January 2, 2014 at 4:00 PM - Superintendent's Weekly Update to the Board of Education

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Mary Rose passed away on Monday, December 30.  She was a longtime teacher at Royalton High School and recently inducted into our Hall of Fame.  I didn't know her well, but her big smile and fulfillment and happiness with life made a lasting impression on me - great example how we should all live.  Her obituary is below.

Mary Kaye was born in Beresford, SD on Oct 31, 1927 and lived in several towns in South Dakota before settling in Mitchell, where she attended High School and Dakota Wesleyan University. Even as a self-described “Tomboy” she was the University Homecoming Queen, a member of the drama club, choir and other college activities.

She met and married Don Rose, started a family and shortly thereafter moved to Webster, SD. The family moved to Royalton in 1963 where both Mary and Don taught school. Mary taught English, music, school plays, coached cheerleading, accompanied musicians, played piano and organ for the Methodist Church and was active in many civic functions both in Royalton and Little Falls. She was an active member in PEO. Many of her students would often refer to her as a second Mom. After retiring, Mary and Don spent the winters in San Juan, TX, where they established many lifelong friends, friends forever as Mary said.

Mary leaves three children, Dan his wife Brenda, Dana his wife Cathy, Julie and daughter-in-law Cindy Rose (David’s) wife. Mary has eight grandchildren, Stacey, Matt, Kelly, Courtney, Amber, Scott, Alix and Adam. She also has eight great grandchildren, Daniel, Jack, Charlie, Luke, Emma, Jayden, Zach and Carson. 

The family invites friends and former students to attend a Memorial Service at the Royalton Legion on Monday Jan 6th at 6pm. Donations can be made to the Don and Mary Rose Scholarship Fund, established for Royalton HS graduates. 

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Please find attached pictures of the water damage caused by a broken pipe in Mr. Makela's classroom.  The pipe is part of the overhead sprinkler system used to put out a fire.

The cause of the broken pipe is considered a fluke by our local Fire Chief.  It was the threads on the pipe that let loose and broke.

I want to thank Bill and our custodial crew for coming in to clean up the mess on Christmas Eve morning.  Service Master was here also with their vans to help in the clean-up.  This week, the insurance agent visited the MS/HS and credited us for getting ahead of the work and preventing more and longer lasting damage to the classrooms/building.

The School District will receive an insurance check for hiring Service Master, custodial time, replacement of damages to building and equipment/supplies.  Our deductible is $1,000.

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I haven't had time yet to dissect and analyze the data in the employee survey.  I will begin doing it this afternoon after lunch.  I wanted to get a copy out to you in the meantime. 

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Please find attached Carrie Ardito's notes from interviews with community members, along with a rough draft of the "2014 Royalton Communications Recommendations."  I will visit with Carrie prior to a final draft being available to the public.  She asked me to go through it with her first.  

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Please find attached the advertisement for an after school building monitor at the MS/HS building.

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During the Christmas break, the Elementary had cameras mounted at each exterior door students, staff and the public regularly pass through.  A few exterior doors will not have a camera mounted near it (e.g., side custodial door).  David said the cameras will be operational sometime next week.

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Shelley Gurbada will be our door monitor/secretary at the Elementary.  She is completing paperwork with Kelsie as I type this message.  Phil and Judy interviewed and offered the position to two others, but were turned down by both of them.  Phil asked me if I'd support hiring Shelley for the position in his building.  I told him we can make it work if he can.  We don't have any other good options right now.  Below is an email message I received from Phil. 

Also, I have offered the position to two people, but they have turned it down.  I was interested in a third person, but she confided to me that she had anxiety problems and was concerned about she would handle an emergency situation.  I conducted an extra interview today, but it was not a good match.  My wife, Shelley, twice asked me about applying for the position, but I dissuaded her.  I asked Judy about it yesterday and she was very positive.  I have decided to hire Shelley as a long term sub for the position and see how it goes.  She has great people skills, good enough secretarial skills, and a nursing degree.  I will also consider advertising again, but I want to have someone in this position when we get back from Christmas.  The interviews were done with Judy, and she also does not see any other viable candidates.

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Brent was at the special board meeting when we talked about building security and supervision.  He updated his coaches handbook to address some of our questions/concerns.  He wants to share those changes with the Board and me.  You can find them as bold lettering in the attached document.

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Please find attached a beginning draft of the 2014-15 school calendar.  The principals will be sending out a two question survey to our parents.  Do you want to have no school on December 22 & 23 and go two days into June?  Do you want the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off or a day for deer hunting?  Note:  These are not the exact wording of the questions.

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A group of 20+ leaders in Morrison County will be visiting our District next week.  The purpose of their visit is to tour our school buildings and ask me a few questions about my leadership challenges and successes.  More information can be found in the attached email document.  

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Mary will be joining us for closed negotiations on Monday evening.  I asked her to be in attendance to share the data the Board asked for and to answer any other costing or budget related questions.  She will stay as long as asked and leave when the Board has all the needed questions answered.

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In this month's MASA journal was a featured article on negotiations.  I thought it would be worth sharing since we're entering into another negotiations year with our employees.  My years of coursework and reading numerous books on leadership (educational leadership, business leadership and military leadership) agrees with the "interest based bargaining" found on the right column of the chart. 

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Sue sent me an update of labor costs from Gene's Repair.  We are still coming out ahead with Gene mechanic services, in more ways than one.  Hopefully, we can continue to work with Gene in future months and years.  I haven't heard his latest plans for the business.

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Please find attached a thank you message from Mrs. Marschel.  She presented at the December board meeting on P.A.K.R.A.T. program.  

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Please find attached the weekly bills for your approval.