The Crookston School Board met on Monday night inside the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room.
MAIN AGENDA
The Main Agenda began with the Truth in Taxation Hearing and certifying the levy payable for 2023. The hearing was led by Business Manager Laura Lyczewski who explained that the Levy for 2023 is in good financial shape. “Compared to last year we are up about $44,000,” said Lyczewski. “That equates to about a 1.3% increase in the levy which is common on a year-to-year basis. A lot of that is mainly based on enrollment and legislation changes.”
The exact dollar amount the levy will be set at for 2023 is $3,452,627.95. After hearing the information from Lyczewski, the board certified the levy payable for 2023 unanimously.
The next item on the Main Agenda was approving the World’s Best Workforce/Achievement & Integration Report led by Crookston Public Schools Superintendent Dave Kuehn and School Board member Dave Davidson. “The World’s Best Workforce is something that is mandated by the state. Our goal is to review things like achievement gap and make recommendations to the school board about what we need to do to improve,” said School Board member Dave Davidson. “What we are trying to do locally is to find ways to help our students by designing programs and having resources that will help them succeed in the now and the future.”
There were three specific areas that the 20-25 committee members on the workforce deemed as Priority Areas.
- The District needs a plan to increase academic interventions across the district, especially at the 7-12 grade levels.
- The District needs a plan to increase family engagement throughout our school district that supports family and student involvement within the Crookston School District.
- The District needs a plan to increase 9-12 grade academic opportunities that focus on students specific interests/needs.
The board heard from various committee members on why those three topics are important and something to consider moving forward. The board approved the World’s Best Workforce/Achievement & Integration Report unanimously and will look into creating resources to accomplish the three priority areas. They will also continue to hear from the committee at future board meetings with more recommendations.
The World’s Best Workforce is also working on updating its five goals for the next three years. The goals include making sure all children are ready for school, closing the achievement gap(s) between student groups, helping all students achieve third-grade level literacy, that all students will be college-ready by graduation, and that all students will graduate.
The last item on the Main Agenda was approving the third and final reading of Policy Updates 208, 209, 210, 410, 415, 417, 515, 603, 604, 708, and 722. The board approved all of the updates unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
There were three items on the Consent Agenda. First was the approval of meeting minutes from the School Board meeting on November 28, 2022. The second was accepting donations from the Fraternal Order of Eagles in the amount of $2,500 to be used for Special Needs Students sensory equipment at Highland Elementary School. The third was approving the hiring of Stephanie Tappe at Northland Lights Academy as a Paraprofessional. The board approved all Consent Agenda Items unanimously.
The board also took a moment to honor Adrianne Winger as she will no longer be serving on the board after accepting a teaching position in the School District (You can’t do both). School Board Chair Frank Fee presented Winger with a plaque and thanked her for her service over the years one last time.
FEATURE PROGRAM
Following the approval of the Consent Agenda, the board heard a presentation from Sara Geist and Erica Uttermark regarding updates on Title I and ELL. “Title I is support for students that are struggling in the areas of reading and math, and Title ELL is for English Language Learners,” said Sara Geist. “The update to the board provided specifics on how many students we typically serve, what students qualify, and what each of the programs specifically looks like.”
These programs are federally funded and are currently serving around 145 students, with the majority being in the younger age groups. Geist noted that it is common for them to serve more of the younger students in these programs. There was no action needed from the board as the presentation was informational only.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
The board then heard administrative reports from Crookston High School Principal Matt Torgerson, Highland Elementary School Principal Chris Trostad, Washington School Principal Denice Oliver, and Crookston Superintendent Dave Kuehn.
Crookston High School Principal Matt Torgerson discussed the planning/process of transitioning the High School into both a high school and a self-contained middle school. Torgerson noted there will be more precise information coming at future School Board meetings, but the process is going well, and the vision is becoming clearer. The goal is to have something to present to the District on January 16, which is a Staff Development Day.
Washington School Principal Denice Oliver touched on some of the discussion from the Main Agenda, and Crookston Public Schools Superintendent Dave Kuehn highlighted some successes in the district with the sports teams and reminded the board of the upcoming meeting with the Minnesota School Board Association on Monday, December 19, at 4:00 p.m. to discuss the search for a new Superintendent for the School District.
The next School Board meeting will take place on Monday, January 23, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. inside the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room.
