In a short, 30-minute meeting, the Becker Public School Board discussed the calendar committee, MDE improvements, stakeholder input, mental health and sports attendance Monday night.

 

Dr. Stephen Malone said the 2017-18 calendar committee plans to  meet March 22 as they continue to work on dates for the school one year ahead.

 

The committee includes parents, teachers, a Local 284 representative, a transportation representative, the director of curriculum and instruction, the principals, students and a school board representative. 

 

The calendar, developed by the committee, is recommended to the superintendent and Malone’s recommendation will be submitted to the school board at the April 4 meeting.

 

Malone said the MDE recently announced that the statewide graduation rate for 2015 improved to 81.9%. The graduation rate for Becker last year was 96.1%.

 

The stakeholder input went online Feb. 26. All school employees (380), high school students (800) and parents (450) were invited by e-mail. Two-hundred and fifty community members were randomly selected to receive a snail mail invitation (mailed Feb. 24). Malone said there was also an advertisement published in the Feb. 27 Citizen-Tribune.

 

The community input portal on the school website and a street sign is also being utilized to invite community members to participate.

 

Malone issued a report of the various mental health intervention programs in the school district. In the report, Malone says the Becker school district has adopted policies that protect the social and emotional wellbeing of students. 

 

For example, Policy 514 Bullying Prohibition states that “an act of bullying, by either an individual student or a group of students, is expressly prohibited on school premises, on school district property, at school related functions or activities, or on school transportation.” 

 

Also, Policy 413 Harassment and Violence states that “the school district prohibits any form of harassment or violence on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or disability.

 

On the report, Malone cited several resources available at the school to assist parents and children with social and emotional concerns. The report refers to SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education), student grief groups, the school’s health curriculum, Psychological First Aid (PFA), TRAK (Together Reaching Area Kids) and many other amenities.

 

The February, 2016 newsletter for Board & Administrator was passed out which featured an article on placing the interests of students far above one’s own needs and also gave tips for communicating with the school’s superintendent and identify problem areas for discussion.

 

The article finished with a checklist of do’s and don’ts when facing a special interest group.

 

Member Bryan Olson said the activities committee discussed the coaches handbook that was passed around. He also said they sent out an end-of-the-season participation survey for athletes in which the committee is looking for feedback on how the winter sports season transpired.

 

Olson also said the committee is looking for ways to increase student attendance at sporting events and activities and the group is possibly looking at ways to get the word out about activities and possibly implement an incentive program for attending. Olson says the committee is looking to hear of any ideas for how to improve attendance amongst students.

 

The items on the consent agenda, including last month’s minutes, disbursements, February’s financial report, personnel, gifts and the FY 17 integration revenue worksheet were all approved in one motion.

 

A preliminary date for sometime in March was earlier approved for a school board workshop, but at Monday’s meeting, scheduling conflicts have resulted in the meeting being pushed to April. The meeting is expected to run one-to-one-and-a-half hours.

 

The next Becker School Board meeting is April 4 at 6:30 p.m.