November School Board Meeting Minutes

The November School Board Meeting was held on Thursday, November 19th, 2015, with the following members present: Jim Verbout, Shaunna Olson, Gary Polansky, Karina Tinnes, Charisa Limesand, Principal Lunsetter and Superintendent Clow. Absent was Nicolette Leach.

Pledge of Allegiance was said and agenda was approved as presented, along with Minutes of the last school board meeting. Payment of the bills approved and Finance Report is as follows:

 

General Fund         $114,325.41

MSDLAF $1,606,209.58

Food Service        5,881.37 Checking        8,482.55

Comm. Serv                  $339.83

Trust                                   0.00 Total                 $120,546.61 Total              $1,614,692.13

 

Student Report: Given by Alison Satre, Hailey Vad, and Courtney Vad. Robotics will be leaving tomorrow for the Albany competition and will be using the new trailer. Fall Kickoff for Envirothon was in TRF on 11/19/15. Boys basketball practice started on 11/9/15 and played in a jamboree on 11/14/15. Girls basketball started on 11/16/15 and will host the jamboree on 11/21/15. Student council members attended the fall summit yesterday, 11/18/15, in Bemidji. Students in the FACS homeroom class baked cookies for parent teacher conferences. Student council held Thanksgiving BINGO on 11/16/15 and made over $500. The fall sports banquet will be held in Goodridge this year on 11/23/15. The winter band and choir concert will be on 12/7/15.          

Teacher Report: Given by Isaac Kvasager and Jesse Westbrock. Elementary students created posters for American Education Week; they are hanging in the elementary hallways. Fourth-graders constructed mobiles showing the different levels of government. Students will be attending a competition this year called MATHCOUNTS; one team of four and three individuals are registered for 2/12/16 at Northland in TRF. Peer helpers have done a really great job this year:  recently they had the haunted hallway on Halloween and put on a week of activities for Red Ribbon Week. Students on the robotics team have been putting in long hours preparing for the first competition in Albany this weekend. Isaac Kvasager has used the new trailer for hauling robotics materials and reports that it is great to use.                          

Principal Report: Given by Principal Lunsetter. The paired sports committee proposed creating a set of coaching expectations; a working document has been started to support coaches. New junior high boys basketball uniforms have been ordered, costing around $1000. NWEA testing will happen November 23-25, 2015. Beth Kucera accompanied students to the student council summit in Bemidji yesterday, 11/18/15. Chromebooks are being utilized, and things are going well. Coaches are happy with the effort in the start of the boys basketball season. The girls basketball jamboree will be held in Grygla on 11/21/15. The long term strategic plan to support teaching and learning, an MDE required document, was discussed. Google Classroom was brought up at the principals’ meeting on 11/18/15, and a few teachers at Grygla School are using it already. Isaac Kvasager is handling the demands of teaching and being technology coordinator very well. Lindsay Oslund and Lori Jones will be subbing for Marcie Moe, out on medical leave, in the near future. The fall sports banquet will be Monday, 11/23/15 at 7:00 p.m. in Goodridge. The elementary Halloween party was a success this fall. US News & World Report has awarded Grygla High School the bronze medal 2015 for performance on state assessments and how well we prepare students for college.                    

Superintendent Report: Given by Superintendent Clow. The bus report: most of the buses are running well, practice bus (#6) had alternator issues, and Colette’s bus (#4) had some issues. 

The board accepted the resignation of Jean Schulz as varsity volleyball coach and bus driver and approved the hire of Preston Swenson as junior high GBB coach. Also approved: the long range strategic plan to support and improve teaching and learning, the donation of $110 from the Grygla-Gatzke Jaycees for the volleyball vinyl banner, the bid from Bob Neuschwander for the four 900 x 20 radial tires on rims, and the bid from Tyco Simplex Grinnell to replace the fire alarm system.