TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School

Board Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 3:00 p.m.

 

Board members present:  Stacy Bender, Sandy Flint, Cassie Gaede (Piechowski), Tom Plocher,

                                         Brenda Swanson, Jeff Vitali

 

Ex-officio member:  Tracy Quarnstrom

 

Absent:  No One No one

 

Visitors:  Heide Miller, Sheryl Palmquist, Lindsay Jarombek, Renee Mussetter, Kelly Legg, Mark Mansk,

Tom Kelly, Raymond Kelly

 

CALL TO ORDER AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA

TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School Board met in the school board room on October 9, 2007.  Tom Plocher called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m.  The agenda for the meeting was presented.  Quarnstrom asked to have the School Board Election Results presented following the Open Forum items.  .Swanson motioned to accept the agenda with this modification, seconded by Gaede, motion carried.              

 

ROLL CALL AND CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Roll call was noted.  No changes were requested for the minutes from the September 11, 2007 Board Meeting.  Swanson motioned to accept the minutes, seconded by Flint, motion carried.  

OPEN FORUM

One of our student’s, Tom Kelly, was present with his father, Raymond Kelly.  Tom requested the opportunity to be considered for a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Scholarship. He is a third year student and would like to attend the CNA classes being offered at Parmly.  The Board agreed to take Tom’s request under advisement. This item was already on the Board agenda for discussion.

 

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION RESULTS

Quarnstrom presented the Resolution Canvassing Returns of Votes of TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 held between September 14, 2007 and October 8, 2007.  A total of 13 voters voted in said election of Charter School Board Members.  Candidate Brenda Swanson, having received 13 votes, is elected to a two year term as full-time teacher representative position.  Candidate Stacy Bender, having received 12 votes is elected to a two year term as full-time Teacher Representative position.  Candidate Sandra Flint, having received 12 votes is elected to a two year term as full-time Teacher Representative position.  Candidate Tom Plocher, having received 12 votes is elected to a one year community at large position.  Candidate Kelly Legg, having received 8 votes is elected to a two year full-time Teacher Representative position. Candidate Ed Jordan, having received 7 votes is elected to a one year parent representative position.

 

All terms begin on October 9, 2007.  The motion for adoption of the resolution was made by Swanson, seconded by Bender.  On a roll call vote, six voted in favor, zero voted against, whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.

 

Election of School Board Officers was conducted with nominations for Tom Plocher as Chair; moved by Swanson, seconded by Gaede, motion carried.  Nomination for Jeff Vitali as Vice Chair; moved by Gaede, seconded by Flint, motion carried.  Nomination for Brenda Swanson as Secretary/Treasurer; moved by Bender, seconded by Flint, motion carried.

 

Quarnstrom shared a memo from MACS (Minnesota Association of Charter Schools) in association with School Board Elections.  They are providing recommendations on how and when School Board elections should take place.  The main concern is that not enough parents and others eligible to vote are participating in board elections.  Since the school board spends public dollars they want the elections to show more evidence of wide participation. 

 

Nothing added.

 

CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS

4.A.    Miller presented the bills for the month of September in the amountand a bank balance of $21,919.68.  After the expenses were enumerated, Bender moved that the report of checks 1316002041 - 1316002060 be accepted, seconded by Flint, motion carried. 

 

4.B.     Miller reported that revenues through September 30, 2007 totaled $271,023.00.  Expenditures through October 9, 2007 were $184,614.94, resulting in $86,408.06 revenue over expenditures.  There is approximately $7,800 in staff development, $60,250 in equipment/operations capital, $11,400 in basic skills, and $1,700 in gifted/talented.  These funds do roll forward from year to year.  She also informed us that the auditors would be here the week of October 15th.  Gaede moved for acceptance, seconded by Bender, motion carried.     

 

OLD BUSINESS

5.A.    Swanson shared an update on the possibilities for our new building.  We have hired Steven Bosacker to assist in guiding us through the construction of this project.  We are anticipating the possibility of leasing the building from Greystone Construction for the first year and then possibly purchasing.  We may get a better price on the land than initially anticipated with enough land for future expansion.  The next meeting with Jeff (Greystone Construction) has not yet been scheduled.

 

5.B.     Bender and Quarnstrom met with Paul Haga and Nancy Roberts with the St. Paul Pioneer Press.  Given the fact that our first ad in the Pioneer Press did not generate any interest, Nancy has agreed to let us out of the agreement to run two more ads.  They offered us other options such as TrafficMAX which is a search engine marketing tool.  More information will be brought to the Board for approval in the Spring when we need more students as we are currently near capacity.

 

NEW BUSINESS

6.A.    Quarnstrom asked for discussion about paying for class tuition for a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course offered at Parmly.  The cost is $575.00 for the class and an additional $150.00 for the student test.  Participating students also earn a ½ course credit at Wolf Creek.  It was proposed that we pay $525.00 for up to five students to attend the class.  Students would be need to be nominated by staff to be considered.  The remaining fee and cost of the test would be the responsibility of the student.  Bender motioned to accept this proposal, seconded by Gaede, motion carried.

 

6.B.    Quarnstrom asked from approval of the contract for Anita Pelzer, our part-time clerical person.  Gaede motioned to accept the contract, seconded by Vitali, motion carried.

 

6.C.    Quarnstrom asked for discussion on the topic of over enrolling students at a tuition cost.  We could enroll students in courses at a cost to the family, potentially charging $350 - $450 per class.  A number of other schools within MNOLA (Minnesota Online Learning Alliance) are already doing this.  Quarnstrom will look into this further and bring more information to the Board at the November meeting.

 

6.D.    Quarnstrom informed the group that a draft copy of the Annual Report will be emailed to Board members for review. 

 

6.E.    It is time again for the Director Evaluation to be completed by the School Board.  Swanson will disperse the evaluation and responses will be forwarded to Renee for compilation.  Results will be shared at the November meeting.

 

6.F.    The School Board Retreat was scheduled for November 13, 2007 immediately following the regular meeting. 

 

6.G.    A safety inspection of our facilities was conducted by Tim Burton, Chisago Lakes Maintenance Department.  There were only a few issues that needed to be rectified, all of which are being done.

 

6.H.    Quarnstrom asked for a second reading of our Crisis Management Plan (Policy 806).  Swanson motioned to accept the Policy with changes, seconded by Vitali, motion carried.    

 

OTHER

7.A.     Bender asked the Board for financial assistance to send one of our sophomore students to the Hoby Leadership Conference.  Each interested student would need to write an essay on leadership.  A committee would then choose one sophomore to attend.  A $500.00 award would cover the cost of the conference, meals, and lodging.  Swanson motioned to approve this request, seconded by Gaede, motion carried.

 

7.B.     Quarnstrom shared a handout from the MN Department of Education stating that we have been re-certified as an Online Learning (OLL) provider.

 

7.C.     Quarnstrom shared a MARSS Fall Data Report showing economic indicator comparisons.

 

7.D.     Quarnstrom mentioned that we would begin to discuss graduation plans at the November Board meeting. 

 

Bender motioned that the meeting be adjourned at 4:18 p.m., seconded by Gaede, motion carried.

 

The next TRIO Wolf Creek board meeting will be held on:  Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. in the Wolf Creek Blue Lab at 11725 Stinson Ave., Chisago City, MN. 

 

____________________________________________________                _________________

Chair, Tom Plocher                                                                               Date

 

 

Addendum:  After the meeting was adjourned, it was found necessary to change the School Board Retreat date to Tuesday, December 11th immediately following the regular meeting.