“I’m very happy that we were able to have a revised graduation and everyone was able to wear their cap and gown and come up on the podium to receive their diploma,” Principal Heath Olstad said at the May 26 Fillmore Central School Board meeting. After canceling the original graduation ceremony due to COVID-19, there were concerns that the seniors would miss that milestone event completely, but with creativity and safety precautions, the district was able to hold it outdoors.
The Minnesota Department of Education gave school a one-time exception for transferring activity funds to students as many school sponsored trips had to be canceled because of COVID-19. The money that students directly earned for the senior class trip and the summer band choir trip will be returned to them and the money that they helped to fundraise will be distributed back in scholarships.
Dean of Students Chris Mensink reported that music teachers Mr. Patterson and Mr. Ledin had put together a YouTube video with contributions from staff in lieu of the spring concerts. The trees provided by Fillmore County Soil & Water were delivered to the fifth graders on May 11.
Special Education Director Micki Breitsprecher thanked Geri Himlie for her 14 years of service working in the Alternative Learning Program, the Special Education departments at the middle and high schools, and the Root River Program. “Wherever we had a need, she helped us out,” Breitsprecher said. Breitsprecher also shared an update on SpEd distance learning. “This has been a challenging method of delivery to get accustomed to and each teacher and paraprofessional prefer to be in person,” she said. “However, I do believe we rose to the occasion of supporting our students.” There are currently eight students who qualify for the Extended School Year program and Breitsprecher is hoping to be able to offer the program onsite with safety precautions.
Resignations from SAC employee Emily Moger and custodian David Gardner were accepted by the board. Katie Mensink was hired as a daycare aide, Sam Martin as a daycare lead teacher, Brittany Payne for a lead position in the SAC program, and Heather Shupe as SAC employee. Chris Mensink was hired as the head football coach, Travis Malley as the head volleyball coach, and Kari Berg as the head cheerleading coach. A contract change with custodian Glenn Martin was approved as well as a maternity leave for support staff member Katelyn Brincks. The board also approved a posting for a long-term sub for the high school Spanish program.
Special Education service contracts were approved with Erickson Hearing Services for an audiologist, and the Southern Minnesota Education Consortium for a deaf/hard of hearing teacher consultant and a vision teacher consultant. The agreement with Frontline Education for Absence and Substitute management was renewed for the 2020-21 school year. The K-3 Literacy Plan for the upcoming school year was approved.
The boilers at the elementary school recently needed repairs due to pressure in the exhaust causing the pipes to collapse. Two quotes were obtained for the repairs, and Superintendent Richard Keith recommended that the board approve the low quote from WHV.
Heath Olstad was designated as the Identified Official with Authority to grant access with the MDE secure website for Fillmore Central. The board approved the school’s continued participation in the voluntary insurance program offered by Student Assurance Services. The meal and snack prices were reviewed for the 2020-21 school year and will remain the same as the previous year. A letter of understanding with Luther College was approved to allow teaching students to be placed in Fillmore Central classrooms. The district’s membership with the Minnesota State High School League was renewed.
The sports sharing agreements were approved. Cross country, boys and girls track, softball, and baseball will continue to be shared with Lanesboro, and wrestling with both Lanesboro and Mabel-Canton. Board member Jim Love asked whether there was some wording in the agreements to avoid any issues with busing wrestling participants to and from Lanesboro and Preston. Mensink assured him that school officials from both schools had recently held a meeting to iron out any issues before the season starts. “That was a great meeting and a lot of steps were made,” Mensink said.
The district has a policy to close student activity accounts if there were no transactions during the school year. Due to distance learning, the NHS, SADD, and Video accounts did not have any activity during the 2019-20 school year. The board waived the requirement to close the accounts.
The next Fillmore Central School Board meeting will be held on June 23 at 6:30 p.m.
E.W.C. says
What a difficult ending for high school seniors across the state. I empathize with them all and their families too. However, very disappointed in FC for operating outside of the law for graduation. As a former FC school board member, I am surprised FC took on the liability to break the law. If anything were to happen or even could happen in a few weeks (transfer of Covid traced to this ceremony) I hope residents understand it is your tax dollars that will be spent on legal fees, restitution or fines IF anyone were to pursue any of those things. Sure, the changes might be slim, but there are still chances. If that were to happen, that could mean less education resource for your child. When I was on the board, we talked about never taking chances with a checkbook that we do not personally own. I don’t want to take away from seniors, but none of us did or would have if FC would have followed the current laws. Covid took those things away from all of us, no one’s fault and just a situation in life. Also surprised the FCJ published this. In the event of a law suit, this is more than enough to use in that suit for any person or family. FC board – please consider ALL things when risking tax payer dollars in the future. Thank you.