Fillmore Central Superintendent Heath Olstad updated the school board on the School Aged Care, or SAC program, at their December 20 meeting. He has been working with Principal Jim Peters and Community Ed Director Angi Kaase to tweak the SAC hours due to resignations and staffing shortages. The program will be closed on snow days, but will be open for normal hours on two-hour late start days. However, if school ends up being canceled those days, the children will need to be picked up by 11 a.m. The hope is that staffing needs will be met again soon so SAC can resume its regular hours.
The K-6 holiday concerts took place on December 20 after having to be rescheduled due to bad weather the week before. Congratulations were extended to the winners of the annual spelling bee. Katelyn Scheevel took 1st place, Joey Pederson took 2nd, and Emmett Musel took 3rd. The Elks Free Throw Contest was held during PE classes in December. Tryouts recently took place for One Act. The clay target sign-up is complete, and the basketball, dance, and wrestling seasons are all underway.
The board approved the proposed tax levy at the amount of $1,706,594.11.
Resignations from SPED teacher Kelly Biel and daycare employee Greg Walton were approved. McKenzie Dachel was hired as a daycare aide and Taryn Cherrier as a SPED para. Custodian John Mease had previously requested and been granted fewer hours and lower wages, but has been working more lately, so the board approved a slight increase in his pay.
The board reviewed Policy 534 which was amended by the Minnesota legislature. All schools who participate in the school lunch program are required to adopt the school meal policy. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that students are still given the regular lunch even if their lunch account is too far in debt. Many schools exchange those lunches for peanut butter sandwiches or something similar. Fillmore Central is not one of those schools, but is still required to adopt the policy. “We’ve never considered it and I’m very proud of that,” Olstad commented. The board approved the revised policy.
The driver training fees were approved at the same rates as last year. Fillmore Central students will be charged $330, non-FC students will be charged $380, and there is a rate of $40 per hour for extra behind-the-wheel time.
The district’s in-person learning plan was reviewed and approved with no changes. Doing so allows the school to continue receiving ESSER funds.
Next meeting will be held January 24, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at the high school.