Regular School Board Meeting held in Ponemah

PONEMAH - On Wednesday, April 18, 2018 the Regular Monthly Red Lake School Board meeting was held at the Ponemah School starting at 2 PM.

With all six board members present, Michael Barrett, Chairman, Chris Jourdain, Vice Chairman, Barb Thomas, Clerk, Roy Nelson, Treasurer, Tina Stately and Jack Desjarlait, the meeting was called to order and Superintendent Melinda Crowley presented her reports. Her reports included the 2018 meeting schedule and other written reports, and a requests for two board members to negotiate the Assistant Superintendent of Special Services contract. Enrollment reports were also presented.

Willie Larson, the Business Manager, presented his report, followed by reports from the Food Service Department, Red Lake Elementary and Early Childhood Center, Ponemah Elementary, the Secondary Complex, the Buildings and Grounds Department, the Transportation Department, Special Education, Human Resources, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment and Community Education.

In the Consent Agenda, the Minutes of the March 21, 2018 Board meeting were approved; a retirement request from Mary Kae Swenson; a resignation from Julie Turner; a maternity request from Jill Nelson; an unpaid leave of absence from Chris Johnson; an extension of maternity leave from Ashley White; an employment offer to Alex English was rescinded; a transfer request from Mariah Moen into an open Kindergarten position in Ponemah; a transfer request from Francis Brun Jr. into the open Behavioral Intervention Paraprofessional at the Elementary School; a transfer request from Emery Skinaway into an open security guard position at Red Lake Elementary School; a transfer request from Anna Wallin into an open K-2 Social Emotional Skills Instructor/Specialist position; approved the hiring of Tara White as Junior High Softball Coach; approved hiring Cindi Ballard as a Behavioral Interventionist for Red Lake Elementary School; approved hiring Chelsey Messner as an Elementary Teacher; approved hiring Andrea Cobenais as the ECC Security Guard; and approved hiring Michael Stillday as a bus driver.

The Board of Education also approved the list of bills totaling $1,948, 961.19, amended the 2017-19 employment contracts for the Transportation Coordinator and the Human Resources Coordinator to meet Minnesota Pay Equity Compliance as per the August 2017 recommendation from Arthur Gallager & Company and amendments to the 2018-19 School Calendar.

Calling for bids for the re-roofing of Red Lake Elementary School was also approved, along with the approval of payment of the 2016-17 Superintendent Performance Evaluation Goals to Anne Lundquest in the amount of $6,666.00.

A discussion was also held on separating the Buildings and Grounds Coordinator and School Security, which would mean creating a new Security Supervisor position to oversee that department for the 2018-19 school year. Human Resources will be looking at creating a job description for the position.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 PM.