April 11, 2014 at 4:00 PM - Superintendent's Weekly Update to the Board of Education

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Please find attached an email I sent to members of the Facilities Planning Committee.  Later today, I will go into BoardBook and create meeting agendas for all of them.  The most important one for all of you is the work session prior to the May board meeting.  It's not easy finding dates in April and may and I thought this would be most convenient for all of you.  If not, please let me know and we can schedule another date/time at the April board meeting.

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We have a schedule of persons who will write articles to MCR.  Please let me know of other individuals/organizations I should include throughout the year.  And the invitation is always open to you too. 

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Attached is the estimated tax impact and additional revenue estimates that we received from Springsted. 

Beginning this next school year, the current referendum authorization of $300/per pupil will generate $276,975.00 in new monies for the school district.

The new levy of $424/per pupil will generate $391,458.00 in new monies BUT not until the 2015-16 school year.  The levy for FY 2015 was already certified in December.  So this money does not start next fiscal year, it’s the year after.
 
The total of the two new levies will eventually be $724/per pupil or $668,433.  And it will actually be higher because our enrollment continues to increase.  It is $724 per pupil.

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REMs last proposal calculated into a total package of 7.77% with 2.63% added in the first year of the salary schedule and 1.89% in year two.

Our proposal back calculated into a total package of 7.01% with 1.74% added in the first year of the salary schedule and 0.89% in year two.  We had earlier agreed to a 7% total package.

Last evening, we heard them say the increases on the salary schedule were more important than the other items added in the total package.  We caucused and came back with a proposed to not add money on the extracurricular coaching and adviser positions.  Instead, we'd take the approximately $6,000 in new money and place it on year two of the salary schedule in the Master's degree columns.  This increases year two of the Master's from $500 to $1,000.

Our latest proposal is now a total package of 6.99% with 1.74% in year one and 1.43% in year two.  I'm receiving signs we're getting close to an agreement...I hope.

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Please find an email with Q&A from Liz and John Sylvester (MSBA Attorney).  I had asked Liz to give John a call with her questions.

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This morning at a meeting for Mid-State superintendents, some of us were discussing the unusual rash of employee issues the past two months.  Then this afternoon, the below email message was sent out from a separate group of superintendents I work with in the area.  It's going around....difficult winter

Region 6 Members,

Unfortunately, I have had a time sensitive employee issue raise its' ugly head that is going to require my attention tomorrow.  I will not be able to be at the capital.  For those of you heading down, Thank you for your hard work on our behalf!

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Please see attached an email regarding a bus accident that occurred in St. Cloud.  No one was injured fortunately.  I just want to FYI you in case you hear something in the public.

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Please find attached confidential information regarding an employee issue.

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Please find attached the weekly bills for your approval.