Lancaster School Board Proceedings December 16, 2020

LANCASTER SCHOOL BOARD
PROCEEDINGS
The Lancaster School Board met in regular session on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at 7:00p.m. in the math room and via Zoom.  The following members were present:  Diamond, Homstad, Langerud, Lupien, Nordin and Peterson.  Also present were Supt. Shannon Hunstad, Dean Nicole Thompson, Teacher Rep. Cory Waling, and Mendy Coffield.  Joining via Zoom: Kittson County Enterprise Anna Jauhola.
Chairperson Diamond called the meeting to order and took roll call.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Nordin, the agenda was approved.
On a motion by Homstad, second by Langerud, the consent agenda was approved as presented.
Items included:
• The minutes of the November 18, 2020, regular meeting were approved.
• Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs) in the amount of $101,666.11.  Payroll EFTs in the amount of $100,235.19, and monthly bills for the regular and the activity account in the amount of $55,175.58.  Check numbers 40890-40942.
• The Budget Comparison and Treasurer’s reports were reviewed.
• The current revenue totals by fund were reviewed.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Peterson, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the Truth In Taxation information as presented by Supt. Hunstad.
On a motion by Langerud, second by Lupien, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, certifies the taxes payable in 2021 as follows:
Taxes Payable
General      $ 632,138.98
Community Service     $   11,660.69
Total              $ 643,799.67
Supt. Hunstad reviewed the proposed final 2020/21 budget.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Homstad, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, adopts the final budget for the 2020/21 school year as follows:                                    Expenditures    Revenues
01-General    $ 3,280,300    $ 3,332,930
02-Food
Service    $    199,162    $    221,500
04-Community
Education         $       84,137    $      84,137
Total 01,02,04
Fund Budget:    $ 3,563,599    $ 3,638,567
Student Activity
Fund     $     89,842    $      62,640
Overall Total:     $3,653,441    $3,701,207
Surplus:     + $47,766
On a motion by Peterson, second by Langerud, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the use of the current signature plate until the new Officer’s signatures are ready for use.
On a motion by Diamond, second by Nordin, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, designates The Kittson County Courthouse as the combined polling place for 2021.
On a motion by Homstad, second by Peterson, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, calls for bids on a 47-passenger school bus.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Langerud and carried:
WHEREAS, the financial condition of the school district dictates that the school boa    rd must reduce expenditures immediately, and
WHEREAS, there has been a reduction in student enrollment, and,
WHEREAS, this reduction in expenditure and decrease in student enrollment must include discontinuance of positions and discontinuance or curtailment of programs, and
WHEREAS, a determination must be made as to which teachers’ contracts must be terminated and not renewed and which teachers may be placed on unrequested leave without pay or fringe benefits in effecting discontinuance of positions,
Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, as follows:
That the School board hereby directs the Superintendent of Schools and administration to consider the discontinuance of programs or positions, to effectuate economies in the school district and reduce expenditures, and, as a result of a reduction in enrollment, make recommendations to the school board for the discontinuance of programs, curtailment of programs, and discontinuance of positions or curtailment of positions.
The following voted in favor of: Diamond, Homstad, Langerud, Lupien, Nordin and Peterson.
The following voted against the same: None.
Whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Lupien, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, hires Anneliese Johnson as a Long-Term Substitute effective November 23, 2020, through the end of the 2020/21 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, transfers Kim Clark from Science Long Term Sub to Grade 2 Long Term Sub effective December 14, 2020, through the end of January, 2021.
On a motion by Langerud, second by Nordin, and carried:  School District 356, adjusts Denise Strege’s 2020/21 contract to four days per week effective November 16, 2020.
On a motion by Diamond, second by Peterson, and carried:
Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, certifies all drivers, Type III and Bus, have completed their annual training requirements for the 2020/21 school year.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Homstad, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the World’s Best Workforce policy as presented by Supt. Hunstad.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Langerud, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the proposed changes to the meal policy and meal information in the student handbook as presented by Supt. Hunstad.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Langerud, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the 2020/21 extra-curricular assignments as presented.
On a motion by Langerud, second by Nordin, and carried:  Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, hires Kris Folland as Varsity Coach, and Blaine Kraska as JV Coach for the KCC Boys’ Basketball program.
Supt. Hunstad presented the Administrative Report:
A. The plan for the Technology Coordinator training for February and March will be for Anneliese Johnson to work with Anne Dalbey and in the Technology department two days each week.  Anneliese will teach the other three days, and Kim Clark will be asked to cover the remainder of the week in Science. We need to work out summer details and also 2021/22.
B. We were sorry to hear of the passing of MaryAnn Schmiedeberg.  MaryAnn has been our Census person for many years.
a.     On a motion by Homstad, second by Nordin and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, authorizes the School District to custom hire for the annual collection of the Census information for Lancaster School.
C. The Compulsory Instruction Report was reviewed.  For 2020/21 there are 17 students reported.
D.     Region 1 election ballots were distributed.
E.     There will be a Special Board meeting on January 20,2021, at 6:00pm to work through the Strategic Plan.
F. “Telespeech’ continues this year.  Emily Webre is no longer with Telespeech, but rather employed by the NWRIC.  The students have done amazingly well with this online speech setting even though Emily is located in Colorado.
The next regular board meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
This will be a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. January 20, 2021, to review the Strategic Plan.
Diamond adjourned the meeting at 7:56 p.m.
James Diamond, Chairperson        Lacey Lupien, Clerk
(December 30, 2020)
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