TRIO Wolf
Creek Distance Learning Charter School
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.
Board Members Present: Stacy Bender, Sandy Flint,
Cassie Gaede, Dawn Janusch, Kelly Legg, Karen Paul, Tom Plocher, Brenda Swanson
and Jeff Vitali
Absent: All present
Ex-officio member, Tracy Quarnstrom
Visitors:
Heidi Miller, Kalli Frost, and Anita Pelzer.
1. Call to order and approval of agenda.
TRIO Wolf
Creek Distance Learning Charter School Board met in the conference room of the school
at 10363 Liberty Lane in Chisago City on January 13, 2009. Board chair, Tom Plocher called the meeting
to order at 3:10 pm. The agenda was
considered and Bender moved that it be accepted as presented. Swanson seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Two new board members were recognized and
introduced, Dawn
Janusch and Karen Paul. Quarnstrom
pointed out the Board Member Position Descriptions that all members
received. She asked that they be signed
and turned in by the end of the meeting.
Quarnstrom noted the meeting dates for the
year; which were distributed in the board packet. She also mentioned that some board members
had requested a later start time for the board meetings. After some discussion, it was moved by
Swanson and seconded by Bender that future board meetings start at 4:00 pm, beginning
with the February meeting. Motion
carried.
Swanson moved the acceptance of the minutes
of the previous meeting. Gaede seconded
the motion. Motion carried.
3. Open forum
Student, Kalli Frost, was present for the
meeting. Gaede explained that part of
the requirements of a government class was that students attend a public
business meeting. Kalli was at the
meeting to observe.
4. Consideration of claims and
accounts
5A. Bills. Miller
presented the bills for December 12, 2008 through January 12, 2009. She
itemized the list and explained many of them. The bills for the month totaled
$51.184.57. Flint moved that we pay the
bills reflected by checks numbered 2481 through 2527. Swanson seconded the motion. Motion carried
5B. Finance Report. Miller presented the financial report
dated January 13, 2009. The report
showed that expenditures were again over revenues in the amount of
108,457.19. Miller pointed out that the
next grant payment will take care of the difference. Swanson moved the acceptance of the
report. Gaede seconded the motion. Motion carried.
5C. Revised Budget. Miller presented
a revised budget containing many possible scenarios, each taking into
consideration some difference in either student numbers, adjusted lease aid by
the state and/or the distribution of state aid this year. She pointed out that there will be no new
money this year and shifting will doubtless take place as to when we receive any
money, probably less than previously.
She reminded the board that in the past fund balances have been taken
away, so we need to continually refigure our finances with fluctuating student
numbers.
There was some
discussion as to the financial advantage of having providing-enrolling students
and PSEO students. It was suggested that
we educate students and families so that they know that PSEO is a financial
burden on Wolf Creek. It is not free
college.
Vitali asked for
a report of the available money the school will have this year. That will be provided at the next
meeting. No action was taken on the
revised budget, for it will continually be updated each month, perhaps until
April.
6. New Business
6.A Quarnstrom reported that she is
continually working on the strategic planning document and has received much
help and many suggestions from members of the board. She has appreciated the input, for often the
board’s priorities have been different than hers. One surprise was the interest of two people
in the ASSET program, which is a program where colleges connect with high
schools for ease in transition. The
colleges involved have not been those our students attend but the program
remains of interest to some.
Quarnstrom asked
about a board retreat, possibly in May to review priorities. By then the lease-aid legislation would be
completed and we would have a better financial picture for our school. She thanked those who had participated in the
determination of priorities.
6.B .
Bender reported the ongoing work of the marketing committee. A half-page ad is being placed in both the
Chisago Lakes community booklets. The
Facebook ads continue and continue to change to target different audiences. An All-Over Media ad will be on Facebook
soon. In the efforts to try to make the
name of our school better reflect who we are, the committee has come up with
the name Wolf Creek Online High School.
