The Mabel-Canton School Board met in regular session on October 19. One topic that generated significant discussion was the proposal to lengthen the 2022 summer break. Superintendent Kuphal explained the reason for doing this would be to allow more time for the ”Phase 2” facility construction project over the summer. This additional time had been requested by the Kraus Anderson Construction Company, which is overseeing the project.
Kuphal shared that the original plan was for the last day of school in the spring of 2022 to be Thursday, June 2. He said the suggestion from the calendar committee was to have May 27 be the final day of classes. This plan would subtract three days from the original schedule (May 31, June 1, and June 2). To achieve this, he said the committee’s suggestion was to hold classes on February 21 and April 14 (those two days were originally set as potential “snow makeup days”). He said the committee also suggested forgiving the third day. Kuphal pointed out that this plan would have the final day of classes for Seniors on May 25.
Regarding the start of the school year in the fall of 2022, Kuphal said the original plan was to begin classes on September 6. The committee recommended September 12 instead (a difference of four school days). To achieve this, the committee suggested holding classes on February 20 and April 6 (originally set as potential “snow makeup days”) and forgiving the other two days. It was pointed out that Mabel-Canton is continuing to use a system in which any “snow days” beyond the first three in a school year will be “distance learning days.” The board voted unanimously to approve the changes to both 2022 and 2023 academic calendars as recommended by the committee and outlined by Kuphal.
Principal Michelle Wiedemann gave a presentation on “Redefining Readiness.” She said, “In August, there was a group of us that went to a new initiative here in Minnesota called Redefining Readiness.” She and Kuphal explained that the initiative originated in Wisconsin, but a group of about a dozen Minnesota schools are piloting the program now. The initiative, as explained by Wiedemann, “is taking a look at the whole student, so extracurricular, community service… “ She said the initiative uses a variety of metrics that can be used to predict future success of students. Three main areas of readiness are targeted (College Ready, Career Ready, and Life Ready). Kuphal said he likes the focus, since Mabel-Canton recognizes that a significant portion of students do not plan to go on to college.
Andrew Forliti, on behalf of the accounting firm of Smith Schafer, gave the board a summary of the recent financial audit performed on the school district, for the year ending June 30, 2021. His report included that Mabel-Canton was given an unmodified “clean” report, and that no Minnesota legal compliance issues were found. Forliti showed that in 2021, 62% of Mabel-Canton’s funding came from State Aid, with Property Taxes accounting for 14%, and Federal Aid for 13%. Overall, the district’s Total Revenues were roughly $4.2 million, which is down roughly $300,000 from the previous year. The board voted to approve the audit as presented.
Regarding Mabel-Canton’s “Return to School Plan,” Kuphal said “We met as a COVID Committee… and we reviewed our quarantining policy and testing… After we had the discussion about should we alter how we quarantine, or not, we decided not to make any changes. So, our recommendation is to continue as we have done.” He said that although local COVID numbers are rising, the school district has one of the lowest COVID rates in the state. No formal action was requested, nor taken, by the board.
The board’s next regular meeting will be November 16 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome. A joint meeting between members of the school board, along with city council members from Mabel and Canton, was set for November 17 at 6 p.m. in the school’s Media Center.
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