7/27/2010 10:16:00 AM New superintendent meets with board to discuss
scheduling, possible sale of elementary school
New Kingsland Superintendent John McDonald, left, attends his first official Kingsland School Board meeting as Chairman Mitch Lentz begins leading the meeting. (Tribune photo by Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy)
The Kingsland School Board of Directors welcomed the district's new superintendent, John McDonald, to his first official board meeting last Monday evening.
After the board passed the consent agenda, which named the district's legal designations for the 2010-2011 school year, he thanked Security State Bank for its donation of over $700 to the Kingsland School Age Child Care Program (SACC) and the Osterud-Winter Foundation for its donation of $1,000 for preschool scholarships to be awarded to children whose parents can't afford preschool tuition.
Next, Kingsland Principal James Hecimovich updated the board on the master schedule, which former Kingsland High School Interim Principal Barry Johnson started working on before the end of his term. He stated, "There's a lot of work that continues to be done. The difficulty is that we're working with reduced staff and we've lost half an English position and half a physical education position. We moved to an eight-period day, and we started with the 12th graders and worked down to the seventh graders, trying to get as many kids into as many required classes as possible. Our seventh and eighth graders are 100 percent scheduled without conflicts."
He pointed out that the schedule allows for a "credit recovery, online learning and structured study hall" period that would create time for students who are lagging to catch up on their work and for those who are advancing to take advanced-placement online learning classes. Also, the district will be "offering college credit classes in animal science through Mrs. Brogan, as well as other AP classes. In talking with Mr. McDonald, kids in Pequot Lakes can graduate with 30 to 40 college credits, which gives them a good start both academically and financially when they go to college."
The administration hopes to begin scheduling in January this coming school year, as the December departure of high school principal Jon Ellerbusch created some disruptions that delayed scheduling classes, leaving staff uncertain what they would be teaching and students unsure of what electives and required courses they would be taking.
Board Chairman Mitch Lentz said, "It's good to have a goal, but to have it completely done is better."
McDonald commented, "The process really starts right after Christmas, when we should start working toward the master schedule in February and have it done by May."
Hecimovich also reported on the district's adequate yearly progress (AYP) standing. "It's good news for Kingsland again, as we made AYP for the third year in a row. They looked at all students and individual categories. Special education is and will continue to be a challenge - we made it, but under a safe harbor provision. Again, a win is a win, and I'm going to take it for now. We're working toward 2014 when everybody has to be 100 percent proficient in math...my biggest concern is that we don't really have a reading instruction program beyond sixth grade."
Handbook and policy readings were approved for the attendance policy - which was missing from the handbook and school website - and the staff, student and activity handbooks.
McDonald then updated the board on the sale of the old elementary school building, for which a potential buyer has been found but no deal made.
Board member Peggy Merkel stated that the facilities committee met and discussed "how to move forward with the potential sale of the building," since the district has been conversing with the buyer. The district would like to draft an agreement in which it would contribute an amount less than $50,000 to assist with asbestos abatement in return for no further liability for the building, which has cost approximately $40,000 per year to maintain. Merkel explained, "We came back with an offer at less than $50,000 because then it doesn't have to be bid."
The matter will likely be on the August board meeting agenda, and board member Al Williams agreed, "We might have to put something into this, but I think it's worth doing."
The district is in the process of calling an operating referendum in November and is examining its finances before choosing to do so. McDonald informed the board, "We have a two-month window to get the information out to the public -September and October - what we're asking and how it would affect the school district."
Personnel changes included accepting the retirements of longtime maintenance supervisor Charley Frank and paraprofessionals Karen Long and Gwenn Soldan and hiring fall coaching staff.
The Kingsland School Board of Directors will continue to hold its meetings the third Monday of each month at 5 p.m. in the Kingsland conference room at the high school unless otherwise noted. The next meeting is slated for Monday, Aug. 16.
