Aaron Janssen reported that the new virtual trophy kiosks from GoToKiosk are presently being tested at the company before being shipped to the school. The kiosks will allow people to look up and view all of the school’s trophies without taking up all the floor space that traditional trophy cases do. One kiosk will be placed in each of the Fillmore Central buildings. Janssen has also been working on the wiring for the new speakers that will be installed in the classrooms. He is about 90% done at the elementary school and will be starting the high school when the renovation project begins there. The new speakers can send out audio messages, scrolling texts, and strobe lights to notify students and staff.
Different zones will be able to be created for announcements such as certain classes, just the daycare, etc. Teachers will even be able to use them to amplify their voices within their classroom.
Principal Heath Olstad reported that the recent senior class trip was a success and was enjoyed by the students.
On April 18, staff at the elementary school took part in ALICE training to learn how to handle active shooter situations. Principal Olstad reported that the deputies who conducted the training were very professional, and he received positive feedback from staff afterwords. “It’s a training we definitely felt was right to do,” he said. “We hope we never have to use it though.”
A resignation from Mindy Broadwater, lead custodian in the Harmony building, was approved as well as a resignation from teacher Kenzie Fruechte. FMLA leaves on an intermittent basis were approved for Melissa Herron and Sheryl Barr. The contracts for non-tenured teachers Connie Lindstrom and Tris Tollefson were terminated. Glenn Martin was hired as the lead custodian in the Harmony building, and Kaitlyn Aug as the lead float teacher in the daycare. Maggie McKernan was hired as the coordinator of the summer rec program, and Heather Shupe, Sam Martin, Jennifer Lindstrom, and Jolene Glaesemann were hired as paraprofessionals for the Extended School Year program. The annual resolution placing the school’s support staff on seasonal leave was approved with plans to call them back in August depending on the 2019-20 school year’s needs.
Chris Mensink was approved as the head football coach, Andrew Pederson as assistant football coach, David Broadwater as JV football coach, Andy Todd as ninth grade football coach, Aaron Janssen as eighth grade football coach, Corey Whalen as seventh grade football coach, and Walker Ward as the football volunteer. Travis Malley was approved as the head volleyball coach, Cassie Keene as JV volleyball coach, Melissa Simonson as eigth grade volleyball coach, Cailey Rindels as seventh grade volleyball coach, Kristi Rindels as the volleyball volunteer, and Kari Berg as cheerleading coach.
A number of open enrollment requests, including two interstate requests were approved by the board.
The Alternative Learning Program, or ALP, will be running again this year one day a week for eight weeks during the summer months. Students will attend from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on those days. The board approved Marsha Dowe as the teacher for the program with the option of hiring a paraprofessional as well, if necessary.
The Title I staff will offer a summer school program during two weeks this summer. Three teachers and one paraprofessional will be hired for the program.
The board approved various donations from Monster Bash, LLC, the Fillmore Central Booster Club, the City of Harmony, F&M Bank, First SE Bank of Harmony, the Preston Fire Relief Association, Greenfield Lutheran Church, and St. Matthew’s Church. The donations came to a total of $13,264.76. “Thank you for all of those wonderful donations,” Ross Kiehne said on behalf of the district. “They really help a lot.”
A bid in the amount of $1,569,380 was received from Knutson Construction for the high school renovations project. After evaluating the bid and reviewing all aspects of the project with Knutson Construction, it was recommended that the board award the bid to them. The board approved the bid. The football field renovations project also received only one bid, which was from AVM Construction. The total for their bid was substantially higher than what the school had originally estimated it would be and so the bid was rejected due to budget.
In 2014, the board voted on a resolution to convert the authority for $300 of voter-approved levy into board-approved levy, a motion which was valid for five years and is now up for re-authorization. The board approved the resolution.
The district’s agreement with Harmony Transit will expire on June 30, 2019. A resolution was passed allowing the school to solicit quotes for bussing services.
The next Fillmore Central School Board meeting will be held on May 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school media center, Harmony.
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