At the October 2, 2019, Chatfield School Board meeting, all board members were present except Lanny Isensee and Scott Backer. Also present were Superintendent Ed Harris, Community Education Director LuAnn Kleven, Principals Shane McBroom and Randy Paulson, and student senate representatives Isaac Rain and Isaac Erding.
Superintendent Harris gave an update on a few projects that are nearly completed. The finishing of the front entrance wall should be completed soon and new lockers were installed in the girls locker room. He also discussed two items that will be on the ballot in November. One is the election of a new school board member. Two candidates have filed for the position. The other is the operating levy that will be brought to the voters. Information about the levy is being sent out to the public and can also be viewed on the Chatfield website www.chatfieldschools.com/referendum. Harris urged the public to go to this website for information and also to attend the public meetings that will be held on October 16 and October 23 at 6 p.m. in the high school forum room. The school district has asked Benike Construction to develop a site plan for the parking and driveway area that was once the pool area. At this time much of it is gravel and difficult to maintain. The district is hoping for a redesign that will address traffic patterns for increased safety in that area and easier maintenance. A Safe Routes to School Grant has been awarded to the city of Chatfield by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This grant is for evaluating routes that students take to school when walking or biking. The goal is to create better situations for safety for those students when they come to school or go home from school. The committee will be observing student traffic both in the morning and after school and will ask for student and staff input to determine safe routes to school.
LuAnn Kleven, Community Education Director, reported the new four day preschool program with a Friday child care option has been very well received and expects it to be a growing program. Two ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) classes are being offered this year on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Enrichment classes have started and the play that is usually presented in the summer will be given this fall on November 19. The play this year is Pinocchio. Some of the adult classes that will be offered this year are Defensive Driving, Protecting Your Assets and Zumba classes.
Student Senate member Isaac Rain reported to the board that homecoming activities are in full swing and that some adjustments had to be made for the weather. Instead of powder puff football the students will have a dodgeball competition.
Elementary Principal Shane McBroom briefed the board on the progress of individualized learning and how the teachers have been working with coaches from EdVision to facilitate this. The elementary students are having fun with homecoming week with dress up days and a pep fest on Thursday.
Randy Paulson, high school principal, introduced STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) instructor, Tim Willette to the board. Mr. Willette took the board and visitors on a tour of the STEM workshop. He demonstrated the new laser engraver that uses Corel Draw to produce engraving on most any surface. During FLEX time he offers mini-classes where students can engrave their name on their laptops or other belongings. A CNC metal lathe that was given to the program by South East Technical School when they replaced theirs and a metal bandsaw from McNeilus Company was also donated to the school. Other equipment available to students are a CNC plasma cutter, and eight welding stations, along with many woodworking tools. Many other area business have also supported the program either with equipment, material, field trips or by providing community experts to demonstrate. Those other businesses are Manahan Machine Shop, Tuohy Furniture, Chatfield NAPA, EZ Fabrication, and Fastenal. There are two classes offered where students may receive credits that will transfer to post-secondary programs. The main thrust for the STEM classes is to give students real life skills that will help them in their career path after they leave high school.
Under the consent agenda the board approved the meeting minutes of September 9 and the special meeting minutes of September 18. Fundraisers for 2019-2020 were approved, along with the seniority list for 2019-2020. New hires approved were Michele Thompson and Marcia Schindler for co-student senate advisors and Zach Slowiak as service club advisor. Resignations were accepted from Jay Harstad as Math Wizards advisor and Colleen Bradt as a preschool aide. The job posting for Math Wizard advisor was also approved.
Board member Amy Jeffers read the Resolution of School Board Supporting Form A: Application to MSHSL Foundation. The school district can use this funding to assist students who financially could not afford activity fees.
The meeting was adjourned and the next meeting will be held on November 6 at 7 p.m. in the forum room at the high school.
Leave a Reply