MINNEWASKA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT #2149

GLENWOOD, MINNESOTA

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

The Minnewaska Area Schools Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, January 23, 2023 in the Minnewaska Area Schools W.I.N. Academy conference room. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Barsness. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Present: Barsness, T. Reichmann, A. Reichmann, Lagred, Zavadil, Holtberg, Ogdahl

Motion by T. Reichmann, seconded by, Lagred to approve the agenda as presented. 

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, T. Reichmann, A. Reichmann, Lagred, Zavadil, Holtberg, Ogdahl

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Visitor’s Comments: None

Special Recognitions & Honors: 

• Recognize and honor Angie Blair for her dig-in and figure-it-out attitude. When they switched to a new meal management system this summer, the implementation and training had some significant flaws. Angie was key to working with the Food Service Director and Pay Schools to resolve each problem. She greets students in the cashier’s cart for breakfast and lunch with a warm smile and kind words. We are fortunate to have Angie on our team. 

• Student Council, BPA, FFA, and their advisors, Nick Milbrandt, Karna Palmer, and David Vinje. For their hard work on the success of Donkey Ball. These students and advisors put a lot of time and effort into the preparation of the event and managing the event.

• The board would like to recognize Food Service Director Bridget Gallagher for her help with Donkey Ball. The board received the following email. 

o “I wanted to write a quick note to express the gratitude and thankfulness about the event last night for the Solem family and hopefully have this individual recognized during the next board meeting.  I think we can safely say that last nights event was a success and as we all know, our community is amazing at showing up and showing support!   I wanted to write specifically about how amazing Bridgett Gallagher was last night. Not only was she the most helpful persons behind the scenes in the kitchen she came in clutch when we started to run out of food because of so many people showing up!  She jumped right in and offered whatever she could to us.  She was kind, helpful, and so positive to be around and didn’t make anyone feel like they were in the schools way!  I felt like she really showed Laker spirit last night.  I really can’t say enough about how positive and helpful she was.  We would have been lost without her!   I don’t want to take away from all the other persons that had made this event possible and helped out but as I was “in charge” of the food area, I was directly affected by Bridget.”

Motion by A. Reichmann, seconded by Holtberg, to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2022, Truth in Taxation Hearing, December 19, 2022, Regular School Board Meeting, and January 9, 2023, Minnewaska Area School Board Organizational Meeting.  

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, T. Reichmann, A. Reichmann, Lagred, Zavadil, Holtberg, Ogdahl

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Superintendent Rankin gave an update the summary of bills, K-12 board revenue and expenditures, foodservice, activity accounts fund 1 and Fund 22, school enrollment report and Superintendents Report

Motion by Zavadil, seconded by Ogdahl to approve the Claims & Accounts totaling $3,915,805.08. Barsness abstained.

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: T. Reichmann, A. Reichmann, Lagred, Zavadil, Holtberg, Ogdahl

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Motion by Ogdahl, seconded by Lagred to approve resolution No. 01232023 accepting donations/gifts to the school district. 

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, T. Reichmann, A. Reichmann, Lagred, Zavadil, Holtberg, Ogdahl

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Motion by T. Reichmann, seconded by Barsness, to set the regular February School Board Meeting for Monday, February 27, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the Minnewaska Area Schools District Office Board Room.

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, Zavadil, Gugisberg, T. Reichmann, Holtberg, A. Reichmann, Lagred

