LANCASTER SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

LANCASTER SCHOOL BOARD
PROCEEDINGS

The Lancaster School Board met in regular session on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. in the Superintendent’s office. The following members were present: Diamond, Lupien, Nordin, Peterson and Scalese. Also present were Superintendent Brad Homstad, Principal Nicole Thompson, Assistant Principal Drew Kjono, Teacher Rep. Lisa Rynning, Kittson County Enterprise reporter Anna Jauhola, and Mendy Coffield. Absent: Langerud
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 as presented.
Visitor Becky Rice asked to be tabled to the November meeting.
Supt. Homstad distributed a letter that Holly Knutson had emailed him in regards to the KCC Sports Cooperative. Knutson requested he share with the Board of Education. She also noted this letter may appear in the local newspaper.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Scalese, the consent agenda was approved as presented. Items included:
• The minutes of the September 27, 2021, regular meeting minutes were approved.
• Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs) in the amount of $125,206.32.
• Payroll EFTs in the amount of $108,871.51.
• Credit Card EFTs in the amount of $8,331.19.
• Monthly bills for the regular and the activity account in the amount of $84,353.90. Check numbers 41414-41480.
• The Budget Comparison and Treasurer’s reports were reviewed.
Tracee Bruggeman, Brady Martz Auditor, phoned in and reviewed the 2020/21 audit report. The Board of Education thanked her for her time.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Scalese, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, accepts the 2020/21 Audit Report as prepared by Brady Martz.
Supt. Homstad provided the Board with the details of the Cash-wa Food Distributor 60-day termination which will expire on November 2, 2021. Cash-wa is our primary food supplier. The Food Service Staff have been working to find other vendors to support our meals program. A meeting was held last week to work with J&S Foods suppliers. Currently, the plan is to work with Mason Brothers and Henry’s Foods. We are also working on securing a delivery plan from the grocery store and/or Bernstroms.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Scalese, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, approves the Seniority List for 2021/22 as presented by Supt. Homstad, contingent upon on the local Teacher’s Union’s approval.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Scalese, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, hires Kaitlynn Creviston as the One Act Play Advisor effective immediately.
HIPAA was tabled to November.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Scalese, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, accepts the resignation of Molly Whitlock, effective December 23, 2021.
Everyday Math was tabled to November.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Lupien, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, acknowledges the final reading of Policies: #402 Disability Nondiscrimination Policy, #419 Tobacco-Free Environment; Possession and Use of Tobacco, Tobacco-Related Devices, and Electronic Delivery Devices, Vaping Awareness and Prevention Instructions, #522 Title IX Sex Nondiscrimination Policy, Grievance Procedure and Process, #523 Policies Incorporated by Reference, #532 Use of Peace Officers and Crisis Teams to Remove Students with IEPs from School Grounds, #534 Unpaid Meal Charges/Reimbursable Meal Policy & Addendum – Reimbursable Meal Policy, #618 Assessment of Student Achievement.
On a motion by Nordin, second by Scalese, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, acknowledges the first reading of Policies: #102 Equal Educational Opportunity, #406 Public and Private Personnel Data, #413 Harassment and Violence, #425 Staff Development and Mentoring, #501 School Weapons Policy.
On a motion by Lupien, second by Peterson, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, acknowledges the annual review of Policies: #410 Family and Medical Leave Policy, #414 Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse, #415 Mandated Reporting of Vulnerable Adults, #506 Student Discipline, #514 Bullying Prohibition Policy, #616 School District System Accountability, #806 Crisis Management Policy.
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 Extra-Curricular Assignments for the 2021/22 school year for Lancaster School and Kittson County Central as presented by AP Kjono.
On a motion by Peterson, second by Scalese, and carried: Be It Resolved, that the Board of Education of Independent School District 356, agrees to comply with all sections of the Assurance of Compliance with state and federal law including Mandated Reporting training which has been completed by all staff.
Principal Thompson presented the Principal Report:
a. The Teachers recently reviewed and updated the Teacher Evaluation Plan. We will continue with the three-year cycle.
b. The COVID-19 Testing Grant has been approved. Thompson and Kjono, along with Nurse Kujava, will provide this service. They plan to meet next week to set criteria, etc. Kujava is gathering estimates for the equipment.
c. Concurrent Enrollment has been submitted to the State. This must be done each year for our PSEO and OCHS students.
d. Thompson and Kjono have reviewed Junior and Senior transcripts. All Seniors have the credits they need and are on track to graduate. A few Juniors are missing credits; Kjono and Thompson will work with them to ensure they will be on track as well. Of course, all of this is contingent on passing grades.
e. Clean-Up Day went well on Monday.
f. A Social Media presentation was held today for grades 6-8 and also 9-12. Matt Vig and Dave Thompson provided two sessions.
g. Career day is set for November 24th. Presenters are needed; contact Thompson or Kristi Steen to sign up.
Assistant Principal Kjono presented the Assistant Principal Report:
a. The Fall Sports Playoffs season begins next week. Both volleyball and football ended as 2nd seed. Football plays on Tuesday; Volleyball on Thursday. Both are home games at Kittson Central.
b. The NFHS Streaming equipment is set to be installed on November 4th. Non-athletic events will be free. Details will be available on the website once it is all finalized.
c. A scoreboard quote has been received by Daktronics. This estimate came in at $24,000, $6,000 was installation which we can possibly do ourselves. Kjono is waiting on a few other vendor’s estimates for comparison. We will open this up to sponsorships in the near future. The MSHSL is mandating shot clocks in 2024 and somewhat forcing our hand to upgrade our system.
d. Winter Coaching Update: KCC is still in need of a JV Boys’ Basketball Coach and many Elementary Basketball Coaches. Contact Kjono or Jami Carr to apply. There is an interview scheduled for a Head Hockey Coach next week.
e. Section 8 / Region 8 is planning to go away with the printed Tournament Booklets. They are working on a QR code or some online option. They plan to experiment this fall.
Supt. Homstad presented the Superintendent Report:
a. A Lancaster School sign for the front yard has been ordered. A picture was shared with the Board; cost was $810.
b. Our school security projects for this year have been completed. Cameras were added to the parking lot; three keypads have been installed on the north side of the elementary and also the north doors of the west gym.
c. A Strategic Plan special meeting has been set for Wednesday, November 17th at 6:00pm.
d. COVID Update: Homstad shared the current update on our county numbers provided by Nurse Kujava. Currently our area is the hot spot in the state. Supt. Homstad noted that many area schools are using a 5% masking threshold. He asked the Board for their recommendation. After much discussion, Lancaster will use the 5% (11 positive cases in staff and/or students). If 11 cases are reached, masks will be required until the numbers decrease below 11.
e. MSBA Conference and Hotel information was shared. Diamond, Nordin, Peterson, and Homstad plan to attend. Coffield will inquire with Langerud if he wishes to attend. Coffield will secure rooms and conference registration for them.
f. November 4th is the Section Football Final date. If KCC advances, they will play at 12:30pm. Supt. Homstad noted if KCC is playing, there will not be any school that day.
There will be a special meeting for Board Negotiators on Wednesday, October 27th at 7:00 p.m. in the computer lab.
A special session will also be held on Wednesday, November 17th in the computer lab at 6:00 p.m. for the Board to discuss the Strategic Plan.
The next regular board meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 23rd at 7:00 p.m. (DST) in the computer lab.
Diamond adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
James Diamond, Chairperson Lacey Lupien, Clerk
(January 5, 2022)
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