School Board Minutes

School Board Minutes January 8, 2007The reorganizational meeting of the School Board of Independent School District #696 was called to order by Tom Bruels, Superintendent, at 6:32 p.m. Present: Erzar, Kellerman, Leustek, Marsnik, Sorensen, and York-Jesme. Absent: none. Student Representative: None.Erzar nominated Marsnik for Chairman. Moved by Kellerman, seconded by York-Jesme that nominations be closed and a unanimous ballot cast for Marsnik for Chairman. Motion carried.Ray Marsnik, Chairman, took charge of the meeting at 6:37 p.m.Sorensen nominated Kellerman for Clerk, supported by Erzar. Moved by Erzar, seconded by York-Jesme, that nominations be closed and a unanimous ballot cast for Kellerman for Clerk. Motion carried.Erzar nominated York-Jesme for Treasurer, supported by Leustek. Moved by Kellerman, seconded by Leustek, that nominations be closed and unanimous ballot cast for York-Jesme for Treasurer. Motion carried.Moved by York-Jesme, seconded by Leustek, that the Board compensation for 2007 remain at $150 per month plus $30,000 worth of life insurance. Motion carried.Moved by York-Jesme, seconded by Sorensen, that the regular meeting date for 2007 remain the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. and that Monday, October 8, 2007, (Columbus Day) is not a holiday for school business purposes and a regularly scheduled meeting will be held on those days. Motion carried.Moved by Kellerman, seconded by York-Jesme, to establish a Board committee (Sorensen, Erzar, Marsnik, Leustek) to set up guidelines for an open forum session to be put on the regular board meeting agenda following "1.2 Welcome Public" and to announce such on the school's website. Motion carried.Moved by York-Jesme, seconded by Kellerman, to accept the Ely Echo as our legal newspaper for 2007 as it was the only quote submitted ($2.95 per column inch). A quote was also requested from the Ely Timberjay. Motion carried.Moved by Erzar, seconded by York-Jesme, to approve the Resolution Authorizing Employment of Legal Counsel (Scott Neff of the Trenti Law Office) for 2007 ($125.00 per hour plus out of pocket expenses). For: Erzar, Kellerman, Leustek, Marsnik, Sorensen, YorkJesme. Against: None. Motion carried.Moved by York-Jesme, seconded by Leustek, to approve the following financial institutions: Wells Fargo, Queen City Federal, Boundary Waters Bank, Minnesota School Board Liquid Asset Fund, and U.S. Bank for official depositories for 2007. Motion carried.Moved by Kellerman, seconded by York-Jesme, to approve Marie Rinta, Finance Manager, and Connie Ojala, Payroll Clerk, as individuals with authority to make electronic fund transfers. Motion carried.Chairperson Marsnik, appointed Board members to the following committees: Budget & Finance - Full board (Kellerman-chairman); Negotiations - Full board; Community Education Marsnik; MN State High School League - Leustek; Student Council - Kellerman, Superintendent's Evaluation - Leustek, Marsnik, York-Jesme; New Board Member Mentor Sorensen; Building and Grounds - Erzar (chairman), Marsnik, Leustek; Legislative Liaison Erzar; Systems Accountability/Staff Development - Leustek; Policy Book - Board as a whole; Joint Powers - Marsnik, Erzar (alternate); Ely Financial Advisory - Sorensen, Marsnik; Shared Facilities - Kellerman, Leustek, Marsnik; Home-School Liaison - Leustek. Sorensen suggested that committees present their minutes or a summary of their meetings be presented to the full board at least once a year. Moved by Erzar, seconded by Kellerman, to approve that the current IRS per diem rate for Board travel to Minnesota cities be applied as follows: first and last day and any days in between in advance and to use current U.S. General Services Administration rates for mileage reimbursement. Motion carried.Moved by Kellerman, seconded by York-Jesme, to adjourn at 7:18 p.m.Scott C. Kellerman, ClerkSchool Board MinutesJanuary 8, 2007The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District #696 was called to order at 7:25 p.m. by Chairman Marsnik. On roll call the following directors were present: Erzar, Kellerman, Leustek, Marsnik, Sorensen, and York-Jesme. Absent: None. Student Council representative: None.Moved by York-Jesme, seconded by Kellerman, that the minutes of the December 11, 2006, regular meeting; the minutes of the December 19, 2006, special meeting; and the minutes of the December 27, 2006, special meeting be approved as presented. Motion carried.Moved by Leustek, seconded by York-Jesme, that the requisitions for December 2006 be referred to the Budget and Finance Committee with the power to act. Motion carried.Moved by York-Jesme, seconded by Erzar, to approve the financial reports for the month of December 2006. Motion carried. DecemberMonthly Receipts $ 459,968.95Expenditures Monthly Payroll 381,722.70 Total Fringe Benefits 146,858.29 Invoices 128,137.39Total $ (196,749.43)Moved by Kellerman, seconded by Leustek, to accept the following donations/gifts:1. $2000.00 from the Timberwolves Varsity Hockey Boosters for the PA system in the arena.2. $2000.00 from the Ely Blue Line Club for the PA system in the arena.3. 