The Crookston School Board met at the Crookston High School choir/orchestra room Monday evening. The meeting started with board member Dave Davidson taking the Crookston Education Association (teachers union) Master Agreement and the employment agreement with school counselor Ray Lutovsky and Activities Director Greg Garmen off the consent agenda. Davidson said it wasn’t because he had a problem with them, but he thought all three were related and would like to show unanimous support for them.
After the three items were taken out of the consent agenda, the board unanimously approved the employment of Kayla Snyder as Administrative Assistant, Frank Ybarra as a kitchen helper, Cassandra Torkelson as a kitchen helper, all at Crookston High School. The board also approved the hiring of Kathryn Chaput, Trisha Fuller, Alicia Jay, Rebekah Olson, Stephanie Tappe, and Zandrea Tjossem as paraprofessionals, and Allison Ozaki as a special education teacher. The board also approved a change with Suzie Larson moving to Washington School, from the high school, and accepted the resignation of Barb Johnson in the food service department at Washington School. “We are excited about the slate of candidates, and we are excited to have them in our district,” said Crookston School District Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Olson. “We hired several people, and that was nice, and we look forward to having them becoming Pirates.”
The agenda had an addition with the retirement of Mike Geffre. Geffre is retiring from Crookston and taking a teaching job in Paw Paw, Michigan. For the story on Geffre’s retirement, click here.
Later in the meeting, they approved a two-year contract with the Crookston Education Association (teachers union) for the school years, 2019-20 and 2020-2021. Teachers will get a one percent increase in 2019-20 and a three percent increase in 2020-21 with no changes to insurance. As part of the agreement, Pirate coaches will also get a slight bump in pay. The teachers union unanimously approved the deal on Thursday, and the school board unanimously approved the contract at the meeting completing a smooth negotiation. “Since I have been on the committee, it was the quickest we have ever had a resolution. I think both sides were tired of the past years and how long it would take and both of us came with aggressive offers,” said Tim Dufault, head of the Crookston School Board negotiation committee. “It was very interesting negotiations, very spirited and I think we talked as much about the school activities, school climate, keeping kids in the classroom as we did about salaries and benefits. The teachers want to see the kids succeed, and the board wants to see the kids succeed, so each session was very positive.”
The board also unanimously approved employment for another year with Ray Lutovsky as a school counselor and Greg Garmen as Activities Director.
The main agenda was the next item for the board, and they approved the questions on the ballot for the special election in November. The board had two options. The first option had the bus garage and referendum separate. In the second option, the referendum would be contingent on the bus garage passing. The board unanimously passed the first option. “The board chose the more traditional route to have the first question be the referendum necessary for the operations of our schools, and it is absolutely crucial for us,” said Olson. “The second question being the bus garage question. It will give the voters a maximum menu option to vote for what they believe.”
The board approved the long-term facility plan, which they are required to do every year. Some of the highlights include dollars allocated for an eifs system above the brick line at the High School and replacement of entrance doors at Highland and Crookston High School. “The major thing that sticks out is the desire to take a step forward with our facilities as a district,” said Olson. “We are focusing on the entrances at Highland School that need to be replaced next summer and an eifs system at the high school to replace that in a few years to prevent water problems.”
Student handbooks for Crookston High School, Highland and Washington Elementary Schools were approved with minor adjustments.
Crookston High School Handbook – Click here
Highland School Handbook – Click here
Washington School Handbook – Click here
In the superintendent’s report, Olson said they would like to hold a board meeting at Highland School in the fall to show the improvements they are making at the school this summer. He also wants to focus on improving attendance across the district.
The board approved the fall coaches list with a few openings left to fill. See the list of coaches at the end of the story.
The school board also had a working session after the school board meeting. The working session was an update and input session to get ready for the November vote for the bus garage and referendum. They have scheduled the first public meeting on August 8 at 6:00 PM in the Crookston High School Auditorium. Superintendent Olson said he will meet with a group of farmers and staff. He added that he will reach out to service clubs to present at the meetings. The board will look at developing a Vote Yes committee that includes people from a variety of backgrounds, including agriculture, business, staff, community members. They will offer tours of the current bus garage and look at getting information out on the radio, websites, paper, and social media along with three community meetings.
Football
Head: Scott Butt
Assistant – Darin Zimmerman
Assistant – Brody Davidson
9th Grade – Enrique Julien and Gary Stegman
8th Grade – Jeremy Lubinski and Dan Halland
7th Grade – Don Edlund and TBD
Volleyball
Head – Ashley Stopa
Assistant – Tayler Christenson
9th Grade – Amy Boll
8th Grade – Brandi Nesseth
7th Grade – Katie Englestad
Girl’s Tennis
Head-?
Assistant – Cody Brekken
Girl’s Swimming
Head – Marley Melbye
Volunteer – Aly Bergstrom
Girl’s Soccer
Head – Sarah Reese
Assistant – Anna Brekken
Boy’s Soccer
Head – Lon Boike
Assistant – TBD
Trainer – Luke Biermaier
Weight Room – TBD
Treasurrettes – Adrianne Winger
