The Crookston School Board met in a special meeting on Thursday afternoon at the Crookston High School Choir/orchestra room. It approved the district moving to Distance Learning November 23 – December 9 with no in-person activities allowed during that time.
The board received great news with the 2019-2020 Crookston School District Audit.
MOVE TO DISTANCE LEARNING
Superintendent Jeremy Olson gave the Crookston School Board several options to move to distance learning, citing the increased COVID-19 cases in Crookston and more community spread.
The first choice was to go distance learning starting November 23 and 14 days after Thanksgiving through December 9.
The second choice was to go distance learning from November 23 through January 2.
Olson also said it might be controversial, but he suggests sports should be tied with whichever plan they choose. Olson said he believes if they are distance learning, they shouldn’t have sports during that time.
November 23 and 24 would be prep days for staff, with the first day of distance learning November 25 and continuing distance learning for 14 more days after Thanksgiving.
VOTE ONE-
Dave Davidson made the motion to go distance learning from November 23 through January 2. He added if we don’t have school in person, there shouldn’t be sports either.
Patty Dillabough seconded the motion.
Mike Thies thought going distance learning from November 23 through December 9 was a better option. Theis said he would like to see sports continue, and if they go to January 2, that would pretty much wipe out the winter sports season.
Tim Dufault asked Crookston Activities Director Greg Garmen how the sports would be affected.
Garmen said the numbers aren’t as bad as one would think, and Crookston had played every sport up to today (Thursday, November 12) when they canceled the volleyball match. The winter sports season starts November 23 with boys basketball and boys hockey, and the first two weeks are just practice, and they wouldn’t be going anywhere. Girls Hockey, Wrestling and Girls Basketball, would start later. Garmen said if they missed the entire month of December, it would pretty much wipe out a large chunk of the season.
The motion failed with Davidson, the only yes vote. Dufault, Dillabough, and Mike Theis voted no.
VOTE TWO-
Theis followed with a motion to go to distance learning November 23 through December 9 with another board meeting in early December to decide what to do after December 9. Tim Dufault seconded the motion. Dillabough said that her concern is that the kids need to be safe and extend it if needed.
Dillabough asked if the teachers will have enough time to get ready for distance learning without exhausting them. Olson said they plan on keeping everybody in the same amount of hours they would normally have when they are in-person learning.
Teacher and Crookston Education Association (teachers union) head Kim Davidson said they need to think about the logistics of switching from two different teaching models.
The vote was tied 2-2, and the motion failed with Davidson and Dillabough voting against it. Theis and Dufault voted yes.
VOTE THREE
Davidson made a motion to go distance learning from November 23 through December 9, and in-person activities would not be allowed during that time unless they are virtual. Olson said this isn’t an easy decision for anybody, but they have to do what is best to keep the kids safe. Dufault said they have to find a compromise and what they are trying to do.
Kristy Swanson said kids would be going to other people’s houses during distance learning and mental wellness was an important part of activities. Swanson gave an emotional speech saying, “My daughter went through a lot of mental health issues because of COVID. Sports saved her. Distance learning….there were many kids when my kid was at home during quarantine, and her friends were out at other people’s houses. This isn’t going to stop the spread. It is up to the parents to hold the kids accountable. Sports helps these children. I am not going to go through another time in my daughter’s life, where she was at her absolute lowest. I hope you guys think about that.”
Dufault, Dillabough, and Davidson voted for the motion, and Mike Theis was the only no vote, and the vote third motion passed.
School Board members Adrianne Winger and Frank Fee weren’t able to make the meeting.
The move ends the Crookston Pirate Volleyball season because they had canceled their match Thursday, November 12, because of a COVID outbreak, and two more matches next week. Playoffs start the first week of December, and they won’t be allowed to compete in the tournament.
“The 14-day distance learning duration was selected, and every intention we have in the district is a return to in-person instruction because it is best for the kids,” said Olson. “We are looking at the possibility of reviewing the information and data on December 2 and determine if that would be extended any further beyond the December 9 date. We will use the 14 days to reset as a district.”
The planned return to school in-person would be December 10, according to Superintendent Olson.
SCHOOL DISTRICT AUDIT
The school board received great news from Eide Bailly accounting firm during the audit report for the 2019-2020 school year. The firm said the district had an outstanding financial year. Average Daily attendance (ADM’s) went up 44, which helped the school take in $982,670 more in the General Fund than they spent, which was fantastic news. “The increase in student enrollment last year was a huge shot in the arm for the district financially,” said Olson. “The total number of ADM’s that came into the district, over and above what we expected, brought the district about $660,000. What we see in the audit is an increase in the school district revenue. We are down a little bit this year, compared to next year.”
According to the accounting firm, a positive fund balance contributes to a favorable bond rating, produces investment income, provides a source of working capital to meet cash flow needs, and offers a cushion for unexpected expenditures or revenue shortfalls.
Crookston School District policy strives to maintain a minimum unassigned fund balance in an amount that shall be no less than 10 percent of the annual budget. For the current year, that target amount is $1,493,564. The district’s current unassigned fund balance is at 19 percent. Crookston was around 15 percent in the previous four years.
While last school year was an outstanding year, Superintendent Olson said they are holding their own so far this year with the pandemic. “This is a year we are going to hold our own, or at least we are hoping too,” said Olson. “The pandemic has caused issues enrollment-wise. As far as the overall financial picture for the district, we should hold our own, but we won’t have as good of a year as last year.”
APPROVAL OF ELECTION CANVASSING
The Crookston School Board accepted the November 3 election results. Dave Davidson, Mike Theis, and Frank Fee were the top three and will serve on the school board for four years starting in 2021.
