Teacher Marty Momsen visited the February 5 Houston School Board meeting to share how he used his sabbatical last year. After teaching for 25 years, Momsen became a student again at age 50 to take the journey to become EMT certified and able to teach an EMT class.
Momsen has been an EMT for four years and works at Winona Ambulance as well. His first hour EMT class at Houston High currently has six students in the semester-long class. The students will receive about $2,000 worth of training and will be able to go out and get a job as an EMT. Grayden Beckman, a student in the class, commented, “This is something I can use!”
Houston received a grant to aid in creating the class; the grant will continue next year as well. Momsen hopes to extend the class to a full year so students have more time to learn the essential lessons. He’d like to procure a training ambulance for the class. Sophomores through seniors can take the class; students can become EMTs at age 16. Momsen commented, “I’d love to see all the graduating seniors to have CPR training!”
“It’s about life skills; they will transfer to other situations,” Superintendent Mary Morem added. She reminded the board that the online school also offers EMT training. Anna Frauenkron of the Houston Ambulance and the Red Cross work with Houston School to provide the class.
As a true teacher, Momsen handed out papers to the board and audience to share information on hands-only CPR and identifying strokes.
Elementary Entry
The board unanimously passed a resolution to build a safe and secure entry at the elementary. Although MDE (Minnesota Department of Education) has not yet returned formal approval of the project, the board passed the resolution in order to be ready to proceed once it arrives. After MDE approval is received, letters will go out to banks regarding funding; after that bids will be sought for the project. The resolution stated that the cost of the project was not to exceed $460,000 and will be funded over the next 15 years.
Chair Josh Norlien stressed that the board wants to be transparent with the public about the project and plans to send out detailed information once they have more exact numbers.
MNVA and K12
Representative to the online school committee, Mimi Carlson, informed the board that the committee suggested not sending a letter to K12 at this time demanding resolution of assorted service issues within 45 days. Carlson felt some progress had been made working with K12 and urged further collaboration and holding K12 accountable.
Some MNVA teachers had drafted a letter detailing issues. Veteran teachers declared their hands were tied. Student tech support is needed as well as a curriculum aligned to Minnesota state standards. Currently attendance needs to be entered manually; new software is needed.
The contract with K12 expires in 2029. After discussion, the issue was tabled for the time being.
Superintendent Evaluation
Barb Dorn, MSBA’s Director of Leadership and Development and Executive Search, visited the meeting to present information on superintendent evaluation. Dorm acknowledged that in evaluating a superintendent, the board is evaluating a job they have never done themselves.
While it is not a state law that boards need to evaluate a superintendent, it helps both the board and superintendent work toward their goals. Dorn complimented the board on setting four SMART goals and creating a rubric to use in evaluating progress. She explained the responsibilities of both the superintendent and the board.
The board currently has no board goals set. Dorn suggested the board set their own goals as well; the goals of the board and the superintendent are parallel and are intended to help each other.
After each board member completes an evaluation of the superintendent, the results should be complied into one summary. Time needs to be allotted for both parties to discuss the results. Dorn recommended a formative informal mid-year evaluation and a summative year end evaluation.
Other Business
In other business the board:
- Did a first reading of several policies;
- Accepted donations of $500 from Ring & Run for the general fund and $3,000 from the Houston Hurricane Foundation for the Courage Retreat;
- Honored the paraprofessionals and Anne Cameron as Hurricane Heroes;
- Heard the student school board representatives’ report detailing plans for Snow Week including dress-up days and a 7-9th grade dance.
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