By John R. Stone

Reporter

With Minnewaska Area Schools heading toward a September 3 opening, Superintendent Chip Rankin told the MAS school board that the district is fully staffed and ready to go for the new year at its regular meeting last week.

Rankin said that the 60 students registered for kindergarten is the lowest number he has seen in his seven years here.

“It’s my feeling that our unstabilized day care situation has led to lower kindergarten numbers,” he said. Some of that will be improved soon with the installation of sprinkler system in the lower level of the Starbuck school where a day care operation will be located.

Early in the meeting Rankin gave recognition to the district’s community education program’s summer activities. He said that the Laker Legends program hosted 80 children led by Megan Anderson, Amanda Sales and their team; the Summer Strength and Speed training hosted 160 athletes led by Jeremy Christianson, Jared Lyle and MAHS coaches; the June summer rec program had over 50 elementary students in morning session four days a week led by Linda Mills and her staff; Minnewaska art instructor Bryan Draxton led three art camps involving 36 students; and the Junior Lakers swimming program had nearly 50 students led by Linda Hoffman.

Goals discussed

Staff members then went into progress on goals set for the past year under the district’s “Engage Every Student, Every Day” mission statement.

Sarah Suchy started the presentation in her new role as elementary principal in addition to her duties as director of Teaching, Learning and Technology.

She said the new state directive to improve reading at the early elementary level will take effect this fall and that involves specific staff training. She and Rankin said that in order to get the number of hours required scheduled the district would use two of its scheduled five eLearning days for training. 

New middle school principal Blake Karas told the board that all math scores for the classes under his direction have been above average. He said the district will use a program called Magic School AI to do some routine teacher tasks which would allow more student contact time.

High school principal Nate Meissner said that in the comprehensive test results released so far by the state that MAHS has reached its goal of being above the state averages. He said that the school is seeing “huge strides” in science using a new curriculum.

He added that at the high school level there is increased contract between schools and community businesses with the idea that students might see things they like or don’t like in terms of careers which can help them in selecting course offerings or post high school options.

Activities Director Phil Johnsrud said that all coaching positions are filled for the year and all seem to be working well together. Over 275 students have signed up for fall athletics and he expects that might exceed 300. He said that new choir director Jeff Iverson has proposed a fall musical and that 30 students have already signed up.

Safe and Welcoming

Safe and Welcoming is another district goal, Meissner reported, and he said that district has added a school resource officer. In a practice drill to evacuate the school and account for all students and staff he said it only took nine minutes to account for nearly 800 people.

“That is huge progress,” he said.

Cell phone Policy

Meissner also explained the new cell phone policy.

“Students will have their phones with them at all times which addresses the parent contact issue,” he said. “But the phone will be put in pouches in or on their desks and students will not be able to use them except for between classes and lunch time.”

Rankin then added that it was vital to make the best use of class time, “how many hours can you afford to lose?”

New hires

New members of the MAS staff include: Morgan Ball, assistant swim and dive coach; Jessica Davies, head cook; Kasey Douvier, 4-6 interventionist; Beth Pryble, cook; Samantha Raw, high school administrative assistant; Allecia Salminen, cook; Joan Tauber, cook; and Stephanie Thoen, 4-6 interventionist.

Change of status

Gay Finn, from head cook to sub cook; Maranda Gullickson, cook to head cook; and Roxanne Lucas, from cook to kitchen manager.

Resignations

Kelly Bleick, high school administrative assistant; Andrea Gullickson, part-time custodian; Kay Kriel, assistant speech coach; Deb Medalen, cook; Tracy Merriman, paraprofessional; and Kristin Toohey, paraprofessional.

In other actions:

• The board set 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16, 2024 as the time and date for the annual Truth in Taxation hearing on the 2025 property tax levy.

• Approved payment of $1,525,388.41 in bills. 

• Heard Rankin explain the current investment schedule for MAS totaling $3,929,006.42.

• Adopted a resolution accepting $14,031.67 in donations to the district.

• Approved a memorandum of understanding between MAS and the Minnesota Teamsters Public and Law Enforcement Union Local No. 320 regarding a stipend to members of the unit meaning a $2,500 annual stipend to practitioners who hold a master’s degree and are able to bill their time as a therapist. The agreement is for two years and is limited to two therapists per year.

• Accepted a device policy handbook that deals with use of school provided devices such as computers.

• Reviewed a policy for eLearning days including expectations of students and staff for such days. eLearning days will determined no later that 6:10 a.m. the day eLearning is to take place for such as events as weather.

• Heard that the Food and Nutrition Department is making no changes in the fees charged for adults who have breakfast or lunch in the school program; breakfast is $3 and lunch is $5.

The regular meeting was then closed for the annual board evaluation.