At the July 28 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, the board reviewed and approved the K-6, 7-12, Faculty, Paraprofessionals, and Coaches handbooks. With the mask order from Governor Walz in effect, Superintendent Heath Olstad recommended adding a statement to the student handbooks requiring that students wear appropriate face coverings at school. Other additions included a statement clarifying that students who wish to participate in the senior class trip must be full-time, not part-time students and any posters hung at the school must be appropriate.
Superintendent Olstad noted that Governor Walz will be making an announcement regarding the 2020-21 school year on July 30 and that the district will be able to plan the upcoming school year after that. “It’s going to be a unique year,” he said.
Resignations were accepted from custodian Michael Hovey, daycare aides Samantha Moger and Diane Strahl, and SPED teacher Amy Miron. Heather Shupe and Jennifer Lindstrom were hired as paraprofessionals for the Extended School Year program for up to four hours each day. Additional hours for Brian Feight to complete necessary SPED evaluations were approved along with additional hours for SPED teachers Connie Berg, Paula Birch, Heidi Brown, Devan Iddings, Marsha Dowe-Indahl, Amanda Thomas, and Kelsey Woellert to amend student IEPs. “We feel that that’s important with what we’re preparing for,” board member Ross Kiehne commented. Eighty additional hours were also approved for Dean of Students Chris Mensink and 100 for K-6 Principal Jim Peters to allow them time to prepare for the upcoming school year.
The board reviewed the first reading of the board policies. Everything will remain the same except that Richard Keith’s name will be changed to Heath Olstad wherever listed.
The computer usage fees for the 2020-21 school year were set at $45 annually for students in 9-12 grade and $25 for K-8 students. The fee will be waived for families who qualify for the free and reduced lunches. The adult breakfast and lunch prices were also reviewed and approved.
Currently the fixed asset threshold is $2,500. The board increased it to $5,000 to reduce the number of purchases the business office would need to process as fixed asset.
Two of the six teacher workshop days for the 2020-21 school year will be moved to the beginning of the year, allowing for four workshop days from September 1-4 before the students return to school.
Superintendent Olstad asked the board to approve a change to the high school schedule from an eight period day to a four period day. After reviewing parent survey responses and talking to staff, he felt that the change would be good, especially if school is conducted via distance or hybrid learning. The board approved the four period day and will revisit the matter at the end of the school year to discuss how it went.
The filing period to be placed on the ballot for the school board is currently open and will remain so until August 11.
The next regular Fillmore Central School Board meeting will be held on August 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Leave a Reply