-LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT- MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING BEMIDJI AREA SCHOOLS MARCH 15, 2021 The regular meeting of the Board of Education, Bemidji Area Schools, Bemidji, Beltrami/Hubbard Counties, Minnesota, was held on Monday, March 15, 2021, at 6:30 p.

Published April 24, 2021 at 3:01 AM

-LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT-
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
BEMIDJI AREA SCHOOLS
MARCH 15, 2021
The regular meeting of the Board of Education, Bemidji Area Schools, Bemidji, Beltrami/Hubbard Counties, Minnesota, was held on Monday, March 15, 2021, at 6:30 p.m., in the District Office Board Room.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jeff Lind, Ann Long Voelkner, Carol L. Johnson, Gabriel Warren, Sarah Young, Jeff Haack, and Superintendent Tim Lutz
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Joel Roberts, Student Representative
Abigail Enquist; Student Representative
CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m.
PREVIEW OF AGENDA - SUPERINTENDENT TIM LUTZ
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: The motion was offered by Carol L. Johnson, seconded by Jeff Lind, and carried by all in attendance to approve the agenda.
CONSENT AGENDA: The motion was offered by Gabriel Warren, seconded by Jeff Haack, and carried by consent to approve the following items:
A. Meeting Minutes from the February 22, 2021 School Board Meeting
B. Current Bills & Special Checks Totaling: $3,000,236.58
C. Certified Conformation of Resignation
D. Noncertified Staff Resignations
COVID UPDATES
Superintendent Lutz provided an update on COVID. The Save Children organization found Minnesota is consistently ranked first in the nation for protecting children from hunger, learning loss, financial stress and illness during the pandemic.
Secondary students will return to in-person learning on March 25, 2021. Wednesdays will be virtual learning days and will allow teachers time to work with students who are learning virtually.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Michael Murray – Central Elementary Closure
LISTENING SESSION REVIEW - Gabriel Warren summarized the concerns from Public Hearing on Proposed School Closure – Central Elementary.
DONATIONS The motion was offered by Jeff Lind, seconded by Gabriel Warren, and carried by all in attendance to accept the donations: Seven boxes of Scholastic books with a value of $2,300 from Brian and Lainie Hiller to Gene Dillon Elementary and Bemidji Middle School; $500 from Randy and Jeanne Jaeger to the McKinney Vento program; $2,500 a year from Nortech Systems, Inc. to the Mechatronics Academy; and $1,500 a year for three years from EAPC Architects Engineers to the Project Lead the Way Career Academy.
EQUITABLE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Online Learning Update
Drew Hildenbrand and Kyle McMartin provided an update on the exploration of an Online
Learning program. The action steps since February include: meeting with the Minnesota Department of Education; initiated a viability conversation which indicated starting with 7th and 8th grade and cap at 30 students per grade level; curriculum planning and development; and submission of the program narrative to the Minnesota Department of Education for feedback. Consensus was given to pursue expanding the committee to include teachers, complete the program narrative and submit the plan to the Minnesota Department of Education for feedback.
Field Trip Request – Bemidji High School JROTC April 28, 2021 – May 2, 2021
The motion was offered by Carol L. Johnson, seconded by Jeff Lind, and carried by all in attendance to approve the JROTC Field Trip Request for April 28 – May 2, 2021 to Daytona Beach, FL pending COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions.
Field Trip Request – Bemidji High School JROTC June 4-8, 2021
The motion was offered by Jeff Haack, seconded by Sarah Young, and carried by all in attendance to approve the JROTC Field Trip Request for June 4-8, 2021 to the BWCA pending COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions.
Field Trip Request – Bemidji High School JROTC June 11-16, 2021
The motion was offered by Sarah Young, seconded by Carol L. Johnson, and carried by all in attendance to approve the JROTC Field Trip Request for June 11-16, 2021 to Calumet, MI pending COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions.
HIGH QUALITY DISTRICT
NWEA Map K-5 Winter Results
Colleen Cardenuto, Director of Curriculum and Administrative Services reported the results of the NWEA Map K-5 Winter Results. K-5 Reading – Grades K and 5 outperformed prior year’s results and grades 1-4 scored within two points of prior year’s results. K-5 Math – Grade K outperformed prior year’s results and grades 1-5 scores showed less than 1% loss. Bemidji Area Schools students scored well during the pandemic.
First Reading of Revised
SBR 300-70-1: Finance – Payment of Fees and Other
Charges
The motion was offered by Sarah Young, seconded by Carol L. Johnson, and carried with Jeff Lind, Sarah Young, Carol L. Johnson, Gabriel Warren, and Ann Long Voelkner voting in favor and Jeff Haack voting against to approve the first reading of revised SBR 300-70-
1: Finance – Payment of Fees and Other Charges.
FY 21 AND FY 22 Budget
Projections
Krisi Fenner, Director of Business Services, reviewed the district’s budget situation. The district will start FY 2021-2022 with a $1.6 million positive balance. Due to loss in revenue and expenditure inflation, the projected ending unrestricted fund balance for the same year is estimated to be - $4,021,000.000 if no action is taken to reduce expenditures. She reviewed the budget reductions to-date and stressed the need to pass an operating referendum. No action was taken.
Closure of Central
Elementary School
The motion was offered by Jeff Haack, seconded by Carol L. Johnson, and carried with Jeff Haack, Jeff Lind, Sarah Young, Carol L. Johnson, and Ann Long Voelkner voting in favor and Gabriel Warren voted against to approve the closure of Central Elementary School and redistricting attendance boundaries for Central Elementary students to other neighborhood PreK-3 elementary schools.
UPCOMING EVENTS
.April Meeting – Monday, April 19, 2021, 6:30 p.m.
OTHER
Student Representative Search
Superintendent Tim Lutz indicated the search process for Student School Board Representatives has begun.
Graduation Update
Superintendent Tim Lutz stated Bemidji High School Graduation will be reviewed next month. No action was taken.
Once Around the Table
School Board Members shared their observations of events in the district.
ADJOURNMENT
The motion was offered by Jeff Haack, seconded by Carol L. Johnson, and carried by all in attendance to adjourn. Time: 9:19 p.m.
/S/ Sarah Young, Clerk
/S/ Ann Long Voelkner, Chair
Date Approved: 4/19/2021
1da; 4/24