TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School

Board Meeting Minutes

January 10, 2006

3:00 p.m.

 

Board Members Present:  Tracy Quarnstrom, Brenda Swanson, Tom Plocher, Tom Doyle, Sandy Flint, Denise Warndahl, and Jeff Vitali

 

Visitors:  Heide Miller, Sheryl Palmquist, and Steve McDonald (Auditor)

 

Absent:  Stacy Bender

 

1.  Chair Tom Plocher opened the meeting at 3:05 p.m. Swanson made motion to approve the agenda, Plocher seconded, motion carries.

 

2.  Roll call was taken.  Changes of previous board meeting minutes were given to Palmquist.  Palmquist will make changes and send all board members a revised copy with next board packet.  Flint makes motion to approve the minutes with the necessary changes.  Swanson seconded and motion carries.

 

3.  No one present.

 

4.  A.  Miller reported on the expenditures.  The total includes the amount of $16,475.11.  Vitali made motion to approve payment of detailed register check #’s 1316001625– 1316001643 for the amount total of $16,475.11.  Quarnstrom seconded, motion carried.

 

4.  B.  Miller gave totals for the TRIO Wolf Creek financial report for December, 2005.  Total revenues = $284,134.41, total expenditures = $239,036.90.  Revenues over expenditures = $45,097.51.  Cash on hand as of December 31, 2005 = $310447.63.  Audited fund balances = $337,874.28 and unaudited fund balances as of June 30, 2005 =$274,203.85.  Vitali made motion to accept the financial report, Quarnstrom seconded, motion carries. 

 

4.  C.  Miller introduced Steve McDonald, Auditor from Abdo, Eick & Meyers to the Board.  Steve summarized the audit findings to board members. In summary there were not surprises found in the information submitted to the auditors from Wolf Creek. A brief  presentation followed on each portion of the audit.  A discussion was concluded that the only missing documentation for the audit was the “Payment & Performance Bond”.  Swanson made motion to approve the audit report done by Abdo, Eick & Meyers for TRIO Wolf Creek Charter School year ending June 30, 2005. Doyle seconded, motion carries.

 

5.  A.  Swanson reported on graduation committee updates.  Currently TRIO Wolf Creek has 38 seniors.  Twenty(20) of these students have the potential to graduate in June, 2006.  TRIO Wolf Creek students will be allowed to walk at the graduation ceremony with 25 credits and to receive their diploma when 26 credits are earned.  TRIO Wolf Creek will be holding its commencement on the evening of Friday, June 9, 2006 at the Lions Park in Lindstrom, MN.

It was decided that TRIO Wolf Creek will charge no graduation fee for students this year. The school will be paying for the caps, gowns, and diplomas.  The estimated expense for everything is approximately $2,500.  Quarnstrom made motion to accept the graduation committees plan thus far.  Plocher seconded, motion carried. 

 

5.  B.  Quarnstrom lead discussion on TRIO Wolf Creek students seeking

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course work.  It was decided that this will be done on an individual student basis, any student who would want to participate in the (CNA) program will need to come to the TRIO Wolf Creek board and present on how they intend to follow through with the program.  It will then be decided by the board if they will pay for this students fees and test for the (CNA) program that they apply to. 

 

5.  C.  Miller and Quarnstrom reported that TRIO Wolf Creek will need to get our attorney’s involved with the Lease Aid that was suppose to be provided from MDE.  A deduction to our account is expected on 1/15/2006 as reported in the letters sent by MDE on the lease aid discrepancy. The dispute is whether the tenant improvements from Grey Stone construction should have been included in the original lease.  Miller and Quarnstrom are planning on setting a meeting up with MDE and attorney’s.

 

5.  D.  Discussion took place on Lakes Area Police Department K-9 unit coming and visiting our school facility.  It was discussed whether this was against students civil liberties or not.  The board made a decision to have the following added as a policy to the TRIO Wolf Creek student handbook for the 2006-2007 school year.  A letter will be developed and mailed to parents and students stating this policy.  Once this has been established the LAPD K-9 unit will be allowed to come to TRIO Wolf Creek with students being notified before hand of such a visit.  The dogs will be allowed in the schools public areas or classroom areas if doing educational demonstrations for students. Quarnstrom made motion to approve this new policy of the K-9 units visit to this school facility.  Swanson seconded. A roll-call vote was done with all board members present at this meeting.  All seven of the board members present voted in favor of the K-9 unit visiting.

 

5.  E.  IRS mileage rate change went into effect starting January 1, 2006.  The rate per a mile went from .445 to .485.  TRIO Wolf Creek will follow the IRS recommended daily rate. 

 

6.  A.  Quarnstrom reviews “Paid Time Off Policy” for employees.  The paid time off will be changed from 150 days to 100 days or 600 hours.  Flint made motion to approve.  Swanson seconded, motion carried.

 

6.  B.  Policy 514 – Bullying Policy, second reading.  Vitali made motion to approve policy 514.  Plocher seconded, motion carried. 

 

 

6.  C.  Quarnstrom asked that all board members look at dates to attend a board retreat.  This would be held during the daytime away from the school to give the board more time to discuss short and long term goals, the mission of our school and what our visions are for Wolf Creek as a board.  Perspective dates are to be e-mailed to Tracy and a date and place will be set on the February 7th board meeting. 

 

7.  Quarnstrom updated the board about the advertisements that where placed in the Forest Lake Peach and the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspapers.  We have been receiving lots of calls for admissions to the school.

 

8.  Plocher adjourned the meeting at 4:23 pm.  Quarnstrom makes motion to accept, Swanson seconded, motion carries.

 

9.  At 5:10 pm Swanson made motion to go into closed session for the purpose of evaluating the Schools Director.  Plocher seconded, motion carried.

 

10.  At 6:12 pm Swanson made motion to reconvene into open session.  Plocher seconded, motion carried.

 

11.  Results for the Director’s evaluation were summarized using a 5 point rating scale.

                        Question #1 score 4.29

                        Question #2 score 4.17

                        Question #3 score 4.71

                        Question #4 score 4.43

                        Question #5 score 4.29

                        Question #6 score 4.86

                        Question #7 score 4.0

                        Question #8 score 4.0

                        Question #9 score 4.57

Plocher adjourned the meeting at 6:20 pm.  Vitali made motion to accept, Flint seconded, motion carries.

 

 

 

The next TRIO Wolf Creek board meeting will be held on
Tuesday- February 7, 2006 at 3:00 p.m.
in the Wolf Creek Blue Lab
at 11725 Stinson Avenue in Chisago City, MN.

 

 

 

________________________________________          ________________

Chair, Tom Plocher                                                            Date