During Monday’s meeting, the Becker School Board reviewed district statistics for the World’s Best Workforce plan.

The World’s Best Workforce plan outlines long term goals for Minnesota schools. Those goals are as follows:

• All students are ready for kindergarten;

• All third grade students read at a third grade literacy level;

• All students attain career and college readiness before graduating;

• All students graduate high school;

• The achievement gap is closed between students living in poverty, students enrolled in special education, and the rest of the student population.

The school set personal goals, percentage-wise, in an effort to progress to these goals. For example, the district aimed to have 70% of students in third grade reading at a third grade level. 

In a presentation given to the board, it was revealed that 

• 80% of students had a low risk of being unprepared for kindergarten;

• 51.5% of third graders were at or above third grade literary proficiency (as opposed to the 48.5% state wide. This is believed to have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.)

• Likewise, the average of students who were career/college ready (as determined by MCA/ACT scores) was slightly higher than the state average;

• The gap between student groups was not as close as the district would like, but the presenter noted that the district did not want to meet this goal by lowering the expectations of the non low-income or special education students, but rather make sure the students all have access to resources allowing them to succeed.

Superintendent’s Report

The public should be on the lookout for information about campus construction updates after the recent passing of the referendum. The referendum website, BulldogsStrong.com, was taken down and so all information will be communicated via the school’s website or on social media. 

After a push through social media, a couple new substitute teachers have been hired in the district. However, there is still a need for more subs. After increasing the pay rate last month, and with a plan to continue to advertise for the need, the school hopes that more hires will be made soon.

The school is working with Sherburne County Public Health to address the issue of rising COVID-19 cases in the district.

The MSBA (Minnesota School Board Association) will take place in January.

The next school board meeting will take place Jan. 3. 

Student Report

The high school drama club musical was a success, with the house being nearly sold out on Friday, and with many people leaving great reviews online. 

Several of the school teams celebrated early wins for the season, including girls basketball, dance, and wrestling. (See stories on these teams in the sports section of the paper.)

The district has just entered its second trimester. 

The student council will be decorating the school for the holiday season, and there will be a classroom door-decorating competition. Winter break will take place from Dec. 23-31.

Human Resources Position

The board felt it was in the best interest of the school to hire for an HR position, taking some of the HR duties off of the school superintendent. A 2015 study demonstrated that there was a need in the district for such a position, and the years and the pandemic have amplified the need. This will be a full time position. 

In Other Business,the Board:

• Heard the 2021 financial audit;

• Held the truth in taxation meeting, which intends to educate the taxpayers on their taxes for the next year (presentation is available for online viewing in the recording of Monday’s school board meeting, found on the district website);

• Heard a first reading on an updated family leave policy, and held second readings for two other policies.