Safety and security have been on the minds of many stakeholders in the Mineral Point School District recently, and in response to that, a group of stakeholders came together as a team to talk about the current reality of security and safety in the district, as well as offer up some suggestions for improvement. (scroll past the video for more article text)
Elementary principal Matt Renwick presented the Board with the group’s findings, which can be found here in a slideshow: https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=40892956
Team member Dr. Aaron Dunn mentioned to the Board an interesting fact that often, people think of an active shooter as the number one threat, but in reality, transportation is the number one hazard and number two is suicide. These facts helped drive the scope of the group’s work to make sure they were including all aspects of safety.
The Board unanimously approved (with Julie Stephenson absent) sending the Safety & Security Assessment Report to the Buildings & Grounds Committee for further discussion and to suggest a plan of action to be brought back to the full Board. (Go to the three minute mark of the video).
Other business:
— The Board recognized the Trap Team, which placed 3rd at the State meet (this begins the meeting video).
— The Board approved the Credit Card Statement and Bills Payable with Basting abstaining. (go to the 27 minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved the budget amendments as proposed per DPI rule to smooth out accounts by the fiscal year’s end (June 30). (go to the 44 minute mark)
— Unanimously approved the transfer of up to $130,000 to Fund 46 (Long-term Capital Improvement Trust Fund).
A school board with an approved long-term capital improvement plan (minimum of 10 years) may establish a “trust” that is funded with a transfer from the general fund. The contribution from Fund 10 to Fund 46 (Long-term Capital Improvement Trust Fund) is recorded as the expenditure for shared cost and equalization aid purposes. Future expenditures from Fund 46 are not part of shared costs. A school board is prohibited from removing money deposited into Fund 46 for a period of five years after the fund is created. After the initial five-year wait period is over, funds may only be used for the purposes identified in the approved long-term capital improvement plan. Fund 46 assets may not be transferred to any other school district fund.
Mineral Point is currently in its third year of five with a Fund 46. (go to the 45 minute, 25 second mark)
— Unanimously approved the resignation of Molly Uppena, high school English teacher. (go to the 50 minute, 30 second mark)
–Francois updated the Board with regards to the current budget situation. “We should have received a budget from the state two weeks ago,” he said. “We need to continue to move forward with our best assumptions until the state figures things out on their end.”
If using the Governor’s proposal, the District is still projecting a balanced budget, but if a different proposal is approved, the District could be looking at anywhere from a $50,000 to $100,000 shortfall in year one.
Francois stated the District’s fund balance is approximately 24%, which is above the 15% minimum that would require the Board to take action.
He will continue to update the Board as things develop. (go to the 51 minute, 15 second mark)
— Budget Act 55 states annually an item is to be included on the agenda of the first school board meeting of the 2017-18 school year that gives a notice that clearly identifies the pupil academic standards as adopted by the school board that will be in effect for the school year.
They can be found here: https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=40865546
(go to the 56 minute, 30 second mark)
— The Board held a first reading for draft policies dealing with Board member authority, Board member development activities, and Board member compensation and reimbursement. All were tabled to be discussed by the Policy Committee. (go to the one hour, 45 second mark)
— The Board also voted to table the written unpaid meal charge policy to the Policy Committee (go to the one hour, 20 minute mark)
— Reviewed and approved changes to the elementary school, middle school, and high school athletic handbooks. All were unanimously approved except for the athletic with Basting voting no and Busch abstaining. (go to the one hour, 27 minute, 15 second mark)
— The meeting concluded with the Superintendent’s Report, highlighting the middle/high school library remodel, installation of a new wireless system, and the hopefully soon-to-be installation of the new dust collector in the tech ed room. (go to the one hour, 50 minute mark)
–The next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Monday, August 14.