Lancaster School Board Proceedings January 20, 2021
LANCASTER SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS
The Lancaster School Board met in regular session on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. in the math room. The following members were present: Diamond, Langerud, Lupien, Nordin and Peterson. Also present were Teacher Rep. Sandie Nelson, Dean Nicole Thompson, and Mendy Coffield. Joining via zoom: Homstad and Kittson County Enterprise Anna Jauhola.
Hunstad called the meeting to order and took roll call. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
The agenda was presented with no changes.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Lupien, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, elected James Diamond as Chairperson for the 2021 calendar year. UC.
Chairperson Diamond continued the meeting. On a motion by Langerud, 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 2021 calendar year. UC.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Nordin, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, elected Lacey Lupien as Clerk for the 201 calendar year. UC.
A new signature card is not required as the officers remained the same as 2020.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Langerud, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, appoints Mendy Coffield as Treasurer. Abstaining: Lupien.
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 Homstad, second by Langerud, 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. UC.
On a motion by Homstad, second by Langerud, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves authorized signers on the following accounts: UC.
Petty Cash account Mendy Coffield, Lisa Lamberson
Main/Activity account Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Clerk, Mendy Coffield
Certificate of Deposit Mendy Coffield, Shannon Hunstad
Savings account Mendy Coffield, Shannon Hunstad
Credit Card Mendy Coffield, Shannon Hunstad, Cory Waling,
Nicole Thompson, Alana Scalese
On a motion by Homstad, second by Langerud, 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. Abstaining: Lupien
On a motion by Nordin, second by Peterson, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, sets the following for 2021: UC.
Chairperson $100 per meeting
Clerk $85 per meeting
Director’s $80 per meeting
Mileage rate IRS mileage rate (.56)
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 Langerud, second by Peterson, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, appoints the following committees/teams/representatives: UC.
District Leadership Team Peterson
Budget Diamond and Homstad
Personnel Diamond, Peterson, Langerud, Lupien
Curriculum Nordin and Homstad
*NWRIC: Nordin
Policy Nordin and Lupien
*Wellness Policy: Lupien
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 16, 2020, regular meeting were approved.
• Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs) in the amount of $98,403.52. Payroll EFTs in the amount of $114,536.50, and monthly bills in the amount of $95,131.32. Check numbers 40990-41042.
• The Budget Comparison and Treasurer’s reports were reviewed.
On a motion by Homstad second by Lupien and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, elects to participate in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Bread and Bread Products Program through the Cooperative Purchasing Connection. UC.
On a motion by Langerud second by Peterson and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, accepts the 47-passenger bus bid from North Central Bus for $89,875.35. UC.
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)
Anonymous Donor $237.65 Student Meal Donation
Box Tops $65.70 PTCO for student activities
The vote on adoption of the Resolution was as follows:
Aye: Diamond, Homstad, Langerud, Lupien, Nordin and Peterson.
Nay: ________________________________________
Absent: _____________________________________
Whereupon, said Resolution was declared duly adopted. UC.
Supt. Hunstad asked the Board to read Jim Scalese’s letter of resignation. Supt. Hunstad commended Scalese on his work as a Board Member and then as an Activities Director. Supt. Hunstad noted that he had a great appreciation for the work Scalese did for Lancaster School these past few years. UC.
On a motion by Lupien second by Langerud and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, accepts the resignation of Jim Scalese as Activities Director effective immediately. Scalese was compensated for one-half of the AD Salary for the 2020/21 school year ($2,700). UC.
The Board thanked Jim for his service to Lancaster School as the Activities Director and prior to that, a Board Member. UC.
On a motion by Peterson second by Langerud and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, accepts the Leave Of Absence Request from Michael Steen as the Junior Varsity KCC Girls’ Basketball Coach, effective immediately. Abstaining: Nordin.
On a motion by Diamond second by Homstad and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, hires Nicole Thompson as the Activities Director for Lancaster School, effective January 13, 2021. AD Thompson will receive one-half the annual salary ($2,700) for the AD position for the 2020/21 school year. Abstaining: Nordin.
On a motion by Nordin second by Langerud and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, hires Bob Jaszczak as the KCC JH BBB Coach effective for the 2020/21 sports season. UC.
On a motion by Diamond second by Lupien and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, hires Alex Strege as the KCC JV Hockey Coach effective for the 2020/21 sports season. UC.
On a motion by Peterson second by Nordin and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, hires Anneliese Johnson as the KCC JV GBB Coach effective for the 2020/21 sports season. UC.
