Clearbrook-Gonvick school received a clean audit opinion
Tue, 10/29/2019 - 11:14am
admin
By:
Bonnie Kirchman
“A high school diploma gives hope,” John Eggers told the Clearbrook-Gonvick school board at their meeting on Monday, October 21, 2019.
John updated the school board members on the “100% Graduation” program, a community movement that promotes the positive benefits of attaining a high school diploma. Adults are encouraged to share the impact their own high school diploma has had on their lives. The program hopes to help create a mind set among young people that they can and should graduate from high school. Since the program’s start, 314 agencies from the area have pledged their support for this effort. John thanked the Clearbrook-Gonvick school board and administration for their support.
The board approved the minutes from the September 16, 2019 meeting. Staff changes addressed during that meeting included the approval of the transition for Lori Lundell from a kitchen position to the ECSE position. The board approved the resignation of Jo Voxland from her position as administrative assistant. During the September meeting, the board also approved the request for an additional assistant volleyball coach at the junior high level.
At the October meeting, teacher Michelle DeVries presented the “Spotlight on Education”, highlighting many activities from the school and classrooms. Bear Pride Awards is a new program that recognizes students who are doing positive things in the school community. Teachers and staff are able to nominate the students who will then be recognized in the newspaper and on the school website. So far this year the students have participated in Homecoming, Bring Your Parents to Lunch Day, and Apple Crunch Day. The FFA packed harvest snack bags for area farmers and attended a fall rally. Third grade and seventh grade students have visited the school forest, doing learning activities such as identifying trees. The music department was able to purchase a baritone saxophone for use by band students.
Principal Carl Dugstad reported that Andy Anderson attended a two-week D.A.R.E. training session in South Dakota during the summer. He will be doing a 10-week D.A.R.E. program for the 5th and 6th grade classes this fall. Fall NWEA testing for the lower elementary grades has almost been completed. This testing provides a baseline for student achievement and helps teachers and administrators to track educational growth for individual students over the school year. Cultural issues that impact students were the topic of a recent professional development session. The school’s website is being updated to increase effective communication between the school and the community. On October 27th, a Trunk or Treat activity will be held in the school parking lot.
Superintendent Jeff Burgess discussed the achievement integration plan. Sixth grade students are attending training sessions at the Concordia Language Camp. The training focuses on leadership skills. There will be a meeting on the behavior and wellness grant on October 29th. This grant will be used to purchase a social/emotional curriculum for 6th-8th grade students. Mr. Burgess reported that the bid day for the building addition project will be January 14, 2020. Money for the project has been invested in CDs, with the maturity dates lining up with the project draw schedule to maximize interest and still have money available when needed for project payments. The administration is expecting $15,000 in school safety dollars. This money may be used for vape detectors and replacing cameras. The audit was completed and the report will be presented to the board at this meeting. The administration will focus on fine-tuning the budget, a difficult task for schools due to variations in expenses and incomes that cannot be predicted.
The technology committee reported that some of the equipment, such as servers, are old and will need to be replaced in the near future. The building committee met during the past month to review plans for the building addition project. Changes have been made to the project plans to reduce costs. The transportation committee met with Stein’s Bus Service to discuss the mileage agreement for bus routes that are over the mileage allowed in the contract.
The board members approved the audit as presented by John Hagen of Eide Bailly. The school received a clean audit opinion. Hagen also provided an analysis of the district’s various funds. The district’s cash and investment balances have been following an upward trend over the last 10 years. The general fund is trending in the right direction with an ending balance of about $1.4 million. The positive general fund balance gives the district a more favorable bond rating, opportunities to invest, and a cushion for unexpected expense increases or income decreases. The community service fund is also trending in the right direction, with a positive balance of $35,000. Prior to 2017, this fund had been at a deficit balance. The food service fund and debt service fund are both staying consistent when compared to the past 8-10 years.
The board approved the assurance of compliance, which ensures that the districts policies are nondiscriminatory. These policies are in line with the new guidelines from the state. The foster transportation agreement with Clearwater County was also approved. This agreement is a requirement for eligibility for certain funds.
A memorandum covering the extra mileage to be paid on a per mile basis for bus routes was approved. The extra mileage for routes that go over the contract maximum has been paid in prior years, but it hadn’t been addressed specifically in the contract. The district has seen an increase in the extra mileage at the start of the school year.
Superintendent Burgess addressed the necessity of purchasing a new school car. The current car is no longer certified for carrying students because it is over 12 years old. As a result, the district does not have emergency transportation available for students. The current vehicle can still be used by staff. It can also be used for drivers’ education as long as it is certified by a mechanic each year. Burgess presented the board members with options as well as price quotes for several vehicles that are available for purchase by the district. The board members will review the choices and consider the vehicle purchase at the next meeting.
The school board approved the purchase of two vape detectors that will be placed within the school building. The devices will send alerts to administration and staff when vaping is detected. Staff may be trained on the used of the detectors through an online webinar.
Payments made from the district include $77,998.06 to Stein’s Bus Service, LLC, $60,205.54 to BRIC, $10,116.44 to Clearwater-Polk Electric, $9,485.14 to Community Oil Co., payments of $4,189.35 and $2,553.47 to Marco, $2,127.47 to Land O’Lakes, and $1,945.93 to Garden Valley Telephone Co.