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Motion by Holtberg, seconded by Ogdahl, to approve the consent calendar as presented. New Hire: Victor Crow, Custodian Help, $15.00 per hour, effective 10/15/2022 • Tristian Davidson, Custodian Help, $15.00 per hour, effective 10/15/2022 • David Drexler, Head Boys’ Golf Coach, BS+10 Step 8, effective 03/23/2023 • Jason Gabrielson, Night Custodian, Grade 6 Step 9, + .50 per shift differential, effective 01/09/2023 • Josh Greene, Junior High Baseball Coach, BS+10 Step 6, effective 03/14/2023 • Drew Olsonawski, Junior High Baseball Coach, BS+10 Step 4, effective 03/14/2023 • Rachel Schake, Paraprofessional, Grade 5 Step 2, effective 01/17/2023 • Alan Uphoff, Special Education Teacher, BS Step 1, effective 01/16/2023. Change of Status: Jeremy Armstrong, Change from Day Lead Custodian to Interim Buildings & Grounds Director, $30.39 per hour, effective 01/01/2023 • Sue Currens, Change from SPED Coordinator/Preschool Teacher to SPED/School Readiness Coordinator, effective 02/01/2023 • Kasey Fenske, Preschool Teacher, change from .6 FTE to 1.0 FTE, BS Step 2, effective 01/17/2023 • Ted Hill, Secondary Teacher, change from .8 FTE to 1.0 FTE, MA Step 1, effective 01/16/2023 • Bill MIlls, In addition to PT Comm Ed Director, will teach 2nd semester at .2 FTE, MA Step 1, effective 01/16/2023 • Ethen Schoen, Change from Buildings and Grounds Director to Lead Day Custodian, Grade 7 Step 11, effective 01/01/2023 • David Vinje, Head Boys’ Soccer Coach, BS+10 Step 10, effective 08/14/2023. Resignations: Regina Blair, Paraprofessional, effective 01/20/2023 • Ryan Christianson, Science Teacher, effective 05/26/2023 • Ryan Christianson, Junior High Baseball, effective 01/17/2023 • Ryan Christianson, 9th Grade Football Coach, effective 01/17/2023 • Sara Nestor, ECFE/School Readiness Coordinator, effective 01/31/2023 • Ray Ostendorf, Lead Day Custodian, effective 12/29/2022. Mid-Year Certified Staff Lane Changes: Bryan Draxton, MA Step 9 to MA+10 Step 9 • Danielle Kulzer-Douvier, BS Step 9 to BS+10 Step 9 • Nick Milbrandt, BS Step 11 to BS+10 Step 11 • Megan Modahl, MA+10 Step 7 to MA+20 Step 7, Mid-Year Mental Health Practitioners Lane Changes: Abbie Massmann, BA+15 Step 6 to MA Step 6

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, Zavadil, Gugisberg, T. Reichmann, Holtberg, A. Reichmann, Lagred

Nay: None

Motion carried.

W.I.N. Academy Principal, Susan Knutson, and Mental Health Program Director, Leah Oeltjen gave a brief update from W.I.N. Academy and a tour of the building.

Motion by Lagred, seconded by Barsness, to approve the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC) Annual Compliance.

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, Zavadil, Gugisberg, T. Reichmann, Holtberg, A. Reichmann, Lagred

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Motion by Zavadil, seconded by T. Reichmann, to approve the final June 30, 2022 school district audit.

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, Zavadil, Gugisberg, A. Reichmann, Holtberg, A. Reichmann, Lagred

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Bill Mills, Minnewaska Area Schools Community Education Director, gave an update on the current Community Education offerings and offerings being offered this coming spring. Scott Lempka, Minnewaska Area Schools E-3 Principal and Sue Currens Minnewaska Area Schools SPED/School Readiness Coordinator gave an updated on the preschool and plans for expansion to the Starbuck campus.

Motion by T. Reichmann, seconded by Holtberg, to approve Board Committee Assignments as presented for the 2023 calendar year.

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, Zavadil, Gugisberg, T. Reichmann, Holtberg, A. Reichmann, Lagred

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Motion by Barsness, seconded by Ogdahl, to approve the resolution discontinuing and reducing educational programs and positions for the 2023-2024 school year.

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, Zavadil, Gugisberg, T. Reichmann, Holtberg, A. Reichmann, Lagred

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Motion by Lagred, seconded by T. Reichmann, to call for the MAS Baseball Field Maintenance and Game Prep Bids for March 2023-November 2023.

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, Zavadil, Gugisberg, T. Reichmann, Holtberg, A. Reichmann, Lagred

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Motion by Ogdahl, seconded by Lagred, to call for MAS Softball Field Maintenance and Game Prep Bids for March 2023-November 2023.

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, Zavadil, Gugisberg, T. Reichmann, Holtberg, A. Reichmann, Lagred

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Motion by T. Reichmann, seconded by A. Reichmann, to call for the MAS Football/Track Field Maintenance and Game Prep Bids for March 2023-November 2023.

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, Zavadil, Gugisberg, T. Reichmann, Holtberg, A. Reichmann, Lagred

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Other: None

Announcements: February Work Session, Wednesday, February 1, 2023, Minnewaska Area High School Media Center. 

Motion by Zavadil, seconded by A. Reichmann, to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m.

Roll Call Vote:  Aye: Barsness, Zavadil, Gugisberg, T. Reichmann, Holtberg, A. Reichmann, Lagred

Nay: None

Motion carried.

Angie Reichmann, Clerk

Minnewaska Area Schools, 

ISD 2149

Glenwood, MN

March 6