By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
On Monday, June 21 – the final board meeting for departing Superintendent Dale Carlson — the NRHEG Board of Education voted to extend the budget deficit to cover new purchases of 240 Chromebooks among other things.
Business manager Karla Christopherson explained that at the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year, the district ended with a General Fund net increase of over $30,000 compared to February’s budget.
The causes? Mostly COVID. “Unfilled positions, very little travel, no sports, no field trips, less use of lights and water.”
Christopherson recommended that the district, despite the gain, move the planned deficit forward in order to take advantage of the savings from buying, rather than leasing, the school’s Chromebooks, whose leases are up.
By revising the 2021-22 proposed budget the district will have more money now, which will be useful in order to get the school system back up to speed.
“We still have those unfilled positions,” Christopherson reminded them.
“Online learning is not going to go away,” said Board Chair Rick Schultz. “We have to prove to the general public that we are the place to put their kids.”
The board approved the budget revisions, and the purchase of 240 chromebooks and licenses for $68,640.
COVID-19 Return Plan
To fulfill funding requirements, the District must develop and publish on its website a “COVID-19 Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan.” The board approved a proposed plan, which will be published shortly and receiving public comments.
Some highlights are:
Masks: encouraged but not required except on buses per CDC requirement.
If you’re sick, stay home.
If you or your child has a fever 100.4 or higher, etc., they will be required to test for COVID-19 or alternate test in order to re-enter the school. If they test positive they must quarantine for 10 days.
Daily attendance will be documented.
NRHEG will implement hygiene practices, cleaning and disinfecting, social distancing, and enhanced indoor air ventilation.
Dairy-Bakery
Bakery Bid was approved for Pan O Gold.
Dairy Bid was approved from Prairie Farms.
Lunch and milk prices will not increase.
Workforce
Resignations were accepted with gratitude for:
Claire Jensen, Preschool Teacher; Jessica Williams, Elementary Reading Interventionist and District Teaching and Learning Support Specialist; Amber Holdeman, Secondary Para; Luke Strina, 6th Grade Teacher.
Employment contracts were approved for:
Mary Carson, STEAM Teacher 2021-2022.
Ashley Hoefker, Chemistry & Physics Science Teacher 2021-2022.
Linda Bergstrom, LPN 2021-2022.
Amy Jensen - Kindergarten Teacher 2021-2022.
Krista Reeder, K-12 Music Teacher 2021-2022.
Elizabeth Nelson, Community Education 3-4 Year Old Preschool Teacher.
Grace Nelson, Community Education 3-4 Year Old Preschool Teacher.
Stacy Webster, School Age Care Summer Lead.
Reassignment was approved for Katie Knudson, Elementary Math Interventionist/On-line Teacher 2021-2022. Katie currently serves as Kindergarten teacher. She applied internally for the Interventionist position when it became available.
Elementary Reading Interventionist: Increase from 0.75 FTE to 1.0 FTE The Elementary Reading Interventionist position is currently combined with the Teaching and Learning Support Specialist (TLSS) position for a combined 0.95 FTE.
Licensed School Nurse (LSN) – Decrease from 1.0 FTE to 0.6 FTE: LSN Carrie Petsinger’s requested to move to part time for the 2021-2022 school year. Reducing from 1.0 FTE to 0.6 FTE reflects an approximate savings to the District of $24,000.
Amended Graduation List
The board approved the addition of four students to the previously published graduation list, to a total of 68.
Secondary Sign Replacement
At the May 17 School Board meeting, it was determined that the Buildings and Grounds Committee will research further proposals for replacing the current (disfunctional) Secondary School electronic sign. Specifically, there was interest in clarifying with M & M Signs if the specs of their original proposal was comparable to one submitted by AIMS Electronics. After further follow up with M & M Signs, administration is recommending moving forward with the proposal from M & M Signs for an approximate cost of $25,000 to replace the sign.
It was commented that the proposed M & M sign will be “easier to use,” than the much more expensive sign suggested by AIMS. It will be approximately 99” across, the enclosure will be removed, and it is hoped that the existing pillars will be retained. The board approved the agreement for a sign not to exceed $25,000.