The Becker School Board met Monday night and discussed the MSBA Conference, the Big Dog Challenge, a new election law, the 2017 financial audit and strategic goals.

 

Dr. Stephen Malone said all school board members are registered for the MSBA Conference Thurs. and Fri., Jan. 11-12. The theme this year is “Student Achievement: Passion, Perseverance, and Possibility”. A flier describing the conference was dispersed to board members.

 

Malone said, “This is an excellent professional development opportunity and I encourage board members to attend. If you cannot attend, please notify me by Dec. 8 so that we can cancel your room at no charge to the district.” 

 

Malone said Becker Innovates’ Big Dog Challenge is an ongoing innovation program to promote innovation throughout the school district. BI’s second Big Dog Challenge event “was a huge success,” said Malone. 

 

About 30% of school staff participated and generated 20 ideas.

 

The winning ideators and their teams will participate in a design thinking workshop facilitated by ignite! Innovate later this month. Additionally, three “easy wins” were identified and will move directly to implementation.

 

They include: • Increased Recess Time - Ideator: Jen Harmoning; • The Alice Training Program – Ideator: Maggie Maine; • Outdoor Learning Space – Ideator: Missy Olson.

 

These winning ideas will form teams and work to further define the problem, discover alternative solutions, examine implementation and develop an MVP (Minimum Viable Product). 

 

The following ideas were identified as “Rollout Ready” and will go directly forward to implementation: • Student and Staff Health – Ideator: Josh Ihrke. Another water bottle filling station will be added at the high school next summer; • Recycling Bins/Bags Distinction – Ideator: Dustin Weege. Different colored bins for recycling will be utilized throughout the school district beginning with the high school next month; • District Wellness – Ideator: Dan Baird. A committee of teachers and administrators is meeting this week to develop guidelines for teachers who wish to exercise during their prep time.

 

A new election law from the 2017 Legislative Session amends MS 205.11 Subd. 2. Malone says the school board must approve a resolution to combine polling places by Dec. 31 of each year. 

 

The combined polling place must be a location currently designated for use by the City of Becker. Malone says the Becker School District is not designated for use by the City of Becker. However, the Becker City Hall has been designated. Malone recommended approving the resolution.

 

KDV, the school district auditors, presented the 2017 financial audit. 

 

The audited general fund summary shows the June 30 ending fund balance at $1,620,126 representing a $334,915 increase from last year. The June 30, 2017 unassigned fund balance is three percent of expenditures. 

 

Malone said District Policy 714 Fund Balances states that the school district will strive to maintain a minimum unassigned general fund balance of eight percent. 

 

Malone recommended a first reading of the revised strategic goals for the 2018-19 school year.

 

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

 

The strategic goals document described the purpose, the school district’s vision, student exit outcomes, district exit outcomes and strategic goals.

 

Malone said he would ensure that all school board members can log in for The Trust Edge Google Classroom Book Study after the meeting.

 

The next Becker School Board meeting is Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m.