January 13, 2011 School Board Minutes

Northfield School of Arts and Technology

School Board Monthly Meeting Minutes

January 13, 2011

6:30 pm

ARTech at 1719 Cannon Road, Northfield

 1.       Call meeting to order at 6: 41pm

 2.       Verify Quorum

                  Present: Evelyn Hoover, Chris Bashor (left at 7:30pm), Janine Nelson, Jake Roberts, Lisa Malecha, Jan Rower, Tammy Prichard (Board Chair), Tim Goodwin  (Absent: Maria Musachio)

                  Additionally present: Kate Beiswanger, Joe Pahr (left at 7:43pm), Simon Tyler, Rebecca McMullen, Ginger Coleman (student representative)

 3.       Approve Agenda

                  Motion to approve:  Jan Rower

                  Second:  Janine Nelson

                  Motion passed:  unanimously

 4.       Approve Minutes of December 9, 2010

                  Motion to approve:  Chris Bashor

                  Second:  Evelyn Hoover

                  Motion passed:  unanimously

 5.       Speaker's Corner:  None

 6.       Consent Agenda:  None

 7.       Reports

(a)    Finance Committee and Financial Report – Janine Nelson

Finance Committee meeting minutes presented.  Board Expenditures Comparison Report shared.  Meeting at Community Resource Bank on January 9^th with Jason Quam.  Budget is on track with 2% fund balance. Building maintaince expenses running high and may need an adjustment.  Secondary Education general supplies is running higher – just monitor.  Business consulting expenditures running high due to additional expense of survey monkey and first half of the school year pay outs for services.  Staff income discussed, continue to review and discuss no planned changes this year.  Job’s Fund – could be used to reward/recognize staff, these are one-time funds, still in discussion.  No significant changes noted as the committee looks to developing the FY12 budget.  Finance Committee minutes attached for more information.

(b)    Board Chair Report – Tammy Prichard

Looking into certified board training for those new to the board.  Formulating a procedure to effectively review board policies. 

(c)    School Director Report – Simon Tyler

 i.            Enrollment and Waiting Lists – 124 current students, High School wait list has 3 and Middle School wait list has 1. 

 ii.          Curricular Initiatives – Arts for Martin and presentation night coming up.  College Information Night.

 iii.         Staffing Updates

 iv.        Building Status

 v.          External Relations (Northfield School District, MDE, community, etc.) Northfield Public Schools has been approved as an Authorizer, KYMN interview regarding the up coming Arts for Martin.  Jerry Smith interviewed Simon and a representative from Prairie Creek regarding and highlighting the authorizer.

 vi.        Professional Development – Invited to the High School for staff development regarding handling bullying in the schools.  Peter S__________ interviewing staff regarding possible facility changes and will follow up with the full staff on Monday afternoon.

(d)    Committee Report: 

 i.            Education Committee – Kate Beiswanger and Joe Pahr

Thanks for the opportunity to report to the board – helps the committee to stay on track.  Chris Sullivan is the committee chair or leader of the group.  Curriculum has evolved over the life of the school without a close look at where we are at and defining a progression to graduation.  Is seems that the middle school program has a good cycle or scope & sequence and that the high school curriculum needs more input.  Committee is surveying high school seminar leaders for recommendations regarding scope and sequence for their content area.  Finding a balance between providing foundational knowledge to support or scaffold the project process.  What is the good balance of projects and seminars, what does a required seminar “mean.” See attached Education Committee report.

(e)    Student Report – Ginger Coleman, student representative

No student meeting this past month due to winter break and Arts for Martin prep.  Ginger plans to further discuss bullying, a comment box and facilities. 

 8.       Discussion and Action Items:

(a)    Bullying Prohibition Policy 2^nd Reading, Tammy provided the updated drafts to all present. Bold print denotes the change or adaptations of the policy, see attached policy draft.

Motion to approve – Tim Goodwin

Second – Janine Nelson

Discussion – change/edit the following: School District Personnel pg 514-4 to School Personnel, change wording at C on pg 514-3 from On school district property with change to Charter School property, pg 514-4 B change from the principal of each building to charter school office, spoke to what “bullying means” – is it clear enough and ambiguous enough to cover the wide range of bullying behaviors, especially differences in how female/male bullying behaviors present themselves verses the more widely known physical bullying.