The Becker School Board met Monday to discuss budgets, a lease purchase and strategic planning.

 

Supt. Stephen Malone reported the high school program design committee was formed last year. He said the committee identified six program components to focus on for improving the high school: career academics, student engagement, alternative delivery, social emotional, schedule and senior year. 

 

The five-period day trimester schedule was implemented this year as a recommendation from the committee.

 

Some new classes this year include 21st Century Skills, College in the Schools Environment Science, Computer Programming, and Robotics. Malone said the 21st Century Skills class is required for juniors and includes personal finance, college and career readiness, and digital citizenship topics. 

 

The committee will meet again April 10 and continue to explore the other program components to improve the high school.

 

Malone said the following positions are included as additions in the fiscal year 2019 general fund budget: Payroll specialist, LPN, FTE SPED teachers and an additional high school counselor.

 

Malone said an online/hybrid physical education class will be offered next year at the high school. The class is one trimester for grades 10-12 for one-half credit. He said the class may be used to fulfill a second required physical education credit.

 

This class will allow students who are self-directed and self-motivated to participate in a physical education online/hybrid class.  This class was developed in response to a trend of students enrolling in online phy-ed classes. 

 

Last December, the school board approved a resolution to authorize a lease purchase agreement not to exceed $2,600,000 to finance the construction of an addition to the primary school.

 

The superintendent or director of business services and a school board officer are authorized to approve the sale of certificates of participation to fund the project, provided that the interes

t cost does not exceed 4.25%. 

 

The sale of bonds was Wed., April 4 in the amount of $2,325,000. (The low bid for the project was below the original budget estimate.) The interest cost is 3.588%. 

 

Malone said the next step in the strategic planning process is for each school board member to complete the pairwise ranking of the top ideas. 

 

Malone spent time at the meeting helping the board execute the task and complete the pairing.

 

The school board’s pairwise results are used to determine which ideas are categorized by exit outcome. The results also determine the top ideas, which will be prioritized in setting goals.

 

The revised fiscal year 2018 budget was presented and poured over. It covered general education funding, enrollment, general education aid, and a comparison of the 2017-18 and 2018-19 budgets.

 

The next Becker School Board meeting is May 14 at 6:30 p.m.