Clearbrook-Gonvick School Board gets school bond issue at 2.06%
Tue, 01/29/2019 - 11:23am
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The Clearbrook-Gonvick School board met on Wednesday, January 23. That morning the bonds had been sold for the addition to the school building project. That includes early childhood/elementary classrooms and office, storage and mechanical spaces to be constructed. Four bidders for the project with the lowest going to Baird out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The 2.06% rate was very good according to Jodie Zasbaugh, with Ehlers and Associates Inc who has been handling the bond issue. It was very close bidding with the highest being 2.15% from Northland out of Minneapolis. Superintendent Jeff Burgess and Paula Boomgaarden in the school Business office had answered several questions on the condition of the school district. They are maintaining stable financial projections, a strong reserve and the enrollment is better. They were assigned the Triple A rating for the district. With the low interest rate they will be able to save money in the end of the project. Discussion was held on the investment of the bond money. The board looked at three options that the finance committee will be meeting on to determine the best for the funds to be placed for the project. Local banks, Ehlers and Associates who has been working with the district on the bond issue at about 2 to 2 1/2% or the Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund which is about 3%. They will be getting the figures for the best deal for the district. The board passed the resolution awarding the sale of the bonds.
Principals’ report
Principal Carl Dugstad, up dated the board on the backpacks and blankets that will have to be put in the lockers as there is getting to be too many in the classrooms. There is a locker for each student in the school.
A penalty of 4 days in ISS with a ticket from Andy Anderson the Behavior Interventionist at the school as punishment has been recommended. Vaping is the inhaling and exhaling the aerosol referred to as vapor which comes from an e-cigarette or similar device.
Dugstad attended a professional development in Thief River Falls on suicide prevention. What to do if someone is talking about suicide. They plan to tie it in with the Kindness squad.
The Math Corps is up and running. This is for 4 th to 6th grade students to help get better math scores. Tammie Ehlers will be the tutor.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Jeff Burgess informed the board that there is a need for a mixing motor for the air that will cost $6,000 to fix. There is a lot of stuff in the storage shed that will have to be auctioned off as it getting too full.
The financial report is staying on track. The most is paid out for licensed instruction. They have used 37% out of the budget so far this year. They are on the same pace as last year. The revenues are up a tad from last year with the student counts.
The 2019 Legislative agenda was indicated with the General Education formula being number one. The School board association proposes a 3% increase for each year of the biennium and index pupil formula to inflation.
A question was asked as to when the Superintendent evaluation was to be done.
No committee reports.
Consent Calendar
The board approved the treasurer’s report, electronic transfers, and bills which included: Bond Trust Services Corp $749,800.00; Stein’s Bus Service LLC $69,838.18; BRIC $58,477.03; Clearwater-Polk Electric $9,301.52; Community Oil Co. $7,868.41; Peterson Sheet Metal $6,572.59; Marco $6,020.92; Skunes David $3,500.00; City of Clearbook $3,035.20; Thompson’s Sand and Gravel $2,707.50; Ter-Lee Gardens $2,226.40; Garden Valley Telephone Co. $1,872.93; Anderson Disposal $1,809.70; Land O Lakes $1,408.31Amy Mulry $1,200.00 and Da Roos Pizza $1,196.00. Total dollars spent through January 18, 2019 was $1,318,272.13.
New business
The district will be receiving $30,000 to be used for an integration plan working with districts around including Red Lake, Bagley and Fosston on activities for each district. The focus will be on middle school with Robotics and Stem and graduation to improve the rate of students finishing school. The plan has to be sent by March 15.
The board will follow the policy on winter weather procedures. The school will start two hours late if the temperature is minus 30 and the wind chill is minus 40.
The next school year calendar was discussed. There were two proposals; one with school ending before Memorial Day and one after. Both would include graduation for seniors during Memorial Day weekend. The seniors be would be done after graduation. The teacher contract day is for 177 days. The committee will be working on it and bring back to the board.
The Soil & Water Conservation district brought up a rainwater pond idea for the south east corner of the school property. This is usually wet and would be no cost to the district except some in kind student volunteering. The mowing would have to be done on the edge of the pond after it is completed. The board suggested that no maintenance other than mowing the perimeter would be part of the plan. The Soil & Water representative will prepare a plan and present to the board at a future meeting.
The next board meeting will be February 25.