their classroom, bring their school supplies, and ask any questions they had before the first day of school.  We had better parent attendance having Open House in the evening, so we’ll plan on doing it the same way in the future.  School pictures were taken September 16th.  We will be having our first lyceum on September 21st.  It’s entitled “Totally Courageous Basketball.”  The gentleman presenting the lyceum will be showing us how he can spin a basketball on pens, giant pencils, umbrellas, cups, and even people.  He will be performing other stunts with the basketball as well.  Along with this talent, he will also be sending a message to our students to make right choices, have positive attitudes, good work ethic, respect others, and drug awareness.  Our 4th graders will be attending the Fall Field Day at the Lamberton Experiment Station on September 22nd.  The teachers have decided that our annual Grandparents’ Day will be October 20th this year.  The program will begin at 1:45 in the gym.  Our integration program will begin October 19th with our 1st and 2nd graders traveling to Walnut Grove and our 3rd and 4th graders heading for Wabasso.  The kindergartners always go on a field trip in the fall.  This year they will be going to

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Poppes Pumpkin Patch in Lakefield on October 13th.  The 5th graders will once again be going to Lake Carlos in the spring May 4th-6th.  Our school year didn’t begin as smoothly as it usually does due to the mold in our library.  Luckily, the teachers have many books in their classrooms their students can use until the library is safe to use again.

 

Tasha Frasher reported that our former band teacher, Mrs. Donna Larson, had entered a sweepstakes with Schmidt Music and won a $5,000 prize which she donated to our music department.  The money was used to purchase a Yamaha Stage Custom drum set, a set of concert bongo drums, and concert conga drums.  A letter of thanks was sent to Mrs. Larson along with pictures of the items purchased.

 

Discussion was held regarding the new boiler in Jeffers which was purchased from Yellow Medicine East schools.  The cost of the 4-year old boiler was $5,000.  It cost $200 for Bisbee to transport it to Jeffers.  Bisbee also has charged $3,145 for removal of the boiler from the YME school building.  Dr. Brennan was directed to call the Superintendent at YME again and try to negotiate a fair amount to be paid to Bisbee from us.

 

Upon motion of Johnson and seconded by Westerman, to purchase a 4-year old boiler from Yellow Medicine East Schools for our elementary school in Jeffers at the cost of $5,000.  Voting yes:  5;  voting no:  none;  absent:  2.  Motion carried.

 

Upon motion of Westerman and seconded by Stavnes, to pay all claims except Bisbee for $3,345.  Voting yes:  5; voting no:  none; absent:  2.  Motion carried.

 

Upon motion of Johnson and seconded by Westerman, to set December 20, 2010 as the date to discuss our budget and taxes before the final tax request is set and sent to the county.  The meeting will be held in the Superintendent’s office at the Lamberton Building starting at 6:30 p.m. and to approve the projected levy of $618,228 or the maximum option for the 2010 payable 2011 property tax.  Voting yes:  5; voting no:  none; absent:  2.  Motion carried.

 

Upon motion of Bierl and seconded by Westerman, to approve the System Accountability Report and to publish it as in the past.  Voting yes:  5; voting no:  none; absent:  2.  Motion carried.

 

Discussion was held regarding the mold in the library in Jeffers, the upcoming referendum and cursive reading and writing.

 

Upon motion of Westerman and seconded by Stavnes, to adjourn at 9:05 p.m.  Voting yes:  5; voting no:  none; absent:  2.  Motion carried.

 

 

_________________________________                  _____________________________

Alan J. Clarke, Clerk                                                  Denise Clarke, Recorder