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LANCASTER SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS Feb. 8 and Feb. 17, 2021

LANCASTER SCHOOL BOARD
PROCEEDINGS
The Lancaster School Board met in special session on Monday, February 8, 2021, at 4:15 p.m. in the math room. The following members were present: Diamond, Langerud, Lupien, Nordin and Peterson. Also present were Supt. Hunstad, and Mendy Coffield. Joining via zoom: Homstad.
Diamond 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.
Supt. Hunstad informed the Board that he has been offered a position at DGF School for the 2021/22 school year and he does intend to take it. The DGF Board has a special meeting later this evening to ratify the contract. Supt. Hunstad thanked the Board for their support throughout the years.
The Board thanked Supt. Hunstad for his time at Lancaster School.
Discussion was held on how Lancaster School should move forward. It was decided to open up a part-time (.40) Superintendentposition and a full-time Principal position. The positions will be posted this week.
More discussion on the Superinten-dent/Principal search will be conducted at the February 17th regular meeting.
The next regular board meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 17th at 7:00 pm.
Diamond adjourned the meeting at 4:37 p.m.
James Diamond, Chairperson
Lacey Lupien, Clerk
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LANCASTER SCHOOL BOARD
PROCEEDINGS
The Lancaster School Board met in regular session on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. in the math room. The following members were present: Diamond, Homstad, Langerud, Lupien, Nordin and Peterson. Also present were Supt. Shannon Hunstad, Teacher Rep. Jaime Peterson, and Mendy Coffield. Joining via zoom: Dean Nicole Thompson and Kittson County Enterprise reporter Anna Jauhola.
Chairperson Diamond called the meeting to order and took roll call. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Becky Lenhart was present to discuss her son, and the 2021 graduation ceremony. The board asked Lenhart a number of questions and thanked her for coming.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Nordin, the agenda was approved with two additions and one item tabled to March. Due to the 2021/22 High School schedule not being complete, Laura Reese’s contract for 2021/22 was tabled to the March meeting.
On a motion by Homstad, second by Langerud, the consent agenda was approved as presented. Items included:
• The minutes of the January 20, 2021, regular meeting and the two special meeting minutes from January 20 and February 8, 2021, were approved.
• Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs) in the amount of $114,361.11. Payroll EFTs in the amount of $109,856.85, and monthly bills for the regular and the activity account in the amount of $90,173.98. Check numbers 41043-41086.
• The Budget Comparison and Treasurer’s reports were reviewed.
• The current revenue totals by fund were reviewed.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Lupien, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the Pay Equity Study Proposal from Bjorklund Compensation Consulting. The District plans to generate the job description portion themselves, using Bjorklund’s template. Total cost: $3,540-$10,840.
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: Wikstrom Telephone
Item: $4,052.00
Designated Purpose (if any): Technology if possible
The vote on adoption of the Resolution was as follows:
Aye: Diamond, Homstad, Langerud, Lupien, Nordin and Peterson
Nay: None
Absent: None
said Resolution was declared duly adopted.
The Paraprofessional college credit discussion from the February meeting was revisited. Supt. Hunstad noted there are three employees currently working to further their education. These employees could very well help us in the future, especially in the Special Education Department.
On a motion by Langerud second by Homstad and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves adding the college credit language found in the Teacher Master Agreement to the Paraprofessional Contracts retroactive to the start of the 2020/21 school year.
Supt. Hunstad thanked the current and previous board for their support over the past five years. He also noted how thankful he was for the employees he has worked with here, and the community support he has received.
On a motion by Nordin second by Peterson and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, accepts the resignation of Shannon Hunstad, Superinten-dent, effective the close of the 2020/21 school year.
The School Board members thanked Supt. Hunstad for his time here.
The job postings for the .4 FTE Superintendent and full-time Principal have been posted. The closing date of March 5th was selected for the MSBA site. Hopeful plans will be to interview the following week and hire at the March 17, 2021, regular board meeting. A special meeting was set for Wednesday, March 3rd to organize the interview questions, job descriptions and contracts.
Discussion was held on the Friday afternoon no students schedule. Supt. Hunstad had received emails from many teachers explaining the importance of this time. Hunstad commented how productive this time has been and also how it has helped the mental health of the staff. The School Board recommended that this practice continues through the end of the school year.
Supt. Hunstad presented the Administrative Report
1) School Board Appreciation Week is this week! Thank you Board Members for your work here. Mr. Peterson and his students designed and heat pressed t-shirts for the members. Supt. Hunstad thanked them. Donuts were served at the close of the meeting.
2) Supt. Hunstad, Thompson and Coffield have been reviewing the Teacher Master Agreement per MSBA’s recommendations. Most of the proposed changes relate to the various leaves changing to PTO at the last contract renewal as well as some verbage changes.
3) One of the items that various groups noted on the Strategic Plan work sessions, was the need to retain Paraprofessionals. A survey was sent out to Paraprofessionals and Food Service workers. The board will be able to use this information during their next Non-Certified negotiations in 2022/2023.
4) The possibility of School Board Committee Work Sessions on certain Wednesday mornings was discussed.
5) At this time, the Strategic Plan is being worked through using the various group’s information. The completed plan will be presented at the March meeting.
a. Supt. Hunstad hopes to move forward with the bus loading/unloading zone and parking lot projects prior to his departure. He provided a summary of the project. Supt. Hunstad will contact Anderson Brothers and the City prior to the March meeting. Hunstad is hopeful that once the TC Energy Grant application is available, we may receive $5-$10,000 for this project.
b. Thompson gathered quotes for new scoreboards in the east gym. This will also be included on the Strategic Plan.
6) The MCA/ACT Testing Schedule was reviewed. Testing will run from March 29th through April 30th.
7) The 2021/22 High School Schedule discussion process has begun. Supt. Hunstad hopes to move the Band and Choir offerings to the middle of the day so they will not have to compete with the other electives.
8) The elementary staff has been discussing the Standards Based Report Cards. The plan is to visit other schools next year to see how this works. Supt. Hunstad wrote the OneoK grant over the weekend for IXL Math for the entire elementary. This would be an assessment tool that could be used for Standard Based Report Cards.
9) The ballot for the NW Regional Development Commission was presented and Diamond completed it for the District.
10) The Minnesota State High School League is working to include two Superintendents on the MSHSL Board instead of just one. More information will be available in the near future. Supt. Hunstad will contact members at that time.
The special Superintendent/Principal Interview Planning meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
The next regular board meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 17th at 8:00 p.m. (DST).
Diamond adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
James Diamond, Chairperson
Lacey Lupien, Clerk
(March 10, 2021)
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