April 19, 2021 at 7:30 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  All speakers are asked to complete the Listening Session Sign-in Form including as much detail as possible and including a printed / written copy of your presentation if one is available. This is an opportunity for the Board to listen, the Board will not engage in dialogue. As a general rule, the Board will not comment on or respond to any comments made by speakers. Please do not include names of Greenbush Middle River employees or representatives, their title, or location in your remarks for your own legal protection and the legal rights of staff.

Each speaker will have five (5) minutes to speak: speakers may not roll their time to another speaker. Speakers will be timed and are asked to complete their comments in this time frame. Board members may ask questions if needed.  Please begin your presentation by stating your name and topic only.
In the spirit of fairness to all participants, we request that you respect the format above. Thank you for taking the time today to attend this meeting and share your concerns and suggestions.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, members of the public may wish to email Board communication(s) to <info@greenbush.k12.mn.us>

Description:  Mrs. Mary Anderson (Advisor) and up to five First Robotics students will present to the Board.

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Description:  Budget consists of 6 fund balances:

o  01 General Fund
o  02 Food Service
o  04 Community Services
o  07 Debt Redemption
o  08 Scholarships
o  09 Student Activities
• *see attached

Description:  TOP NOTCH (Jeff & Roberta Jenson) donation to First Robotics...... $150.00
Northwest Minnesota Manufacturing Association donation to First Robotics...... $500.00
Lorraine Blawat donation in memory of Rafine Blawat School Library ... $50.00
Greenbush Veterinary Clinic donation to First Robotics...... $1,000.00
Young's General Store donation toward Boys Basketball.....$100.00
The Honker Newspaper donation toward Boys Basketball...$50.00

Your community is generous.   When donations are sent to the school, the District Office receipts them and sends them a THANK YOU note.  We also recognize the donations at a school board meeting.

Donations often times go directly to a Program/Coach/Advisor or Booster Club.  When this happens the Program/Coach/Advisor sends a THANK YOU note.  We (District Office) don't know when these donations come in so they are not recognized at a public board meeting.

Two donations for deferring State Boys Basketball expenses (beyond what the school is obligated to pay) were sent to the District Office from THE HONKER and from Young's General Store.

Nearly 25 other donations for deferring State Boys Basketball expenses were sent DIRECTLY to the Head Boys Basketbal Coach.  

A motion was made by __________________ and seconded by _______________ to accepted the afore-mentioned donations to the School District.
Roll Call Vote

 

Description:  Resolution Placing a Continuing Contract/Tenured Teacher on Unrequested Leave of Absence Upon Acquiescence of Such Placement

BOARD MEMBER  _______________ introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:

WHEREAS, the School Board of Independent District No. 2683 adopted a resolution proposing placement of Carol H. Rhen on unrequested leave of absence on March 29, 2021, on the grounds of 

1. lack of pupils
2. financial limitations

WHEREAS, said written notice of the proposed placement on unrequested leave of absence was received by Carol H. Rhen by personal service on March 30, 2021; and

WHEREAS, said written notice of the proposed placement on unrequested leave of absence contained a statement setting forth the reasons for the proposed placement as well as a statement that she was entitled to a hearing before the School Board provided she make a request in writing within fourteen days, of receipt of said notice, and that if no hearing was requested within said fourteen day period it constituted acquiescence by Carol H. Rhen to the School Board's proposed action; and

WHEREAS, no written request for a hearing was received by the School Board or Superintendent from Carol H. Rhen as of April 19, 2021; and

WHEREAS, said failure to make written request for a hearing within fourteen days after receipt of notice of proposed placement on unrequested leave of absence constitutes acquiescence by Carol H. Rhen to said placement on unrequested leave of absence;

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent District No. 2683 that Carol H. Rhen be and hereby is placed on unrequested leave of absence as a teacher of Independent District No. 2683 on the grounds of

1. lack of pupils
2. financial limitations

at the end of the 2020 -2021 school year effective June 30, 2021, in accordance with the District Master Agreement and pursuant to Minn. Stat. 122A.40, subd. 10 without pay or fringe benefits.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a notice of placement on unrequested leave, together with a copy of this resolution be forwarded to said teacher personally and that an affidavit of same be placed in her personnel file, together with a copy of the notice and resolution.

