-LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT- MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING BEMIDJI AREA SCHOOLS NOVEMBER 16, 2020 The regular meeting of the Board of Education, Bemidji Area Schools, Bemidji, Beltrami/Hubbard Counties, Minnesota, was held on Monday, November 16, 2020, at 6:30 p.

Published December 26, 2020 at 3:01 AM

-LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT-
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
BEMIDJI AREA SCHOOLS
NOVEMBER 16, 2020
The regular meeting of the Board of Education, Bemidji Area Schools, Bemidji, Beltrami/Hubbard Counties, Minnesota, was held on Monday, November 16, 2020, at 6:30 p.m., in the District Office Board Room.
MEMBERS PRESENT: John Gonzalez, Jeff Lind, Ann Long Voelkner, Carol L. Johnson, Sarah Young, Jeff Haack, and Superintendent Tim LutzJoel Roberts & Abigail Enquist; Student Representatives
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m.
PREVIEW OF AGENDA – SUPERINTENDENT TIM LUTZ
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: The motion was offered by Ann Long Voelkner, seconded by Carol L. Johnson, and carried by all in attendance to approve the agenda.
CONSENT AGENDA: The motion was offered by Jeff Lind, seconded by Sarah Young, and carried by consent to approve the following items:
A. Meeting Minutes from the October 19, 2020 School Board Meeting
B. Current Bills & Special Checks Totaling: $4,764,362.31
C. Noncertified Staff Resignations
SPECIAL TOPICS:
Spotlight Presentation: CARES Act Funding – Gene Dillon Elementary Social Emotional Learning (SEL) – Ami Aalgaard, Principal & Amy Riley, School Counselor
COVID UPDATES
Superintendent Lutz provided an update on COVID and the present learning models. We are in the same learning model since we started school. What we are doing in school is working. To date there are no cases of community spread in our schools.
COVID numbers in our county are rising. Superintendent Lutz provided an update on the number of district staff and students who are in quarantine. Our COVID support team says we can continue to stay in our current model.
District leadership will meet on November 17th with health professionals regarding the current situation. With cold weather, hunting, and holidays coming up we want to be prepared for an outbreak. We have contingency plans in place.
Superintendent Lutz indicated if we go to a more restrictive learning model it is harder to come back to a less restrictive model because we lose an important data point – how we are doing in our district.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORT: Joel Roberts and Abigail Enquist reported on Bemidji High School activities including: The current learning model, homecoming, and the cancellation of winter formal.
LISTENING SESSION REVIEW: Carol L. Johnson and Ann Long Voelkner reported on the following Listening Session topic: BHS music parent concern regarding the choir recording session in the auditorium.
2020 OPERATING REFERENDUM: Referendum Summary – Next Steps
Superintendent Lutz thanked everyone who voted in the referendum. It was rejected and our budget issues remain unresolved. The district leadership and school board will need to look for ways to stabilize the budget with cuts. We are looking at $4 million - $6 million in cuts next year and the following year. No action was taken.
DONATIONS: The motion was offered by Carol L. Johnson, seconded by Ann Long Voelkner, and carried by all in attendance to accept the donation of $2,500 from Affinity Plus to the
Business Management Career Academy.
HIGH QUALITY DISTRICT
2019-2020 World’s Best Workforce Summary
The motion was offered by Ann Long Voelkner, seconded by Jeff Haack, and carried by all in attendance to approve the 2019-2020 World’s Best Workforce Summary.
Resolution Establishing Combined Polling Places for Multiple Precincts and Designating Hours During Which the Polling Places Will Remain Open for Voting for School District Elections Not held on the Day of a Statewide Election
Jeff Haack introduced the following resolution and urged its adoption:
Attached is the resolution establishing combined polling places for any school district election which is not held on the day of a statewide election. This is in response to the new legislation adopted in 2017 which requires school districts to establish combined polling places each year by December 31. The combined polling places designated in the resolution are the polling places for the following calendar year unless a change is made in the case of an emergency or because the polling place has become unavailable.
The above resolution was seconded by Ann Long Voelkner, and a tabulation of votes is
as follows:
AYES: Jeff Haack, Ann Long Voelkner, Carol L. Johnson, Jeff Lind,
Sarah Young, and John Gonzalez
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
WHEREUPON said resolution was declared passed and adopted.
UPCOMING EVENTS
.December 21, 2020, 6:00 p.m., Truth in Taxation Hearing
.December 21, 2020, 6:30 p.m., December Monthly Meeting
OTHER
PSA – Mask Up Bemidji Strong
The video produced by the Bemidji High School Advanced Video Class was shown. 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 Sarah Young, seconded by Jeff Haack, and carried by all in attendance to adjourn. Time: 8:04 p.m.
/S/ Carol L. Johnson, Clerk
/S/ John Gonzalez, Chair
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