District Business Manager Joe Prom presented the two budget revisions to the board (See charts), which included a projected fund balance as of 6/30/14 of $235,979 for the food service fund, $64,424 for the total community service fund, $3,454,867 for the building construction fund and $400,392 for the debt service fund. The changes included revisions in capital needs and software expenses, with no major changes in the fund balance for the year.

 

Construction is funded by the bond measure, he said, and will continue until completion, while the debt service cost is set by statute. Prom also noted that the all-day kindergarten will be paid through the general fund next year.

 

The 6/30/15 projected ending fund balance showed a total of $189,364 for the food service fund, $85,557 for the total community service fund, $409,867 for the building construction fund and $248,371 for the debt service fund. An increase in state aid of $86,000 is anticipated in that year, Prom said, and a further $.40 cents per student lunch and improvements in the breakfast program are also anticipated.  Malone said it is also the first time the Community Education fund will have a positive fund balance. 

 

Both revisions were approved unanimously after the presentation.

 

 

Board Member Bryan Olson presented a report on the status of the teacher contract negotiations, in which he said that the board contract committee and the Becker Education Association had achieved some “meaningful dialogue” in regard to retiree health and state-mandated sick leave language in the contract, and that he expected that a tentative agreement on those items will be approved soon.

 

The committee report also stated that the most recent financial proposal from the district was an increase of $558,000 ($3,400 per teacher total compensation, a four per cent increase), while the most recent BEA proposal calls for an increase of $1,266,000 ($7,800 per teacher total compensation, a nine per cent increase).

 

A history of district settlements was also included in the meeting packet (See chart.)

 

Olson said the committee would have liked to have had a closed session with the board to discuss negotiation strategy in advance of the Friday mediation session, but some members had schedule conflicts that made a special meeting in the future a requirement.  The meeting date will be posted when it is scheduled, he said.

 

 

Supt. Dr. Stephen Malone reported that the district calendar committee had developed the 2015-16 calendar, and he recommended that the board approve result at the meeting. The committee includes seven district employees, two high school students, four parents, four principals, Curriculum Director Jean Duffy and Malone.

 

The 2015-16 school year will include 173 student contact days, nine teacher development days, five early dismissal days for staff professional development and a graduation date of Friday, May 27.

 

Treasurer Lori Molus said the calendar should be revisited to address a lack of spring break days before being approved by the board, Malone said the committee was composed of all elements in the district, and had agreed to the current version being presented. Chairman Aaron Jurek said the board should support the work of the committee, or it would render the results meaningless.

 

Olson made a motion to approve the calendar as presented, with the resulting vote deadlocked at two and two, with Molus and Sheri Lumley voting against and Jurek and Olson voting in favor of the measure.  Clerk Mark Swanson and Vice-Chairman Jason Kindred did not attend the meeting.

 

The matter will be re-visited at the May board meeting.

 

 

Malone reported the district had received a grant from the Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services (CMJTS) that will fund 84 hours of summer work for 12 students.  The work will involve clean-up and landscaping on the campus, Malone said.  The grant was written and will be overseen by Michelle Kocak, work experience coordinator for the Sherburne Northern Wright Ed. Coop.

 

In a legislative update, Malone told the board funding for reduced price lunches, school readiness and anti-bullying legislation is likely to be approved by the Legislature before the session ends May 19. He also described a new “Health Insurance Transparency Act” which would have school districts call for bids on health insurance every two years going forward.

 

The board held a stakeholder meeting with a group of district residents prior to the regular board meeting, in which future expectations and opinions on learning and potential financial support were expressed.