65 red vests and bow ties from the Ely Memorial High School Band Boosters for the band program.4. $500.00 from Fred and Carol Breitling in memory of Larry Klun to be used at the school's discretion.5. $100.00 from the student council in memory of Larry Klun for the media center.6. $985.00 from various donors in memory of Larry Klun for the Memorial high school at the school's discretion.7. $158.51 (% of sales from recent Vendor Blender) from Amway, Avon, Arbonne, Creative Memories, Ely Girls' Softball, Gourmet Tea, Pampered Chef, Party Lite, Photo Throw, Ruth and Carol Pengal, Tastefully Simple, and Usborne Books to purchase a science kit for the 5th grade class or the Accelerated Reader Program.8. Thirteen hardcover and three paperback books worth $361.00 from Joe Murphy for the high school media center.9. A book and DVD titled "An Inconvenient Truth" by Al Gore from Angel Magliulo, Will Hauser, Jan and Phil Hogan, Stephanie and Steve Bish, Betty Firth, Jacki Fisher, Steve Larson, the Kenig Family, Nancy Jo Tubbs, and Sarah Kingston for the high school media center.A letter of thanks will be sent to each. Motion carried.The following correspondence/information items were presented:1. 0-4 Year Old Census Update - Tom Bruels2. Letter from Donna Kari, One Act Play Director3. Board Committee Reports; Building & Grounds.- The old arena locker rooms were discussed.Financial Advisory Committee - Sorensen reported that the next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Wednesday, February 21, 2007.Moved by Erzar, seconded by York-Jesme, to approve the contract with Architectural Resources, Inc., for the Ely School District's Long Range Facility Plan. The $15,000 cost of the contract will be paid using a portion of the $600,000 Taconite bonding funds. Motion carried.Moved by Kellerman, seconded by Sorensen, to look into putting a variety of choices of flavored water and sports drinks in the pop machine located on the bottom floor of the Memorial Bldg. Motion carried.Moved by Kellerman, seconded by Erzar, for Athletic Director, Tim Omerza to send a letter to the extra-curricular activity coaches that it is the school's policy to leave it to the coach's discretion if buses will stop for students to eat on extra-curricular trips. Motion carried.The school's security cameras were discussed. Supt. Bruels reported they are up and running with two cameras not recording clearly and are being replaced.The food service consulting firm of A'viands was discussed. Robyn Bertelsen, Food Director, reported that the firm did not show up for their scheduled on site visit and has not contacted her since.Moved by York-Jesme, seconded by Kellerman, to send a letter to the Lake Superior school district to invite them to meet at the school to further discuss annexation. Motion carried.Shared facility use was discussed (JFK Bldg.). A joint meeting is being planned with the Ely City Council.The first reading of the Home-School/Shared-Time Enrollment Policy was read. Chairman Marsnik appointed Leustek as the Board's home school liaison.Moved by Kellerman, seconded by York-Jesme, to adopt the Resolution for Structural Balance indicating that the collective bargaining agreement between the District and AFSCME Local No. 295 does not cause a structural imbalance of the school district's budget during the period of July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2007. For: Erzar, Kellerman, Leustek, Marsnik, Sorensen, York-Jesme. Against: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.Moved by Erzar, seconded by Sorensen to approve the July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2007, agreement between AFSCME Local No. 295 and ISD #696 (Vacation time as time worked for benefits purposes, remove old language that referred to the seniority changes that were made in 1989/1990, Voluntary Employee Benefits Association [VEBA] 100 Plan 831 or similar, wage increase of $.40/ hr. for 2005 and $.40/hr. for 2006, only union members currently on the district's health insurance plan to be eligible for retire health insurance benefits). Motion carried.Moved by York-Jesme, seconded by Erzar, to approve the July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2007, agreement between Memorial High School Principal Joselyn Murphy and ISD #696 (2005-2006-10% salary increase, 2006-2007 2% salary increase, Voluntary Employee Benefits Association [VEBA] 100 Plan 831 or similar. For: Erzar, Kellerman, Leustek, Sorensen, YorkJesme Against: Marsnik. Absent: None. Motion carried.A draft of the Ely School District's Long Range Financial Plan was presented. A date was set for the Budget and Finance Committee to meet (Tuesday, January 23, 2007, 6:30 p.m. in the Board meeting room, Memorial Bldg.) to review the plan draft, discuss goals for the 07-08 budget and a method for monitoring the goals, discuss possible budget reductions, and go into a closed session to discuss negotiation strategy for the next contract period.The Annual Report on Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Achievement for 2005-2006 was discussed. A copy will be submitted for the Board's approval at the February 2007 regular Board meeting.Moved by York-Jesme, seconded by Erzar, to adjourn at 9:15 p.m. Motion carried.Scott C. Kellerman, Clerk