Description:  Resolution Placing a Continuing Contract/Tenured Teacher on Unrequested Leave of Absence Upon Acquiescence of Such Placement

BOARD MEMBER  _______________ introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:

WHEREAS, the School Board of Independent District No. 2683 adopted a resolution proposing placement of Tina M. Taus on unrequested leave of absence on March 29, 2021, on the grounds of 

1. lack of pupils
2. financial limitations

WHEREAS, said written notice of the proposed placement on unrequested leave of absence was received by Tina M. Taus by personal service on March 30, 2021; and

WHEREAS, said written notice of the proposed placement on unrequested leave of absence contained a statement setting forth the reasons for the proposed placement as well as a statement that she was entitled to a hearing before the School Board provided she make a request in writing within fourteen days, of receipt of said notice, and that if no hearing was requested within said fourteen day period it constituted acquiescence by Tina M. Taus to the School Board's proposed action; and

WHEREAS, no written request for a hearing was received by the School Board or Superintendent from Tina M. Taus as of April 19, 2021; and

WHEREAS, said failure to make written request for a hearing within fourteen days after receipt of notice of proposed placement on unrequested leave of absence constitutes acquiescence by Tina M. Taus to said placement on unrequested leave of absence;

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent District No. 2683 that Tina M. Taus be and hereby is placed on unrequested leave of absence as a teacher of Independent District No. 2683 on the grounds of

1. lack of pupils
2. financial limitations

at the end of the 2020 -2021 school year effective June 30, 2021, in accordance with the District Master Agreement and pursuant to Minn. Stat. 122A.40, subd. 10 without pay or fringe benefits.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a notice of placement on unrequested leave, together with a copy of this resolution be forwarded to said teacher personally and that an affidavit of same be placed in her personnel file, together with a copy of the notice and resolution.

The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Member ___________ and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof:

and the following voted against the same:  

whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted on April 19, 2021.

 

Description:  The current (2020-2021 school year) Superintendent of the Greenbush Middle River School District is employed in a part-time interim position.

During the February 2021 regular meeting, the Board approved renewal of the Agreement.  The salary increase will be ~1.90% above the previous year.  The Board Chair, Vice Chair and Clerk were involved in the renewal Agreement.

A motion was made by ______________, seconded by _________________ to renew the Superintendent Agreement with salary changes with Larry S. Guggisberg, Ed. D. for the 2021-2022 School [fiscal] year.

Description:  Approve Child Care Leave request as per submitted letter by high school mathematics teacher Mrs. Tara Kern effective October 25, 2021 through January 24, 2022.  (Dates may be subject to change)  Leave  may require utilizing a combination of PTO and leave without pay as per working GMR-EA Agreement.


A motion was made by __________________ and seconded by _______________ to approve Child Care Leave request as per submitted letter by high school mathematics teacher Mrs. Tara Kern effective October 25, 2021 through January 24, 2022.  (Dates may be subject to change).   Leave  may require utilizing a combination of PTO and leave without pay as per working GMR-EA Agreement.  
Roll Call Vote
 

Description:  Motion by Board Member _______________________ and seconded by _______________ to employ Mr. Robert Bridges as an evening custodian / cleaning person.

Roll Call Vote

Description:  Roseau County Public Health is receiving requests from parents, families and adolescents that the adolescents are asking when is it their turn to be vaccinated against Covid.

Public health will have the opportunity to obtain Pfizer vaccine in the next 1-2 weeks to be used to vaccinate 16 year old and older residents of the county including students.

To facilitate & encourage vaccination, the GMR School intends to partner with Roseau County Public Health to hold on site (in the school building, during school hours or right after school) Covid vaccination clinics for our student population 16-18 years old.   Staff who have not been vaccinated can be vaccinated also at this on site clinic.  

