Superintendent Harris presided over the January 10 Chatfield School Board meeting until the board elected the new chair. Members present were Lanny Isensee, Scott Backer, Katie Priebe, Matt McMahon and Amy Jeffers. Also present was Community Education Director Lu Ann Kleven, Elementary Principal Shane McBroom, High School Principal Randy Paulson; Lorri Lowery, administrative assistant; Karyl Lyons, business manager and student representatives, Gage Tuohy and Abi Hinckley.
Nominations for board officers were made and approved. The new chairman is Amy Jeffers. The following board members will stay on in their current offices: Lanny Isensee, vice chair; Scott Backer, clerk and Katie Priebe, treasurer. Amy Jeffers conducted the rest of the meeting after her appointment as chair.
Under reports, Superintendent Harris needs to schedule a work session for the board the week of January 21 for preliminary discussions on budget and staffing. Harris approached the subject of changing the day that the school board meets. After discussion it was decided that the board will meet the first Wednesday of the month. He also announced that the Career Pathways Summit sponsored by the South East Service Coop will meet in the Forum on February 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The new website is up and he thanked the committee for their work which makes the website a better experience for parents. It is more external friendly.
Student council representatives shared that they had sold candy canes in December to help fund their Snow Week. The Snow Week dance will be held on February 1 from 8-11p.m. Dress up days will also be a part of this activity.
Next up was a presentation of the new Flex schedule by staff members Nora Gathje and Kiya Virgin. Flex replaces what used to be a study hall and allows students to make choices. There are four areas that students can choose from. Remediation can be used to do makeup work. Work time can be used for study or to do group work. Enrichment can be used for club meeting or time for students to work on STEM or Science Fair projects. Student interest is the last area, which may be shooting hoops, crafts or yoga, just to name a few. Staff members offer the variety of choices and students can sign up each day for their choice. A management program was purchased that allows teachers to take attendance and for students to use to sign up. It also allows staff to look at each student’s choices to see where kids’ interests are. Another benefit of this program is that students can make connections with staff and know that they are care about them. It not only builds relationships but teaches life skills, time management, career exploration and healthy living.
Community Education Director Luann Kleven reported that Valleyland is still looking at where their summer location will be. Transportation to the pool from the elementary is the issue that has to be resolved. Community Education is looking at expanding ECFE (Early Child Family Education) through the third grade and are planning a Love and Logic seminar for parents in February. Adult enrichment classes have been well received this year. With the new website up and running they will be transitioning to more digital information and registration.
Shane McBroom, elementary principal, shared that they have been approved for the Personalized Learning three-year Bush Grant that will allow them to learn more and do more on a personalized level for the students. A leadership team will be created to work on this task.
High School Principal Randy Paulson reported that with the new Flex program, students are getting extra assistance and this has led to the reduction of failing students. He asked the board to support the idea of a Chatfield Engineering Team coached by Nora Gathje as this would fit with the school’s STEM focus. A Culture Crew has been established with five or six students from each grade level that are looking at how to make the school culture more inclusive. One of the goals of this crew is to reduce the number of discipline issues.
Under the consent agenda, the minutes of the last meeting were approved along with spring 2019 coaches. Those coaches were Kirk Affeldt, Brianna Harmening and Sara Sturgis for softball; Brian Baum, Tom Bance and Jason Voeltz for baseball; Jeff Debuhr, Damien Nickelsen, Barb Storsveen, Scott Schmaltz, Niki DeBuhr, Brian Nolan and Jenny Bradt for track and field and Paul Wagner for girls and boys golf. It also approved the resignation of Scott Backer as junior high baseball coach and to list this as an open position.
Under new business, the board had to decide how to fill the vacancy on the board with the resignation of Jerry Chase. After a lengthy discussion, the board agreed to ask for applications for the position of board member to serve until the position would be put on the ballot in November. The board then approved two resolutions; one to call a special election in the fall, and the other to fill the school board vacancy by appointment until November. The board tabled the resolution establishing dates for filing affidavits of candidacy in November. They also approved the annual $15,000 CCTV payment to the city of Chatfield and the 2019-2020 school calendar with an ending date of June 1.
A reminder that the meetings will now be the first Wednesday of the month so the next three meetings will be February 6, March 6 and April 3 at 7 p.m. in the Forum Room.
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