October 28, 2016 at 4:00 PM - Superintendent's Weekly Update to the Board of Education

Description: 
Please see attached the timeline for our Thoughtexchange process with our internal and external public.  We are placing notices of invitation in the MCR, District web site, District Facebook Page, and SchoolMessenger.  Please encourage as many people as possible to participate in step one (share thoughts and ideas) and step two (prioritize with stars).  A person can also participate in just step one or two.  

Description: 
Andrea would like to attend this meeting with any school board members interested in going.  I believe this session is the same opportunity offered by your association (MSBA).  I'd like to let Andrea know right away who would like to go with her ASAP.  You can email me if you're interested.

Description: 
Liz had a good thought about us presenting again at the winter MSBA Conference.  Remember Mr. Bratsch and our students presented on our Y.E.S. two years ago.  After visiting with the principals on Thursday it was determined there isn't a topic we can present on this year.  They also expressed concern about time to prepare with the construction project and all the other craziness going on right now in the District.  I told them we have special and unique designs in our construction project that can be shared next year possibly.

Description: 
Please see attached the letter from American Structural Metals.  It was requested by Winkelman and the contractors to place to bed any concerns about the gym joists (i.e., "we have more than enough bearing plate, just not enough weld in a few locations").

Description: 
ARY took our long list on punch list items and added their own after a thorough walk-around of MS-HS  Areas A, B, C, and D.  You will see the various trades have lots of minor items to resolve.

Description: 
I received an email this week with the attached documents.  We may want to explore live streaming our school board meetings, concerts, plays, athletic competitions, etc.  I am just sharing a thought and it's something we can consider when the time is right.

Description: 
Mary has accepted a new position at Meeker-Wright Education District, similar to our Mid-State in Little Falls.  I asked her to please email the board members of the news.  Her official resignation will come to us next week after their board holds a special meeting next week to hire her.  Mary will then give us a 30 days notice to hire a new business manager.

FYI:  Mary is making approximately $61,000 at Royalton.  She has been offered the following in her new job:  $99,500 (off by a hundred or two) in year one, full family health, full family dental, $6,000/year in a health HSA acct., and $2,000 403b matching.  She definitely moved up in salary and benefits.

Please be aware out of the 10 school districts belonging to Meeker-Wright Education District the least paid business manager receives in the $90,000s and the highest is just under $120,000s.  This will factor in as the Royalton School District looks to hire her replacement.  I am not suggesting this needs to be the salary range at Royalton, but Mary's current salary will be the low if we want a good candidate.  Kelsie our HR will lead the hiring process that needs to include board representatives.  Please let Jim and/or me know if you're interested to be on the hiring committee.  

Description: 
Please see attached the overall construction budget as of 10-28-16.  The most important figure is the $115,640 we have remaining in the construction budget to complete the south end of the building at the MS-HS site.  The total of approved & pending changes is $413,593.36.  There should be no reason the remaining $115,640 cannot get us through the end of the project.  The remaining construction is all new and no further tie in or remodel to existing building.  The only budgetary item that I believe we'll need to readdress is the designated $75,000 for the playground.

Mary and I asked Chris this week to breakdown, in his opinion, the change orders that were related to the architects design, owner/district desired change, combination of design and owner, etc.  Please see a breakdown of the categories below. 

Breakdown of Approved and Pending Changes

Design:  $54,259.92
Design/Owner:  $37,570.87
Design/Unforeseen:  $14,185.00
Owner:  $178,357.33
Scope Gap:  $15,169.00
State Codes:  $25,331.00
Unforeseen & Unforeseen/Owner: $59,444.74
Elementary School Project:  $217,502.50 (not really changes)
Value Engineering:  -$188,234 (these were the mechanical/engineering items and $140,000 of this was included in the original budget)

Description: 
Please see attached the weekly bills for your approval.