SOUTHWEST STAR CONCEPT SCHOOL

Board of Education Regular Meeting

August 21, 2007

 

The Board of Education of Independent School District #330 held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 21, 2007, in the board room in Heron Lake.  Larry Diemer, Harvey Kruger, John Volk, Dale Hesemann, John Stenzel, Jill Liepold, and ex officio Becky Cselovszki, Superintendent, were present.  Deb Mathias, Cindy Owen, Tracy Freking, and Michelle Olsem, student council representative, were present. 

 

John Stenzel, chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  A quorum was declared with all members present.  Hesemann moved, seconded by Diemer, to approve the agenda with the additional items.  The motion carried unanimously.  Hesemann moved, seconded by Kruger, to approve the minutes of the July 17, 2007, re-organizational meeting.  The motion carried unanimously.  Hesemann moved, seconded by Kruger to approve the minutes of the July 17, 2007, regular board meeting.  The motion carried unanimously.  Stenzel moved, seconded by Hesemann, to approve the Treasurer’s report.  The motion carried unanimously.  Liepold moved seconded by Hesemann, to approve the payment of the bills.  The motion carried unanimously. 

 

                        GENERAL FUND                                                           $947,978.80

                        FEDERAL PROGRAMS                                                              0.00

                        ATHLETICS/ACTIVITIES                                           8,863.21

                        FOOD SERVICE                                                                     249.80

                        COMMUNITY EDUCATION                                                   1,082.08

                        DEBT REDEMPTION                                                                  0.00

 

                        TOTAL                                                                          $958,173.89

                        GROSS PAYROLL AUGUST 2007                                    127,362.52

                        FIXED CHARGES                                                              18,532.29

 

Deb Mathias gave the Activity Director’s report.  Baseball field renovation has started with backstop work.  Demolition and renovation of the dug outs will begin on September 15.  Participant numbers for volleyball are 33 players in grades 9-12 and 17 players in grades 6-8.  Participant numbers for football are 36 players in grades 9-12 and 25 players in grades 6-8.  There will be a 4-team football scrimmage in Okabena on August 25.  They will have both 9-man and 11-man games.  There are possibly 3 cross country runners that are running with Windom.

 

Mathias then gave the TEAM report.  Smart Boards are installed in two of the upper grade classrooms.  Summer school will be done on Thursday, August 23. 

 

Cindy Owen gave the Dean of Student report.  Staff will  have an in-service on August 27.  One of the topic s that will be covered will be how to use the Smart Boards.  Preschool conferences will be held on August 28 and 30.  On August 29, the teachers will be attending the Teaching and Learning Conference in Marshall.  Staff development will be paying for this conference.  SSC Homecoming week will start with coronation on September 17 and end with the Homecoming game on September 21. 

 

Becky Cselovszki gave the Superintendent report.  She has been trying to contact Greg Camforth, vice-president from Chester Pools and he finally replied right before the meeting.  They will be sending renovation plans for the pool directly to the Minnesota Department of Health.  We will be waiting for the approval from them before any renovations can be done.  Discussion was held on the low math scores on the MCA tests.  This test is given to students in grades 2-8 and 11.  This test has many analytical thinking questions, with many story problems.  Our emphasis in our curriculum in the last few years does not match these types of questions.  Cindy Owen also commented that all students in these grades are taking the tests.  If the students are not good readers, they will not do well with this type of test.  Also, the percentage of special education students could greatly affect the scores.  Other tests, including the NWEA, have been good.  Michelle Olsem also commented on the math curriculum.  Discussions have been held between the math department, elementary teachers and Superintendent Cselovszki. Enrollment numbers are up from last year.  There are 24 new students to the district with an 11 student increase in enrollment since last May.  This also includes 6 foreign exchange students.  Some classes in the High School will have 30 + students, including Strength and Conditioning class.  Katie Hattendorf will be helping with this class.  Schedule changes cannot be made until college class schedules from the PSEO students are considered.  The SSC school picnic will be held on August 26 at 5:00 at the Okabena Park.  The HLOCF golf open will be held on September 9.  There are 10 teams registered.  The MN Rural Education Leadership Partners conference will be held on September 20-21. 

 

Stenzel moved, seconded by Hesemann, to approve the dates of the Truth and Taxation meetings.  They will be held on November 29, 2007 at 5:00 with a continuation date of December 12 at 5:00.  The motion carried unanimously. 

 

Two display monitors have been installed in the High School.  One is mounted on the wall by the cafeteria and the other is mounted in the foyer area.  The daily bulletin and other announcements will be posted during the school day. Paul Bang has sold annual ads to help with the publication of the yearbook.  He would like to increase the visibility of these ads and post them on the display monitors during the home volleyball and basketball game.  They would not be in the annual which will cut down on publication costs.  Volk moved, seconded by Diemer, to approve this fundraiser.  The motion carried unanimously. 

 

Hesemann moved, seconded by Kruger, to approve 5 secondary open-enrollment students from the Windom district.  The motion carried unanimously.  Diemer moved, seconded by Liepold, to approve an open-enrollment student from the JCC district.  The motion carried unanimously.  

 

Stenzel moved, seconded by Hesemann, to approve the teaching contract for Charon Doyscher, for the full time special education position.  The motion carried unanimously.  Volk moved, seconded by Diemer, to approve the part time Physical Education teaching contract for Katie Hattendorf .  The motion carried unanimously.  Superintendent Cselovszki informed the Board that the second grade will have 28 students and the TEAM will be considering hiring an additional second grade teacher. 

 

Stenzel moved, seconded by Kruger, to approve the following RESOLUTION:  That the Board of School District #330 delegates the control, supervision and regulation of interscholastic athletic and fine arts events to the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).  Further Resolved, that Southwest Star Concept High School will renew its membership in the MSHSL, and that the Board hereby adopts the Constitution, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations as are published in the latest edition of the League’s Official Handbook.  Voting in Favor:  ALL (Stenzel, Diemer, Volk, Kruger, Hesemann, and Liepold).  Voting Against: NONE. The RESOLUTION carried. 

 

Kruger moved, seconded by Volk, to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried unanimously. 

 

Respectfully Submitted

 

Jill Ivy Liepold.Clerk