District 742 Director of Community Involvement Tami Deland and Clearview Principal Sheri Rutar attended Monday’s Clear Lake City Council meeting to update them on Clearview becoming a Spanish magnet school. 

 

Rutar explained the many benefits of introducing students to foreign language at a young age, and stressed the school would still have two separate programs, English and Spanish immersion. Spanish will only be brought into the English program three times per week in 20 to 30 minute increments, depending on grade level.

 

Council Member Dale Powers expressed a number of concerns he had with the change, and asked if parents had been surveyed regarding their wishes. 

 

Rutar explained each family received a phone call and letter, and everyone she’s spoken with has been very excited about it.

 

She and Deland reiterated it was value-added programming; nothing was being taken away and neither research nor other schools using the model have found any negatives. 

 

Powers said people saw Clearview as a benefit to the community until they discovered what was being taught there, it was a contributing reason why the city had stagnant growth, and it was why such a large percentage of parents chose to open enroll their children into other districts. 

 

“We were invited here to answer questions and provide information about becoming a magnet school,” said Deland. “It’s very clear you have other issues.”

 

“I think I’ve raised some legitimate issues,” said Powers. “My thought is the parents should have the option to say no.”

 

Council Member Sandy Paige said she liked the way the program was laid out and felt it would be good for students.

 

“I’m here for the kids, that’s the main thing,” said Rutar. “If we can help kids to achieve and achieve well that’s a win.”

 

(Mayor Tim Goenner, who wasn’t at the meeting, personally apologized to Rutar the following morning.)

 

A public hearing was held at the start of the meeting regarding proposed Ordinance 809 Predatory Sex Offender Residency Regulations for the City of Clear Lake. After no public participation the hearing was closed.

 

The ordinance, which passed unanimously, prohibits the placement and habitation of level three predatory sex offenders in the City of Clear Lake.

 

Sherburne County Attorney Kathleen Heaney presented the council with a brief overview of the county’s annual report.

 

She informed the council they have been working with the issue of sex trafficking; 30 children in Sherburne County have been endangered or at risk since 2013. She said truancy and the number of children needing protection are up.

 

Felonies, with 529 new cases, and gross misdemeanors, with 254, are up, as are drug cases, with methamphetamines and prescription drugs leading the numbers.

 

Audit Manager Janel Bitzan from BerganKDV presented the board with a summary of their 2016 annual audit review.

 

The firm had an adverse opinion on the city’s internal control (meaning some issues were found), and an unmodified opinion on their financial statements and sewer funds (meaning no issues were found).

 

After a brief discussion on the problem issues, Bitzan reviewed budget findings and concluded by saying, “The city has done a really good job of only spending what’s needed.”

 

Fire Chief Ron Koren requested approval for officer raises and informed the council four sets of turnout gear had been ordered. He requested approval to purchase four more sets if they worked out; both the raises and turnout gear were included in the budget.

 

Both requests were unanimously approved.

 

Clerk Kari Mechtel informed the council the three percent water and sewer increase wouldn’t need to be implemented as the sewer authority had lowered their rate.

 

Mechtel informed the group Mayor Goenner had met with SRF Consulting Group to discuss the work needed to implement a quiet zone in the city.

 

The sheriff reported 35 points of contact for the month of February, which included 13 traffic and two medical. 

 

The next council meeting will be April 3 at 7 p.m.