The Spring Grove School board met on Tuesday evening, May 17, 2021, from 7:08 p.m. to 7:43 p.m. in the school’s Learning Resource Center. Board members in attendance were Chairman Aaron Solum, Stephanie Jaster, Kelly Rohland, Jenny Stender, and Aric Elton. Absent was Board member Rhan Flatin.
Staff in attendance included Cindy Thorson, Gina Meinertz, Luke Kjelland, Rachel Udstuen, Tanya Elton.
The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, including minutes from April 19, 2021, regular board meeting, the Treasurer’s Report/Approval of Bills, and non-renewal of the .5 FTE special education position held by Laura Eglinton. Eglinton will continue to work in the district as a paraprofessional.
Principal Luke Kjelland happily announced that the MCA/MTAS testing is finished. Kjelland extended his thanks to Jeff Thompson, technology coordinator, who ensured that the testing ran smoothly. Seventeen students are scheduled to take the Advanced Placement (AP) tests.
There are 42 first through six grade students registered for summer school. The school is not sure what it will look like this year because the COVID-19 guidelines are updated weekly. Summer school for elementary students will be held for two weeks in June and two weeks in July. The school does not know how many JH/HS will enroll in summer school because it depends on credit recovery, but summer school is scheduled for July.
Assistant Superintendent Gina Meinertz extended an invitation to the board and the public from the seventh and eighth grade students to visit their showcase of learning where they share actions to solve world problems they have identified. The presentation is from 10:15-11 a.m. on Thursday, June 3, at Roverud Park. The students are energized to see that they can make a change.
Mrs. Tollefsrud’s class is partnering with the Giants of the Earth Heritage Center to display their findings. The students studied the Vikings from Norway and the Woodland Indians. Meinertz shared, “You will see a timeline along the 3D replicas showing the similarities and differences between these past cultures.”
The City received a grant from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to plant trees. DOT created a blueprint for the students to read. The students were tasked with “Figuring out where the trees are going.” The students will not dig the holes for the trees but will help plant the trees at a later date.
Important dates to remember
National Honor Society will take place on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.
The Baker Family Bluegrass Band will perform at the park gazebo on May 19. In case of rain, the performance will be held in the gym.
The senior trip to Valleyfair is Friday, May 28. Students will be leaving at 7:30 a.m. and returning late in the evening.
On May 27, the student council will host a kickball tournament. The cost is $20 a team, which will be split between the ambulance and fire departments.
The Elementary Color Run is June 3.
Graduation is on June 6 at 2 p.m. Even though it can be indoors, the students still want it outdoors at the football stadium. Guests are to bring a chair. If it rains, graduation will be held indoors at the gym. The parents like the idea of the convertible parade taking the seniors to the graduation ceremony.
Awards Day is June 2 at 10:30 a.m. Students and parents will be able to attend the ceremony in the gym, and it will be live streamed to the public. In addition, the new student council president will be announced at awards day.
Monday night, May 24, there will be a parent’s meeting regarding the school’s survey that was sent out to parents. The discussion will center around what fall will look like for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders.
General business
The legislature reached a budget target this past week. What that means is that the legislature will go into a special session. Superintendent Rachel Udstuen explained, “We fared well through COVID-19 because of decisions we made before COVID-19.” She went on to explain that the amount of COVID-19 dollars received are based on poverty indicators in your community. “We did well with what we got and are grateful for the money we have.”
The board approved the Q Comp Annual Report, as it is due June 15. The school will not have the final numbers until the middle of summer, which will be submitted at that time.
The board approved the Sports Medicine/Athletic Services 2021-2022 agreement with Winneshiek Medical Center Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Center. The annual cost is $1,900 Udstuen explained that the total amount is higher than in the past because baseball has been added to the agreement. Udstuen expressed her thoughts on the increase, “We get an incredible deal.”
The review of school policies continues. Superintendent Udstuen recommended approving policies 400 through 553 regarding employees/personnel and students. The superintendent reminded the board members that this is an annual review, and the superintendent did not recommend any changes. The board approved.
The next regular meeting of the Spring Grove Public School Board of Directors is scheduled for June 21 at 7 p.m. The school board, administration, and business manager will meet in person (10 max). The school will continue to offer the board meetings on Google Meet for anyone else who would like to attend. For assistance monitoring the meeting, contact the district office at (507) 498-3221 or email rachel.udstuen@springgrove.k12.mn.us
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