The Becker School Board met Monday to discuss the Big Dog Challenge, interviewing and hiring, strategic goals, student dress and appearance, transportation safety committee and superintendent goals.

 

Also, a letter of resignation from Supt. Stephen Malone was accepted effective June 30, 2019.

 

“We have accomplished much for the benefit of Becker students these past nine years,” the letter said. “It has been a pleasure to work in collaboration with staff members, administrators, parents, students, community members and the school board.”

 

Malone plans to retire after 34 years in education, 25 of those years as superintendent.

 

The school board will  begin the process of selecting a superintendent, who will begin employment July 1, 2019. A search consultant firm is expected to be hired.

 

 

A newly structured Big Dog Challenge is being introduced that leverages the latest in innovative thinking — Human Centered Design. 

 

HCD is an innovative process that begins with exploring opportunities and ultimately creates small-scale testing of potential solutions. People will be encouraged to send an email or go to the school district website to post ideas under the “Kibble” tab.

 

(Kibble is a story, a problem, an opportunity, an unmet need, a pain-point, an experience or the start of a conversation. Kibble is not the idea, not the answer, and not the solution).

 

 

The MSBA recommends school board members do not serve on hiring committees because hiring personnel should be delegated to the superintendent. MSBA recommends the school boards’ hiring responsibility is to hire the superintendent. MSBA staff is investigating this issue and will have some written guidance for all Minnesota schools forthcoming.

 

Area school districts do not have policies addressing this situation, according to the MSBA. However, a few superintendents said they invite board members to be part of interview committees. Malone said hiring protocols have been in place for teachers and classified staff since June of 2011 and he has recently developed a hiring protocol for administrators.

 

 

The purpose of strategic goals is to establish the school district’s vision, student exit outcomes, school district exit outcomes and school board annual strategic goals.

 

The school district vision is preparing self-directed learners to thrive in a changing global community.

The student exit outcomes include students becoming self-directed learners, self-disciplined, and autonomous workers, while being critical thinkers with a drive for innovation and problem solving.

 

They will also demonstrate proficiency of core academic standards by meeting or exceeding developmentally appropriate benchmarks for academic competency.

 

Students will have the opportunity to pursue expertise in areas of personal academic or career interest.

 

Students will effectively collaborate and communicate using an array of media. Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively apply life skills and students will effectively use technology to function in a knowledge economy.

 

The district exit outcomes will have the district properly maintain up-to-date school environments where students are physically and emotionally safe and secure. They will also maintain the financial integrity of the school district.

 

Strategic goals are established for the 2019-20 school year to realize selected exit outcomes. The superintendent is responsible for the administrative means to accomplish the strategic goals.

 

 

A policy was adopted to enhance the education of students by establishing expectations of dress and grooming that are related to educational goals and community standards.

 

Appropriate clothing includes, but is not limited to  clothing appropriate for the weather; clothing that does not create a health or safety hazard and clothing appropriate for the activity (i.e., physical education or the classroom).

 

Inappropriate clothing includes, but is not limited to “Short shorts,” skimpy tank tops, tops that expose the midriff, and other clothing that is not in keeping with community standards; clothing bearing a message that is lewd, vulgar, or obscene; apparel promoting products or activities that are illegal for use by minors; objectionable emblems, badges, symbols, signs, words.

 

Objects or pictures on clothing or jewelry communicating a message that is racist, sexist, or otherwise derogatory to a protected minority group, evidences gang membership or affiliation, or approves, advances, or provokes any form of religious, racial, or sexual harassment and/or violence against other individuals as defined in Becker School District Policy 413. 

 

Any apparel or footwear that would damage school property.

 

Headgear, including hats or head coverings, are not allowed in the building except with the approval of the building principal (i.e., student undergoing chemotherapy,; medical situations, student religious practice or belief).

 

The intention of this policy is not to abridge the rights of students to express political, religious, philosophical, or similar opinions by wearing apparel on which such messages are stated. Such messages are acceptable as long as they are not lewd, vulgar, obscene, defamatory, profane, or do not advocate violence or harassment against others.

 

 

The school board was asked to establish a student transportation safety committee. 

 

The chair of the student transportation safety committee is the school district’s school transportation safety director. The school board shall appoint the other members of the student transportation safety committee. 

 

Membership may include parents, school bus drivers, representatives of school bus companies, local law enforcement officials, other school district staff, and representatives from other units of local government.