Jan Mitchell, LWV observer
All members were present.
Announcements included:
• Minnesota Educator, journal of the MN Education Association, has an article praising the book Caught in the Storm about the James gang in Northfield. This book was written by Northfield Middle School students under the supervision of Earl Weinman.
• 100 employees participated (despite windy conditions) in a wellness program 5K.
• The girls’ golf team won the conference championship.
• A Clean-Up Day effort combined special education students with peers in regular education.
• A large number of Middle School students earned President’s Awards for academic achievements.
• The high school band provided excellent music for the Memorial Day program.
• An open house at Sibley provided information about the building project.
Sarah Swan MacDonald introduced teachers and students from several buildings who reported on their service learning experiences this year. Among them were:
• 4th graders visiting elderly people at the Retirement Center each month.
• Middle School science students doing buckthorn removal, planting trees, and experimenting with bird feeder success.
• 3rd graders buying a plot in the Greenvale Community Garden and agreeing to tend it over the summer and donate the produce to the food shelf.
• Bridgewater Green Team members educating their classmates about composting.
• A high school student providing anti-drug messages for middle school students.
The Board thanked the students and staff for these impressive efforts.
The District Educational Program Advisory Committee (DEPAC) reported on the goals they have developed for next year:
1. Assessment Sub-Committee
* Data tools will be systematically integrated into teaching practices to support student achievement.
2. Curriculum & Staff Development Sub-Committee
* Monitor implementation of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
and provide training, resources & support for staff
* Communicate the effectiveness of PLCs with staff, School Board, & community.
* By 2010-2011, PLCs will be fully implemented, so that PLC teams will address student needs through the use of data, formative assessments, & research-based teaching strategies.
* each building will have systematic interventions that support students and teachers.
3. Student Support Services Sub-Committee
* facilitate teacher’s collaborative work to identify students’ academic & behavioral needs, establish a continuum of instructional options that addresses needs, and use continuous progress monitoring to guide instruction.
* strengthen school connectedness among students, families & staff, promoting mutual respect and responsibility to enhance emotional and
social development.
The Board thanked this Council for its accomplishments.
The proposed budget for the Food Service was presented by Pam Haupt. The menu will feature more healthy options next year, and a 10 cent price increase for lunch is anticipated.
The proposed General Fund Budget for next year was presented. Stable enrollment is anticipated, and the basic formula from the state is continued at $5,124 per student. No negative impact on our budget is expected from state special education funding. The operating referendum provides $1,260 per resident student, and we are in the 3rd year of this 7 year referendum. At this point, there is too much uncertainty about the Federal Stimulus funds to factor them in this budget. Sources of revenue include state aids (74%), local property taxes – including referendum funds – (18%), federal aids (5%) and tuition , fees & other (3%). Expenditures break down to instruction (71%), pupil support services (8%), operations & maintenance (6%), district support services (5%), administration (4%). The general fund will amount to almost 36 million dollars.
The board unanimously approved adding special education administrative support using special education funding. The time demands on building administrators is currently excessive, and even with the change, Northfield has less administrative support and more intensive programs than neighboring districts.
They also approved a resolution to apply for funds ($1,980,000) for the Sibley construction project from the Qualified School Construction Bonds. This provides the bondholder with a tax credit in lieu of an interest payment. This means a no interest or very low interest way for districts to borrow.
The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m. and a work session followed.