School board approves restart proposal
ard approved the re-start proposal presented by Superintendent Mary Klamm, where grades K-3 will be at the Staples Elementary building, grades 4-7 will be at Motley School and 8-12 will be at Staples Motley High School. Also included in the re-start is the proposal to change the name of the schools to unify the district under one name.
In contrast to the multiple meetings in February to discuss the proposed re-start, only three people commented at the Feb. 29 school board meeting. One parent, Meg Litts, told the board she felt that concerns brought up at the meetings were not heard, questions were not answered and they did not have data to show the need for the re-start. Litts said at one of the early meetings she suggested a feasibility study be done to determine how much of a financial impact the change would cause. She said other concerns were cut off or not heard.
“If we are truly trying to partner with families ... it’s not right for a board to behave like this,” said Litts.
Litts was the only community member who spoke, as she was the only one who asked to be on the agenda.
The two school board members who voted against the proposal gave statements as to why they’re opposed. Roy DiGiovanni agreed with Litts when he said “a lot of information needs to be analyzed to know the possible effects of what this would do.”
Dave Hoemberg said “There are a lot of holes in the proceedings up to this ... I would rather be on the right team than the winning team.
The four board members who voted in favor of the proposal, Chad Longbella, Bruce Lund, Mary Freeman and Bryan Winkels, did not give their reasons at the meeting, but had all supported elements of the proposal at earlier public meetings.
After the vote, Klamm said the next steps are for administration to get together and set up transition teams. “We will make sure the community is involved, concentrating on parents and families, to make sure it is about unity and what is best for kids,” said Klamm.
At the end of the school board meeting, Board Chair Mary Freeman said “I would like to thank everyone who participated in the facilities study, everyone who came to the school board work sessions and those who sent texts, emails, called and sent letters,” as well as the strategic planning sessions. “You were heard and your participation was deeply appreciated.”
Community education director
The board considered a proposal to create a full time community education coordinator position. Currently, Middle School Principal Tom Riitters is also the community education coordinator.
Klamm said she believes the position needs to have someone full time and that principals need to be in their buildings full time.
She said it would increase the administrative budget back to the level when community education had a coordinator and an assistant.
Board member Chad Longbella expressed concerns about budget reductions that may have to be made soon, and that community education is one area that could be targeted for cuts. “We have to look at all things,” he said.
Klamm said they could pull the full time position proposal for the time being to see how it fits in with the re-start planning.
In other news, the board
• Approved permission to participate in the Tech Mobile project sponsored by National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) and Central Lakes College, in which cutting edge technology equipment is rotated among area schools for grades K-12.
• Approved retirements:
- Paul Binek, DAPE instructor, 20 years in the district;
- Patricia DiGiovanni, Motley Elementary second grade, 19 years;
- Debbie Blowers, Motley Elementary 1st grade, 24 years;
- Julie Wollenburg, transportation, 29 years;
- Kim Dickinson, special education paraprofessional and Special Olympics assistant, 17 years
- Deb Meyers, special education, 25 years;
- Penny Wolpert, transportation, 26 years.
Approved resignations:
- Toni Sveom, enrichment and ELL;
- Sarah Miller, food service
• Approved hiring replacements for teachers and bus drivers as needed; Superintendent Klamm said they will be doing something different with enrichment services.
• Approved contract for Julie Green for the care and treatment program.
• Approved permission to explore the opportunity for 6-8th grade students to tour Italy and Greece in June, 2017.
• Named Activities Director Travis VanOverbeke and board member Bryan Winkels as representatives to the Minnesota State High School League.
• Approved spring coaching positions:
- Softball, Bruce Onischuk (head coach), Kevin Roline (assistant), Brittany Miller (middle school)
- Baseball, Mitch Anderson (head coach), Pat Held (assistant), Doug Shequen and Micheal Poncelet (middle school)
- Track and field, Marly Simmons (head coach), assistants Chad Brever, Steve Fligge, Chris Kappler and Bruce Fuhrman
- Golf, Glen Hasselberg, assistants Bill Israelson, Brad Anderson, Heather Erholtz and Kermit Klefsaas (middle school)
• Heard from High School Principal Mike Schmidt, who said the Special Olympics event at the school has become “one of the highlights of the year,” as students interact with Special Olympians from around the area.
• Heard from board member Bruce Lund about the music program’s trip to the Minnesota Music Educator’s conference. “You don’t know how good you are,” said Lund, “the music director from Wayzata could not believe the quality of all three groups from such a small school.”
