Clearbrook-Gonvick Board hold January meeting
The Clearbrook-Gonvick School Board reorganized for the new year at their meeting on Monday, January 25. Jeff Westrum was elected Chair, Tracy Imle Clerk and Jim Galloway Treasurer. Board salaries were set the same as last year, $65.00 for each officer, $60 for a regular meeting, $45 for negotiations meetings and $40 for a committee meeting. They set the third Monday of each month for their meeting day except for Monday that has a legal holiday. The First State Bank in Clearbrook and Northern State Bank in Gonvick will be the official depositories. The Leader-Record will be the official publication with the Farmers Independent as the second outlet. Knutson and Flynn will be the school attorney and the mileage rate is the IRS rate. The Superintendent is the authorized Local Education Authority Representative.
Principal Jeff Burgess
•Principal Burgess gave an update on things coming up at the school. Snow week is February 8 to 12. There will be day games and conferences. They plan on serving a meal the night during conferences. A Spelling Bee was to be held January 28 at 9:30 a.m.
•They held an assembly to being the second semester. Their goal is to improve in all areas of the testing. Practice testing starts in two weeks.
•February is "I Love to Red Month". The Elementary is using a magic theme. A magician is coming in for the kick off on February 1. The elementary teachers are planning all the events. Burgess stated he appreciates what the staff does for all events.
•He is working on scheduling and they are going to try and do electronic registration this year. A course guide will be available for students.
Superintendent Wayne Olson
•Superintendent Olson informed the board that he had posted the new music position and has received the first application. The new position would assist Mrs. Stewart in the music department by doing elementary music and high school choir.
•The district is looking at new guidelines for hiring procedures. They would first be posted at the state, school web site, teachers’ lounge and office boards.
•The district received a check for $10,469 as a rebate from the Health Insurance policy from last year. They will decide what they have to do with the check.
*Marco, a computer company that has been working with the school the past three years, has a contract that is up for renewal. It was a three year contract. They have been paying $69,000 per year. The company met at the school with staff and offered $62,000 for the year. Olson stated that they are looking at other options and companies. They thought that they were not making good use of it. When they had a problem they had to be on line with Marco to get things fixed. They will be looking at other options as their contract runs out June 30.
*Negotiations with the staff and the district and about done. The contract will have to finalized by the teachers and be brought to the board for their signatures.
Consent calendar
The board approved the consent calendar for the bills, electronic transfer and other bank transactions. Bills included: Stein’s Bus Service LLC $52,777.93; Clearwater-Polk Electric $8,569.82; Marco $7,722.21; Community Oil Co. $5,529.76; City of Clearbrook $2,424.42; Anderson Disposal 41,809.70; Garden Valley Telephone Company $1,523.36; 2 Loons Letters & Threads $1,003.00.
Old Business
The board approved the fourth year of Michelle Morgan’s continued leave.
New business
•Clearbrook-Gonvick Police Chief Dan Gazelka presented a School Safety presentation. Public safety officials are re-evaluating the lockdown protocols, training and drills. They are ending the lockdown only and adding Hide Out, Run Out and Fight Out. He also mentioned a program called ALICE which is (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) that would be available for training and the cost could be split with another district. The program would have to be investigated.
•The board approved a two–year contract for Principal Jeff Burgess. First year a 5.01% increase with a salary of $79,000 and full family insurance. The second year a 3% increase to $81,500.
•The board accepted the $10,000 donation from Lou Ann Nylan for the Clearbrook-Gonvick Library and the $5,000 donation from Terri Vorderbruggen and family for the Car Restoration Program
•They designated board member Tom Stenzel as the Representative to the MN State High school League along with Athletic Director Kyle Christianson.
Action items for next months’ meeting on February 23 include Health and Safety Meeting, Web site updates and Thanks You cards being sent out.