At the May 28 Fillmore Central school board meeting, superintendent Heath Olstad reported that the month of May had been very busy with multiple elementary field trips taking place, along with spring concerts at the high school. The elementary concerts were canceled and the students dismissed early that day due to potential dangerous weather conditions. The students recorded the concerts the next day, and they are available to watch on the school’s YouTube channel. Fillmore County Soil & Water provided trees to plant for the fifth grade class. Things are being lined up for Strength and Agility this summer with many students already registered for the program. Staff for the summer SAC program have all been hired and summer rec activities begin in June 2. There are multiple job openings in the child care center and ECFE.
Resignations from eighth grade girls basketball coach Kerry Rindels, ECFE coordinator Heather Stockdale, daycare employee Ashley Grabau, elementary teacher Brooke Hintz, and TNT advisor Becky Mueller were all accepted. Emma Lecy was hired as a teacher assistant for One Block at a Time, Karlee Spande, Belle Berg and Derek Ihrke as elementary teachers, Joni Mehus as the first semester high school English teacher, and Quincy Burland as the boys basketball coach. MaryBeth Ostrom, Regan Hanson, Maddie Topness, Amelia Ringer and Bridon Bahl were hired as summer rec coaches. Jackie Whitacre, Andy Todd, Levi Olstad and Morgan Knutson were hired for summer school instruction. Kayla Koch and Brady Ristau were approved for up to 80 hours of summer FFA responsibilities. Jessica Bradt, Cari Ledin, Connie Berg, Shelby Ristau and Mindy Wolfgram were hired as summer PreK staff. Jessica Bradt, Brooklyn Simon, Heidi Kingsley, Katie Reistroffer, Madison Krage, Daio Mohs, Abby Bothun, Madison Simon, Jillian Tieskotter, Lily Miller and Aubrey Larson were hired as summer SAC staff. A maternity leave for Samantha Russell was approved.
Three special education service contracts with Southern Minnesota Education Consortium, or SMEC, for physical therapist, vision impairment, and deaf/hard of hearing services are in place.
The 2024 summer food prices for adults were approved at $3 for breakfast and $6 for lunch. The food service contract with Taher was renewed for the next school year, as was the Taher budget.
The 2023-2024 budget revisions were reviewed. Superintendent Olstad noted that each year, projections are made based on the expected enrollment numbers, but that always changes throughout the year.
The board reviewed the district’s property and liability insurance from Minnesota Insurance Scholastic Trust and renewed it for the next school year.
The 2024-25 school calendar was reviewed. Due to the new Minnesota legislation instituting the Read Act, many of the certified staff will need to take additional training. Olstad recommended that three of the planned early dismissals next year be changed to staff development days, dropping the number of students days from 175 to 172. He noted that that number is still above the minimum student hours mandated by Minnesota law. The board approved the school calendar with the changes.
The lease from the city of Harmony for a portion of the Harmony Community Center was approved with no rate increase from last year.
A resolution was passed renewing the expiring referendum for a period of 10 years at a rate of $292.15 per adjusted pupil unit.
The district’s annual membership with the Minnesota State High School League or MSHSL was approved.
Several open enrollment requests were approved.
The date for the regular December meeting was changed from December 24 to December 17. The annual Truth in Taxation will take place on that date at 6:01 with the regular meeting to follow.
Superintendent Olstad reported that this year’s graduation ceremony went well. “It’s a mixture of feelings,” he said. “They’re a good group of seniors.” Unfortunately, the planned livestreaming of the event did not work, probably due to recent weather issues.
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