Superintendent's Summary of the Red Lake School District #38 May Board Meeting

The Board met at Red Lake High School on May 20h, for its regular meeting. Superintendent Lundquist shared the following information relative to activities underway improve achievement, attendance and enrollment:

* Chairman Seki, joined the Board in discussing current and future efforts to strengthen the partnership between the Tribe and the District. Areas such as improved attendance, community involvement and Ojibwe language instruction were some areas identified for future discussion.

* The Superintendent shared information on the summer school options for students which are available in in the elementary, middle and high schools. She also provided details regarding the recent monitoring visit from the Minnesota Department of Education which listed the resiliency efforts underway throughout the District as a strength, and also listed parent and family engagement as an area in need of growth.

* Mary Trapp, principal at the Ponemah School, provided a detailed report of the Ojibwe Language Immersion project. She also recommended the Board suspend the launch of the program for one year, to begin in the fall of 2016.

Each of the buildings and district departments offered updates on their activities, including the following:

* The Business Manager will coordinate Board and District representatives in interviewing candidates for the Indian Teacher Training Program which will provide at least two full-tuition scholarships to Red Lake band members. In addition, the Business Manager provided information regarding the kitchen and cafeteria bids in collaboration with the project's construction manager.

* At RLES there are a number of field trips and other year-end outings underway including a pow wow, which was held on May 21st. In addition, Family and Children Services hosted a Child/Elder Abuse Prevention Walk last week in collaboration with RLES; and next Week, the school will host a Million Miles Against Diabetes Walk in collaboration with Comprehensive Health Services.

* The Ponemah School hosted a school and community pow wow on May 15th. Teachers are wrapping up their year by creating a repository of their data analysis process tools which will be used to inform future reflective teaching practices in the coming year.

* The Development Design approach will continue to set the tone for the culture and climate at the Middle School. In addition, all staff have been invited to attend the Turn Around Arts grant training workshop in Minneapolis, in June.

* At the High School the Academic Dean and Principal are planning for graduation where they expect approximately 34 students to receive diplomas.

* The Facilities Director discussed the implications of a recent power outage at Ponemah. In addition, the costs and benefits of the replacement plan for all building lights as the District moves to install LED fixtures throughout the District was discussed. The upfront cost of this will come back to the District in substantial electric cost savings.

* The Special Services Director outlined the extended year program that will be provided for students with special needs this summer. She also reported that the District received a four star rating, the highest score possible, for the District's prekindergarten programs.

* The Food Service Coordinator reported that the District received an additional $9,800 in revenue as part of the School Breakfast Challenge by increasing the number of meal served. Three mobile breakfast carts have been purchased with funds received through Breakfast Improvement Grant.

* The Transportation Department hosted a meeting with drivers to highlight the importance of attendance and timely bus schedules.

* The District's Technology Plan was discussed and the Board agreed to explore the use of laptops for High School students as they will provide students the options to serve as computers and also tablets (iPads).

In other business the Board accepted the health insurance bid from Northwest Service Cooperative; and discussed the implications of the District's rising insurance costs. They also accepted a bid to demolish an old storage garage, and adopted an amended School Weapons Policy (#501).