Minneota School Board Meeting (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)

A presentation at the school board meeting entitled, “Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling” (LTRS) proved interesting and informative. This program of learning to read and spell incorporates back-to-the-basics phonics with rules and guidelines to make learning to read and spell more logical for all students. Word recognition is taught so that language comprehension makes more sense to students.
Elementary Principal Jen Mahan-Deitte and teachers Kim Gades, and Karen Dalager gave the LTRS presentation. The time required to master this program is significant but should be immensely beneficial to all students. More teachers will be trained throughout the next school year.
A second presentation was from the Technology Department from Devann Shoultz, who began working in the tech department in 2019. Shoultz’s background was in the business world, but she has enjoyed the transition to the education field. A huge part of technology this year was focusing on cyber security. The computer system is now backed up off-campus. Training for staff regarding phishing emails, multi factor authentication, and other areas has been on-going. The district is looking at replacing student devices. At this time Chromebooks are being recommended. They are durable, cheaper, and very secure with a longer battery life.
The school board congratulated the speech team with three members advancing to state. Chad Johnston was also congratulated for being selected the Minnesota Football Coaches Association's Coach of the Year.
Activities Director Patty Myrvik also congratulated Johnston and state speech qualifiers Cora Fischer, Noah Harms, and Wyatt Pohlen. FFA has its General Livestock and Dairy teams advancing to state, as well as one individual in Dairy Handling.
Other spring activities are the spring play, prom on April 29, high school concert on May 2, elementary concert on May 4 with Grandparents Day on May 5. Spring sports are in full swing.
According to Mahan-Deitte, many things are happening in the elementary school. The younger grades traveled to Dawson to see the Junie B. Jones play. The third graders had a former foreign exchange student, Amos, who stayed with Brenda Swoboda, come in and talk about Taiwan. The fifth/sixth graders went to St. Paul and toured the Capitol and Fort Snelling. The preschool kids will be going to the Children’s Museum. Kindergarten round-up went well, and it appears there will be a good-sized K group next year.
High School Principal Heather Anderson reported that the high school students have been working on their MCAs and the ACT has been completed by the juniors. The freshmen had a good experience at MN West-Granite Falls at a Career and Technology informational day. The National Honor Society had nine inductees. The seniors are finalizing plans for their senior trip. Their last day of school will be May 11, with commencement practice on May 12.
Much of Superintendent Scott Monson’s report had to do with the May 9, special election. An informational meeting was held on April 13, with another scheduled for May 3, in the high school choir room. Passage of both questions would revoke $250,000 of the current technology levy, and replace the revoked $250,000 with a general obligation that would generate $250,000 to be used for technology needs, and reduce the current technology levy from $500,000 to $250,000. Feel free to contact the school for an absentee ballot, or for more information on this special election.
Projections are that enrollment for 2023-24 will show an increase of approximately 12 students.
Lunch program director Sue Bagley gave a demonstration of the new steamer/oven before the meeting.
The cash flow for the district is remaining healthy.
The consent agenda was passed. This included the resignation of elementary secretary Cindy Novotny. Many thanks were given to Cindy for her years of service to Minneota Public School. A one-year unpaid leave of absence was approved for Lisa Hart. Shelby Corbin and Megan Novotny resigned as junior high volleyball coaches. Brady Larson and Parker Bradley were hired as summer building and grounds assistants.
A quote was accepted from the Minnesota Healthcare Consortium/SWWC-Medica for district health insurance. Seraphim Surprenant’s contract was not renewed. Several monetary gifts were accepted for FFA, the trap program, a K.P. Kompelien concession rebate in memory of Ross Eischens, and a donation to negative lunch accounts.
There will be a 7 p.m. meeting on May 3, for election information. The election will be held on Tuesday, May 9, from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. at the City Office Building. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on May 16, at 5 p.m.. Note that this is a change from the normal 6:30 p.m. start time.