On a motion by Nordin second by Peterson and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, Riley Davis as the KCC JV Baseball Coach effective for the 2021 sports season. UC.
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 2021-2024 Superintendent/Principal Contract for Shannon Hunstad as presented. UC.
On a motion by Nordin second by Peterson and carried:
WHEREAS, the Families First Coronavirus Recovery Act (FFCRA) required covered employers to provide up to 80 hours of paid emergency sick leave and up to 12 weeks of partially paid expanded family and medical leave, and
WHEREAS, the requirement to provide said leave ended on December 31, 2020, and
WHEREAS, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 provides the option for covered employers to extend the deadline for eligible employees to use any unused hours/days of leaves defined in the FFCRA through June 30, 2021,
BE IT RESOLVED, Lancaster Public School shall extend the deadline for eligible employees to use any unused hours/days of the FFCRA paid emergency sick leave and partially paid expanded family and medical leave, according to the guidelines outlined in the FFCRA, through June 30, 2021. UC.
On a motion by Langerud second by Lupien and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the 2021 Pay Equity Report as presented. UC.
On a motion by Nordin second by Peterson 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. UC.
On a motion by Langerud second by Nordin and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the Credit Card Policy as presented. UC.
Discussion was held on winter sports. They are well under way with all coaching positions now filled. This week the Spectator Rules were finalized allowing two spots per player family; families will more than one child on a team will still only get two spots total. Fans must leave following their player’s game to allow room for the next group. Seating, facility rules, and game times were also discussed. Supt. Hunstad thanked Thompson, Nordin and Langerud for their work on this this week.
Supt. Hunstad presented the Administrative Report:
1. Supt. Hunstad thanked the Board for their work on The Strategic Plan at the special work session prior to the Board meeting. He and Coffield will work on updating the Plan for discussion at the February meeting.
2. The application for the TC Energy Grant is not available yet. Supt. Hunstad will continue to monitor. The hope is that this grant would offset the cost of the bus loading/unloading zone.
3. Chris Johnson dropped off information on another grant that may be available to Lancaster School.
4. Supt. Hunstad asked the Board to consider adding language to the Paraprofessional contracts for college credits. Discussion was held on the current language used in the Teacher Master Agreement. If added to the Paraprofessional contract, this could be effective now, the start of this school year, or next year. Dean Thompson noted we will need a Special Education Teacher in just a few short years. The three Paraprofessionals that are currently going to school are working towards this. This will be tabled until the February meeting to allow Board members time to review this information.
5. Information was given to the Board on the MSBA “virtual” conference that is being held this month. If anyone wants to take part, they will be reimbursed for their registration costs.
6. Northwest Regional Development has a board member position available if anyone is interested.
7. Supt. Hunstad would like to add monthly Committee “work session” meetings possibly being held on the 2nd and/or 4th Wednesday. More details will be discussed in February.
The next regular board meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 17th at 7:00 pm.
Diamond adjourned the meeting at 8:14 p.m.
James Diamond, Chairperson Lacey Lupien, Clerk
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LANCASTER SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS
The Lancaster School Board met in special session on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. in the math room to discuss the Strategic Plan. The following members were present: Diamond, Langerud, Lupien, Nordin and Peterson. Also present were Dean Nicole Thompson, and Mendy Coffield. Joining via zoom: Homstad.
Hunstad called the meeting to order.
The current Strategic Plan was reviewed by Supt. Hunstad.
The new list of needs, wants and dreams that the staff had brainstormed over the prior few weeks was reviewed.
The Board added their ideas to the list.
The Board asked Supt. what his priorities were:
1. Bus Loading/Unloading Zone
2. Lockers
3. Lunchroom tables
4. Fence around the playground.
Other priorities include looking into the cost of a new mower, floor scrubber and steamer. Paraprofessional pay and benefits will be researched prior to the next contract. Coffield noted it would be good to change everyone over to Paid Time Off like we did with the Teacher’s on their last contract. Quotes will be gathered for the custodial and kitchen list.
A restroom on the 2nd or 3rd floor as well as an elevator will be researched. Possible grants could be obtained for the elevator.
Some items on the list will be fixed now and others will be added to the summer list.
The Board then quickly looked at the Mission Statement which Supt. Hunstad hopes to update in the next few months.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. by Supt. Hunstad.
James Diamond, Chairperson Lacey Lupien, Clerk
(February 3, 2021)
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