School role in this project:
 

• Help advertise this opportunity to students and parents/legal guardians; methods of advertisement could include school announcements, take home info, website, parent triage phone announcement etc. 
• Help distribute the consent forms or make available the consent forms to the students and parents.
• Collect the consent forms and send forms to Public Health a few days prior to the clinic in order for Publich Health to schedule the students and obtain the appropriate amount of Covid Vaccine from the state. 

Public health role in this project:

• Provide to the school consent forms and vaccine information sheets
• Schedule an agreed upon date and time at the school building
• Schedule each student that has requested vaccination
• Staff the school Covid vaccination clinic
• Record vaccination in MIIC state registry   
• Share outcome data with the school

 

Description: 

The district typically adopts a revised budget mid-way through the year.  State law requires school districts to adopt their budgets before the fiscal year begins July 1 even though various revenue amounts sometimes not available at that time.

A revised budget is typically adopted to provide a clearer picture of the year’s revenue and spending.

State Revenue remains pretty much the same as when the 2020-2021 budget was adopted.  This can be attributed to no real loss in enrollment from October 1, 2020 to the present.  (see Agenda item 14.1.a)

Federal revenue has increased thanks to "one time" pandemic aid approved by Congress. (see attached)  However, that money has limited uses and must be applied to eligible expenses.

Federal funding has arrived in different "buckets," each with different rules for how and when the money is to be spent. 

A word of caution to the Board about using the Federal funding.  One-time funds are just that.  We need to make sure the District doesn't encumber itself and plan for the time when the Federal funds run out.

If current school year (with COVID related) expenses were added to the 2020-2021 estimated school budget it would mean an even greater budget deficit amount.  However, the District is working towards coding COVID related and eligible expenses to be offset by Federal allocations.  This is an on-going effort and therefore we have not put the effort into amending the 2020-2021 estimated school budget.   On going efforts are being made to shift typical General Fund (01) eligible expenses to Federal funding to improve the District's General Fund balance.

 

Description:  See attached for Greenbush Middle River School District enrollment as
of April 1, 2021.

Description:  As per Employee Agreement(s), the GMR School District provides group health and hospitalization insurance to eligible employees.  Three bids were received to host the GMR group health and hospitalization insurance effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023.

On or before March 30, 2021 Group H & H Insurance bids were received from:
1) Public Employee Insurance Program;
2) NW Service Cooperative (administered by Blue Cross / Blue Shield); and
3) Blue Cross / Blue Shield

Bids were opened before school on April 1, 2021 in the presence of the Supt. of School and three GMR-EA members.

On April 16, the Supt. met with three members of the GMR-EA to review the bid results.

GMR-EA will continue to review bids and sample the wishes of the local Association.

A [final] determination of group H & H will be made in early May.

Description:  Due to recent police [tragic] events (George Floyd & Daute Wright) in Minneapolis, the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) caucus have called for leadership to suspend the advancement of the proposed omnibus bills until police accountability and criminal justice reform measures are addressed. Even so, the 2021 regular legislative session will end on Monday, May 17, which is just four weeks away.  House and Senate leadership continue to march the major budget bills through the process. Both the Senate and House will review and debate their bills this week. 
Source:  MN Rural Education Assocation  April 19, 2021

 

Description:  April 12-30 in GMR and throughout the state of Minnesota schools wil be administering required statewide math and reading tests - called MN Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs).  The tests are administered every year to measure student performance relative to the Minnesota Academic Standards that specify what students in a particular grade should know and be able to do.
Reading and mathematics tests are administered in grades 3-8 and high school (students in grade 10 take the Reading MCA, and students in grade 11 take the Mathematics MCA).  
see attached

Description: 
Motion by__________________        Second by ____________________ to ADJOURN

Description: 

• Regular May School Board Meeting - May 17, 2021 @ 7:30 p.m. in GMR School Cafeteria.