Lanesboro School Board member Steve Storhoff gave the Facility Committee report at the February 21 Lanesboro School Board meeting. The facility project plans are continuing to be reviewed and tweaked by the committee before they are finalized. Storhoff noted that it’s an ongoing process.
More information on the project can be found under the Future Facility Project tab on the school’s website, www.lanesboro.k12.mn.us.
Superintendent Matt Schultz is continuing to look into options for solar updates to the school and will have more information on that at a later date. The cost savings of installing a solar powered system in the school would be approximately $40,000 a year after breaking even in the fourth year of operation.
Elementary principal James Semmen and second grade teacher Nicole Howard will have a proposal ready to present to the board at their March school board meeting. They would like to change the first two days of school to back-to-school conferences for grades K-6 instead of the usual open house and fall conferences. This would allow teachers to conduct one-on-one assessments with each of the students during the first two days of school rather than having to wait several weeks into the school year. Howard pointed out that performing those assessments right away allows the teachers and students to hit the ground running. Principal Semmen noted that this would mean losing the first two days of school, but he felt that the pros outweighed the cons. If the proposal is approved by the board at the March meeting, online sign-ups for parents to schedule a time slot for the child will be available by the end of the June. The board thanked Principal Semmen and Howard for their time.
Superintendent Schultz reported that the Lanesboro Child Care Center is looking at restructuring its rates for daycare. Right now, five different options are being considered and he will have a formal proposal to present to the board at the March meeting.
The board reviewed the first readings of policies 601 regarding school district curriculum and instructional goals, 603 regarding curriculum development, and 612.1 regarding development of parent and family engagement policies for Title I programs.
The continuing contract teacher seniority list was approved as well as a contract with Smith Schafer and Associates for auditing services.
The next Lanesboro School Board meeting will be held on March 21 at 7 p.m.