Lancaster School Board Proceedings – January 22, 2020
Lancaster School Board Proceedings
The Lancaster School Board met in regular session on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the district office. The following members were present: Diamond, Homstad, Langerud, Lupien, Nordin and Peterson. Also present were Teacher Rep. Vada Gatheridge, Nicole Thompson, Kittson County Enterprise Anna Jauhola, Patrick Sobolik, and Mendy Coffield. Missing: Supt. Hunstad.
Coffield called the meeting to order and took roll call. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Visitor’s comments: Sobolik expressed his concern with the email that was sent out. The Board members supported Sobolik in his position at Lancaster School. Langerud publicly apologized for the email that was inadvertently sent out to all staff, which was meant only for the Board of Education.
The agenda was presented with no changes.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Homstad, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, elected James Diamond as Chairperson for the 2020 calendar year.
Chairperson Diamond continued the meeting. On a motion by Homstad, second by Peterson, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, elected Matt Nordin as Vice-Chairperson for the 2020 calendar year.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Langerud, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, elected Lacey Lupien as Clerk for the 2020 calendar year.
A new signature card is not required as the officers remained the same as 2019.
On a motion by Diamond, second by Peterson, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, appoints Mendy Coffield as Treasurer.
Discussion was held on the PERA Defined Benefit Plan. Members were encouraged to review the information and contact Coffield with further questions.
On a motion by Langerud, second by Nordin, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, authorizes Shannon Hunstad as Superintendent and Mendy Coffield as Business Manager to conduct financial transactions for Independent School District #356.
On a motion by Diamond, second by Homstad, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves authorized signers on the following accounts:
Petty Cash account Mendy Coffield, Lisa Lamberson
Main account Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Clerk, Mendy Coffield
Activity account Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Clerk, Mendy Coffield
• Coffield noted that the Activity Account will be transferred into the main account in January and closed out.
Certificate of Deposit Mendy Coffield, Shannon Hunstad
Savings account Mendy Coffield, Shannon Hunstad
On a motion by Nordin, second by Peterson, and carried: Be it Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, authorizes Mendy Coffield as Business Manager to conduct Electronic Funds Transfers transactions for Independent School District #356.
On a motion by Homstad, second by Nordin, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, sets the following for 2020:
Chairperson $100 per meeting
Clerk $85 per meeting
Director’s $80 per meeting
Mileage rate IRS mileage rate (.575)
Meeting schedule 3rd Wednesday of the month (8 p.m. DST, 7 p.m. ST)
School District Depository United Valley Bank, Prime Security Bank, Border State Bank
Official Newspaper Kittson County Enterprise
On a motion by Nordin, second by Peterson, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, appoints the following committees/teams/representatives:
District Leadership Team Peterson
Budget Diamond and Homstad
Personnel Diamond, Peterson, Langerud
Curriculum Nordin and Homstad
*NWRIC: Nordin
Policy Nordin and Lupien
*Wellness Policy: Nordin
Activities Nordin and Langerud
*MSHSL: Langerud
Facilities Nordin and Peterson
*Safety Committee: Nordin
On a motion by Langerud, second by Nordin, the consent agenda was approved as presented. UC. Items included:
• The minutes of the December 18, 2019, regular meeting and the November 20, 2019, special meeting were approved.
• Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs) in the amount of $76,178.92. Payroll EFTs in the amount of $99,486.23, and monthly bills in the amount of $52,479.598. Check numbers 40398-40433.
• The Budget Comparison and Treasurer’s reports were reviewed.
• The current revenue totals by fund were reviewed.
• The Student Activity Fund disbursements were reviewed, check numbers 707-746 for both November and December 2019. These will now be included in the regular check listing as the activity and main accounts have been merged into the same checking account and the same accounting system.
• The current revenue totals by fund were reviewed.
• The Box Tops donation of $40.10 was accepted and will be given to the PTCO for student activities.
On a motion by Diamond second by Langerud and carried: WHEREAS, Minnesota Statute 123B.02, Subd. 6 provides: “The board may receive, for the benefit of the district, bequests, donations, or gifts for any proper purpose and apply the same to the purpose designated. In that behalf, the board may act as trustee of any trust created for the benefit of the district, or for the benefit of the district, or for the benefit of pupils thereof, including trusts created to provide pupils of the district with advanced education after completion of high school, in the advancement of education.”; and WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes 465.03 provides: “Any city, county, school district or town may accept a grant or devise of real or personal property to maintain such property for the benefit of its citizens in accordance with the terms prescribed by the donor. Nothing herein shall authorize such acceptance or use for religious or sectarian purposes. Every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by a two-thirds majority of its members, expressing such terms in full.”; and
WHEREAS, every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by a two-thirds majority of its members, expressing such terms in full;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the School Board of Lancaster Public School, ISD 356, gratefully accepts the following donations as identified below:
Donor Item Designated Purpose (if any)
Box Tops $40.10 PTCO for student activities
The vote on adoption of the Resolution was as follows:
Aye: ___________________________________________________________
Nay: ________________________________________
Absent: _____________________________________
Whereupon, said Resolution was declared duly adopted.
On a motion by Homstad, second by Lupien, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the Boiler Support Contract for Michael Peterson as presented by Coffield for the 2019/20 school year.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Langerud, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, hires Brian Anderson as Part-Time Assistant Custodian effective December 26, 2019.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Langerud, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, accepts the resignation of Jared Olson as Paraprofessional effective January 3, 2020.
On a motion by Lupien, second by Nordin, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, accepts the resignation of Laura Reese as Junior High Knowledge Bowl Coach effective the close of the 2019/20 school year.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Langerud, Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, hires Michael Peterson as Co-Coach with Laura Reese for the 2020/21 Robotics Season.
Wage Statements were distributed to all Board members.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Homstad, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the 5 days of Sick Leave Donations from Mendy Coffield to Samantha Alme as presented by Coffield.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Langerud, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, complies with Policy #714 by performing an annual review of the policy.
Coffield presented the Administrative Report:
1. The Strategic Plan will be tabled until February 19th. We will reschedule our work session for 6:00pm that evening.
2. We continue to work on transitioning Anne Dalbey’s position to part-time plan. Alana Scalese is gradually adding new duties. Nicole Thompson will be working with Dalbey this spring on scheduling and the student system. Thompson will also attend Region 1’s conference in February for training on Synergy. Thompson is currently going back to school to work on her Administrative degree. We also have two paras furthering their education in the Special Education field.
3. Brian Anderson has resigned his custodial position as of February 2nd for full-time employment. Coffield has begun advertising.
4. The dishwasher grant application has been officially submitted to the State.
5. The new server is up and running.
6. The Personnel Committee will meet following the regular board meeting in February to begin discussing the Non-Certified Negotiations process.
Homstad inquired about Becky Johnson’s long-term sub prospects. None received to date.
Discussion was held on Laura Reese’s LOA replacement. One college student has been in contact. Supt. Hunstad is working to see if this will work out.
Peterson inquired about the air exchanger. ProGas and Sobolik looked at it earlier this week and it appears to be working at this time.
The special work session board meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 19th at 6:00 pm.
The next regular board meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 19th at 7:00 pm.
Diamond adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m.
James Diamond, Chairperson Lacey Lupien, Clerk
(February 5, 2020)
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