The Crookston School Board met on Monday night inside Highland Elementary School. The meeting began with the Consent Agenda which included approving the previous meeting minutes, as well as the current bills.
The Consent Agenda also included accepting resignation letters from Elementary Aide at Washington School Jasmin Hanson, Highland Elementary School Teacher Rebecca Aaker, and Paraprofessionals Rebekah Olson, Janae Luckow, and Cindy Johnson. The School Board also approved the retirement of Kenny Olson from his position of Mechanic/Bus Driver and Mike Hajostek from his position of Physical Education Teacher at Highland. The Consent Agenda ended with the School Board approving the Master Agreement with AFSCME Dietary Group for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. The board approved all Consent Agenda items unanimously.
The Regular Agenda began with approving a resolution for membership with the Minnesota State High School League for Crookston Public Schools in the school year of 2022-2023. After a question about if the cost remains the same each year, and Crookston Public Schools Superintendent Jeremy Olson stated he cannot determine what the cost will be in the future, the board approved the request unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was approving all Crookston Public Schools’ summer programs. The programs needing approval were the ALP – Credit Recovery Summer School, Summer Orchestra, Summer Marching Band & Lessons, Summer Enrichment, and Community Education Summer Mini Camps. “While we certainly want to have summer programming every year, we also need to make sure the board is aware of it and what’s going on,” said Crookston Public Schools Superintendent Olson. “There were some budget implications involved with this so by statute I have to go before the board then with this before it can be approved. We are going to be able to utilize some funds we normally haven’t had because of Covid, so that should help pay any extra personnel costs because of these programs.” The board approved all summer programs unanimously.
The next item on the Regular Agenda was the approval of a fundraising request for the 2024 Europe trip. “The request was for a pizza sale fundraiser, and we do try and be careful with these requests and when they come in because let’s be honest, nobody wants 15 pizza sales going on at the same time,” said Superintendent Olson. “With that being said, this is a trip that is going to need some fundraising in order for it to happen, so the board decided o move forward with it.” The board approved the fundraising request unanimously.
The last item on the Regular Agenda was the approval of Interim Superintendent Dave Kuehn’s contract, and Superintendent Jeremy Olson expressed how excited he is that Kuehn will be taking his place. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to know he will be taking my place and that Crookston will have him as a Superintendent next year,” said Superintendent Olson. “I am now leaving with 100% confidence that the community will actually be more excited to have Dave on board and to have him leading the Crookston School District.”
The contract is for one year and will hold a salary of $102,000 with Kuehn working what is considered 75% time as the interim superintendent. The board approved unanimously.
The board also heard Administrative Reports from Washington Principal Denice Oliver, Crookston High School Principal Nicki Martinez, and Superintendent Olson.
Oliver mentioned in her report how nice it’s been to have in-person events back this year after COVID-19 halted most of them the past two years. She is optimistic that the events will continue to tie people together in the coming years. Martinez’s report highlighted that the Crookston High School is active in preparing for graduation that is this Friday, May 27, at 7:00 p.m. at the Crookston High School.
Superintendent Olson’s report highlighted the Crookston High School Prom stating it went very well. He also mentioned the first referendum meeting that took place last week for a new Track and Athletic Field Complex and is hopeful the community shows up to future meetings to state any concerns or opinions that they may have.
The next School Board meeting will take place on Monday, June 27, at 5:00 p.m. inside the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room.