Bender pointed out that TRIO has been confusing in recent
years and “online” defines us more correctly than “distance learning”, which
can be confused with correspondence study. It was moved by Bender that we
change our public identity name to Wolf Creek Online High School. TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter
School will continue to be our legal name. Legg seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Bender has
requested that she no longer be a member of the graduation committee. A replacement is not necessary since the
committee has enough members.
Quarnstrom suggested
the formation of two new committees. She
sees the necessity of a Technology Committee so that we can be continually
looking ahead and planning and for keeping abreast of whatever is new. She asked for volunteers and accepted the
services of Sandy Flint, Kelly Legg, Tom Plocher, Brenda Swanson, and
herself. The other committee would be a
Personnel Policies Committee. This
committee would revise the personnel policies and would look at issues such as
pay and insurance. It would be a short term committee – possibly two
months. She asked that those who
volunteer be willing to poll teachers on issues, perhaps in February. Cassie Gaede, Dawn Janusch, Kelly Legg, Heidi
Miller, Brenda Swanson, Jeff Vitali, and Tracy Quarnstrom will make up that
committee. The board was also reminded
that all committee meeting times are publically posted and open to everyone.
6.C
Swanson reported that the graduation committee has been working on the
location for graduation. The committee
has determined that they would like to have it at our school, so plans are
being made to accommodate the number of people attending, taking into
consideration both a sunny day and rain.
Renting large tents in the event of rain is very doable. The rental people will set up and take down
the tents as well as provide chairs and a platform. Plans are being made to allocate each
graduate an unknown number of tickets for family and/or friends to attend. If the day proves to be pleasant, the tickets
will not be necessary. Swanson moved to
allocate the amount of $3,000.00 to the graduation committee for expenses. Gaede seconded the motion. Motion carried.
6.D. The issue of technology reimbursement for
staff would be part of the consideration of the personnel policies
committee. It will be discussed when all
are present to consider all aspects.
7. Old Business
7.A. Bender
reported that the suggested changes have been incorporated into the Student Truancy/Attendance
Policy # 503. She related that some truancy
workers have passed on our policy because it truly tracks the work actually
accomplished by students, not just time that they are “engaged”. Swanson moved the approval of the policy and
Gaede seconded. Motion carried.
7.B. The Social Networking Websites Policy #450 was given its
second reading. Quarnstrom emphasized
the need for staff responsibility to learn how to protect themselves. She mentioned that insurance for specific
social networking activity is not available, but it is possible that some
liability insurance is available as agents of the school in our policies. It was suggested that the word “you” in the
policy be changed to the word “staff”.
It was also pointed out that this is a policy, and thus it will be
assigned a number. Approval of the
policy, with changes, was moved by Swanson.
Second by Janusch. Motion carried.
7.C. The board has allocated capital funds in the amount of
$19,491.42. These funds are being spent
on needed items not available with grant funds.
The capital funds money will be spent on the following items, not to
exceed the total amount: a defibulator, new laptops for students, “No Skateboarding” signs for outdoor areas, bookshelves for
the great room area, wireless cards, and ergonomics related items.
7.D.
Swanson prepared a presentation describing our director, Tracy
Quarnstrom, outlining who she is and what she does for Wolf Creek. The list of responsibilities was taken from
the director’s job description. This was
followed by the distribution of the numbers and averages compiled from the
performance review of the director by the staff and the board. Discussion followed, pointing out the
positive results of the performance review and the good things that are
happening at Wolf Creek because of our top administrator.
A new contract for Tracy Quarnstrom as director of Wolf
Creek Online High School for 2009 was distributed. There was some discussion about the opening
statement, for it included learning manager duties, which she no longer has. This statement was stricken from the
contract. Acceptance of the contract,
with changes was moved by Bender. Vitali
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
8. Quarnstrom announced the resignation of board
member Ed Jordan. Mr. Jordan had sent a
letter of resignation to Ms. Quarnstrom and the board. No motion was made on
the letter as action was already taken at the December board meeting.
9.
The meeting was adjourned by a motion from Bender at 5:02
pm. Second by Vitali. Motion carried.
The next Wolf Creek Online High School board meeting will
be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at Wolf Creek.
________________________________________________ ________________
Chair, Tom Plocher Date