April 25, 2022, at 6:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting
Agenda (Additional links to documents below are found within the agenda.)
Call to Order - Gary Michael, Chairperson
All seven board members as well as all administrators were in attendance.
Approval
The board approved the agenda with no additional items. The board approved the meeting minutes from our regular meeting on March 28, 2022, as well as financial transactions.
Visitor Comments
The lone visitor comment came from high school English teacher Mrs. Olson. She provided the board with three recommended administrative structure options based on a survey completed by WEM teachers.
Recognition
The board approved a monetary donation of $1,500 from the Choose Kindness Foundation toward the PBIS program in the elementary school.
Congratulations to the Class of 2021 for having a 96% graduation rate, one of the highest in the area. The state average graduation rate was 83.3%.
Reports
The board heard the joint Principal Report from Bobbie Jo Bastian, Elementary Principal and Jennifer Wilson, 7-12 Principal. Highlights included:
- On April 22, 5th-grade students participated in the Math Masters Competition in Mankato at Bethany College. Congratulations to Avery Bronk, Charles Hebl Mackenzie James, Jake Nutter, Inezsa Pope, Loreli Russell, Griffin Tonn, Gavin Williams, David Mielke, Rayel Sammon, Payton Miller, and Jacksten Knish. Congrats to Gavin Williams who finished 13th in the fact drill out of 161 participants! A huge thank you to Laura Sammon and Brian Svendsen for coaching the team and providing their time and talents to these students!
- Congratulations to 5th-grade student, Ashtyn Green who placed 13th in the statewide “DARE to show Kindness” poster contest!
- We are gearing up for the Kindergarten Round Up on May 5, 2022. Looking forward to meeting our new Buccaneers!
- Our annual Night of Excellence will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18. Thank you to Mrs. Reuvers who organized and worked with our local scholarship donors and with our senior class to prepare their applications. We will also showcase artwork from WEM students that evening.
- Morristown and the High School BUCS Pride groups organized and hosted events in the last month to celebrate the positive behaviors occurring in the building. Thank you to our students for being intentional about BUCS Pride and to our teachers who are a part of our BUCS Pride groups for taking additional time to celebrate our students.
The board also heard reports from Jeff Boran, Community Education & Activities Director and Superintendent Joel Whitehurst.
Information / Discussion
The board heard the first reading of the following policies:
- 101 Legal Status of the School
- 102 Equal Education Opportunity
- 103 Complaints - Students, Employees, Parents, Other Persons
- 104 School District Mission Statement
- 204 School Board Meeting Minutes
- 521 Student Disability Nondiscrimination
The board discussed the option of hiring a full-time teacher to serve as a daily substitute because of the shortage of subs and the fact that much of the administrative staff are having to substitute teach on a daily basis. After much discussion, the board gave direction to the administration to increase the substitute pay next year instead of hiring a full-time teacher.
The board discussed the 2022-23 administrative structure including hiring another principal for the Junior High, a Dean of Students, or revamping the current Student Success Coordinator position. There was an in-depth discussion around this topic, and the board decided to revamp the Student Success Coordinator position in an attempt to maintain a viable budget moving forward.
The board discussed the transfer of Elysian Baseball Field & Tennis Courts to the City of Elysian and approved this direction. In the agreement, the City of Elysian will take ownership of the property and conduct upgrades. The city will not be allowed to sell the property for development, and the school will have the right of first refusal if the property ever goes up for sale.
Action
The board discussed preschool fees and voted to leave the fees as they are. Some board members wanted to reduce fees in an effort to attract more young students and families to WEM. The cost of the suggested reduction would have been approximately $13,000. Board members Stangler, Schneider, Bowman, and Bakken voted against reducing the fees and attempting to encourage increased enrollment at WEM. One of the reasons cited was already increased costs to the program due to high gas prices.
The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Minnesota Valley Action Council, and a Memorandum of Understanding with Tri-Valley Opportunity Council.
The board tabled the 2022-23 Academic Calendar due to a possible error in the presented calendar and will seek approval at the May meeting.
Personnel
The board approved the contract for Athletic/Community Education Director, Jeff Boran through July 1, 2023, which included increases of 3.12% in 2021-2022 and 3% in 2022-2023, and a one-time stipend of $2,300.
The board approved the additional Wrestling Coach salary of $240 for Mike Richards and $240 for Shaun Murphy for the 2021-22 Wrestling season due to the extra workload after another coach left.
The board approved the following resignations:
- Mary White, FACS Teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-22 School Year
- Cora Engesther, Elementary Teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-22 School Year
- Shanelle Froehle, Music Teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-22 School Year
- Cody Castillo, Paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2021-22 School Year
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Upcoming Meeting Dates:
May 12, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Work Session (Tentative)
May 23, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting
