At the May 28 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Principal Heath Olstad reported that all of the seniors participated in the May 26th graduation ceremony. Of the 38 students graduating, 18 plan to attend a four-year college or university, 10 plan to attend a two-year technical or community college, nine will be joining the workforce, and one is entering the Air Force.
The spring concerts were well attended by the community and demonstrated the students’ and music teachers’ hard work throughout the year. The local banks will be continuing the mini grant program through the 2019-2020 school year which helps fund many of the field trips and other programs at the school.
Resignations were accepted from high school teacher Jeffrey Dick, elementary teacher Karn Friedges, paraprofessional Shelly Wahl, daycare teacher Lori Weiss, and custodian Michael Casey. Tonya Keim was hired as a long-term substitute, Jason Buvala as the high school Spanish teacher, and Erin O’Brien as the high school social studies teacher. The contract for teacher Andy Todd was adjusted to allow him to go from part-time to full-time when the next school year starts. Administrative contract extensions were approved for Superintendent Richard Keith for another year and Director of Special Education Micki Breitsprecher for two more years. Brady O’Connor was hired as the head boys basketball coach, Elisha Himli as the dance instructor, and Sarah O’Connell as the second seventh grade volleyball coach. As there are a high number of students registered for seventh grade volleyball, additional games are being lined up to allow them to be split into two teams.
Special education service contracts were approved for an audiologist from Erickson Hearing Services, a deaf/hard of hearing teacher consultant, emotional behavior disorder teacher, vision teacher/consultant, and school psychologist from the Southern Minnesota Education Consortium, and a physically impaired and traumatic brain injury consultation from Hiawatha Valley Education District. A special education service contract with Mary Kautto as the orientation and mobility teacher was also approved.
The hourly van driver wages were reviewed and approved for the 2019-2020 school year with an increase of $0.50 per hour from the previous year. The community education employees’ wages were approved as well. Lauren Mensink, Haven O’Connor, Mason Berg, Kjerstiana Corson, Zach Haugerud, Madison Krage, Molly McKernan, Hadrian Williams, and Logan Corson were hired as staff for the summer rec program. SAC staff Janeen Wingert, Jess Marzolf, Amanda Heibel, Kathy Stafki, Kelsey Berg, Emma Breitsprecher, and Cassidy Hanson were all approved for the summer SAC program.
Three interstate enrollment requests were accepted from the Decorah district. Participation in the voluntary insurance program, Student Assurance Services, was approved for the upcoming school year. The Head Start lease was renewed for next year as well. The current leases for the district’s copy machines are expiring in June. A new four-year lease was approved from the same company.
The breakfast and lunch prices for 2019-2020 were raised by $0.05 in all categories with no changes to the cost for milk, milk break, or healthy snack cart prices.
A letter of understanding with Luther College allowing them to place education department students in Fillmore Central classrooms and programs was approved as well as a resolution for continued membership in the Minnesota State High School League. The sport sharing agreement for cross country, wrestling, boys and girls track, softball, and baseball with Lanesboro was approved as well as one with Mabel-Canton for wrestling. A transportation contract with Harmony Transit for bus service was approved.
The next Fillmore Central school board meeting will be held on June 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Preston meeting room.