Board takes up staffing issues and grant applications

By Bonnie Kirchman

The Clearbrook-Gonvick School Board met for the regular monthly meeting on February 19th. Items on the agenda included staffing issues and grant applications.

Two parents and two students attended the meeting, inquiring about the possibility of the students joining a wrestling program as Clearbrook-Gonvick does not have a team. Jeff Burgess will contact other schools for information on forming a cooperative agreement and present the information to the board for further discussion.

High school teacher Jim Bettin spoke on behalf of the scheduling committee, describing Common Resource Time, or CRT to the board. CRT would eliminate the current study halls, replacing them with a time each day where all students and staff would be available for homework and make-up work. CRT would be scheduled on a rotating basis, allowing students to have regularly scheduled time with each of their teachers. Teachers John Lavin, Michelle DeVries, and Jolie Hjort also spoke to the board about their experiences with CRT.

“I think the biggest problem we have as teachers is dealing with the missed make-up work that has to be done. And that’s where students fall through the cracks,” John Lavin commented.

The CRT program could potentially eliminate some of the issues caused by student absenteeism in the high school. Students who ride the school bus do not have enough time before or after school to meet with teachers for making up assignments. Some students do not have support outside of school to help them organize and complete their assignments. CRT would allow teachers extra time in their classrooms to present missed lessons and labs to groups of students. Quizzes and tests could be made up with fewer delays. In addition, the teachers could help students monitor progress in all of their classes to make certain missed assignments are completed.

Jolie Hjort said that CRT allows teachers to “see their own students at least once every seven days” and would help teachers “catch the kids who could fall through the cracks.”

CRT would present some challenges for teachers’ daily planning as they would need to adjust for the rotating CRT hour. CRT would eliminate study halls in teachers’ schedules and could create contractual issues.

A five-day trial of the CRT program was positively received by staff and students. The teachers proposed a one-year trial of Common Resource Time to allow staff and the opportunity to monitor the program and its impacts on students' grades and attendance. The board members will discuss and make a decision on the CRT program at the March board meeting.

Sarah Goudge presented the Spotlight on Education.  Teachers and students took advantage of the cold weather with kindergarten students making igloos, 4th grade students making ice cream using snow to freeze their mixtures, and 10th grade students making “genetic” snowmen. Kindergarten and first grade students celebrated the 100th day of school with a variety of learning activities. The student council planned Snow Week activities for the entire school. Sixth grade students were introduced to curling at the rink in Bagley. 

Principal Carl Dugstad reported that the student environment committee has arranged for a speaker who will present a message to grades six through twelve on bouncing back from setbacks. He thanked Mr. Bettin for chaperoning the school dance. Mr. Dugstad also reported that the first American Indian parent committee meeting had taken place earlier that day. Topics addressed during this meeting included the use of JOM money. In the past the money has been used for scholarships. This will continue, but they hope to expand the use of money for recognizing senior students, bringing authors and artists into the school, and looking at ways to enhance understanding of all cultures.

Jeff Burgess, School Superintendent, updated the board members on the calendar development for the next school year. The staff has been surveyed and a base calendar has been created. The proposed calendar ends the school year before Memorial Day in 2021. There is a slight chance that the state legislature would allow schools to open before the late September 8th Labor Day holiday. A calendar will be presented to board members at the next meeting.

Burgess expressed appreciation to the Clearbrook Community Club for donating adjustable basketball backboards to the school. These can be lowered to a height of eight feet when younger students use the gym during indoor recess or open gym weekend events. Burgess also reported that the main gym floor has been refinished. A regular schedule for gym floor maintenance in being developed.

The financial committee will meet to fine-tune expense planning. They are waiting for state revenue projections that will allow for more accurate planning. Mr. Burgess reported that expenses are up due mainly to increases in licensure, insurance and transportations costs. Increased general education aid, special education transportation funds, and impact funds have brought revenues up.

A preliminary planning meeting for the building project is set for February 26th. Mr. Burgess will meet with contractors to look at the overall plan and scheduling.

The board approved administration’s request to pursue funding for voluntary pre-kindergarten. If received, the money could be used to fund the early childhood program, provided requirements are met.

Approval was given for applying for a Northwest Minnesota Foundation grant. This grant would be used to encourage students to pursue careers in early childhood education by providing scholarship funds. 

The board addressed several staffing issues. They moved to accept the resignation of Jenetta Weems from her human resources position. Administration has initiated the hiring process for this position. Board members accepted the resignation of Marianne Trcka from the 11th grade prom committee. The board also approved Judy Engebretson’s request for FMLA, with administration working with her to schedule the leave times.

Monthly payments made include $79,907.78 to Stein’s Bus Service, LLC, $13,118.21 to Community Oil Company, $9,063.16 to Clearwater-Polk Electric, $4,189.91 to City of Clearbrook, $4,092.75 and $2,244.05 to Marco, $3,672.50 to Thompson’s Sand and Gravel, $2,195.86 to Anderson Disposal, $1,924.39 to Garden Valley Telephone Co., $1,714.70 to Land O’Lakes, and $1,014.00 to DaRoos Pizza.