NORTH STAR PUBLIC SCHOOL
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
APRIL 24, 2023
The School Board of North Star Public School District #10 met in regular session on Monday, March 24, 2023, in the North Star shop classroom.
PRESENT: Chris Doehler, Michelle Gibbens, Jeremiah Halley, Vickie Jacksen (at 8 am), Brooks Larson, Paul Wagenman;Administration: Jeff Hagler, Jessica Gunderson, Nancy Reiser, Cathy Johnson. ABSENT: Jeana Jorde. VISITORS: Lavonne Haugen-NS staff, Tyler Olsen-Supt Search Committee member.
Board Vice President Gibbens called the meeting to order at 7:09 a.m. “Teacher Dismissal” was added to the agenda under New Business as item 12. c.MOTION by Doehler, second by Larson, to approve the minutes of the March 15, 2023 regular meeting. MOTION CARRIED-all voting aye. MOTION by Wagenman, second by Halley, to approve the minutes of the March 27, 2023
special board meeting. MOTION CARRIED-all voting aye.MOTION by Doehler, second by Wagenman, to approve the April bills presented for payment. MOTION CARRIED-all voting aye.
Monthly financial reports for March 2023 were reviewed.
Principals’ Reports:
Elementary Principal’s report by Ms. Gunderson: PK-6 enrollment 184, attendance 94.6%; reviewed and discussed options, information, and quotes from Grondahl Recreation Inc and Dakota Playground for new playground equipment: Dakota Playground will be recontacted about available options at a spend level of $50,000-$60,000; NS staff member Sheri Svir has applied to LRSE for elementary special ed position; letter of resignation from kindergarten
teacher was presented for board acceptance.MOTION by Doehler, second by Halley, to accept the resignation of Kristin Murchie at the end of the 2022-23 school year. MOTION CARRIED on a roll call vote: Doehler-yes, Halley-yes, Larson-yes, Wagenman-yes, Gibbensyes (Jacksen, Jorde absent). The board discussed and agreed on using a recruiting agency to fill vacancies with foreign teachers if necessary. Ms. Gunderson reported that grades 3-6 are completing assessments in reading, math, and writing; 4th graders are also completing a science assessment.
New Business 12. b. Senior Trip was presented as the next agenda item. Garrett Howard briefed the board about the senior trip plans and requested and received board approval for the school to pay transportation costs for the trip(bus use and fuel, driver reimbursement).
High School Principal’s report by Mrs. Reiser: JH/HS enrollment of 115, attendance 94.6%; JH/HS special ed teacher (through LRSE) is resigning; NS para staff member may qualify through Resident Teacher program to teach JH/HS special ed classes while completing coursework; student activities update: FCCLA-5 National qualifiers; State Speech3; academic field trips scheduled for seniors, Ecology/Ornithology classes; student cell phone policy change being considered; school improvement team update: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum, FY2024 professional development survey.
Activities Director Report by Mr. Hagler: August 15, 2023 tentatively set as FB field construction project completion date; FY2024 extracurricular openings for Head GBB, Asst GBB, JH GBB, Asst VB; negative trap shooting coop response from Devils Lake; gym mats repair completed; extra baseball coach necessary due to high participation.
MOTION by Wagenman, second by Doehler, to approve a baseball assistant position at $1500. MOTION CARRIED on a roll call vote: Doehler-yes, Halley-yes, Larson-yes, Wagenman-yes, Gibbens-yes, Jacksen-yes (Jorde absent).
Superintendent’s Report by Mr. Hagler: Budget, legislative and audit updates; distance learning 4/4-4/6/23 due to weather: hourly employees w/b compensated for those days; tweaks to distance learning procedures w/b discussed at May teachers’ meeting; w/b contacting roofing companies to evaluate leaking issues with the flat roof; tuition agreement presented for board approval. MOTION by Wagenman, second by Larson, to approve a no-charge tuition agreement for Rolette PK student to attend North Star for 2023-2024 school year. MOTION CARRIED on a roll call vote: Doehler-yes, Halley-yes, Larson-yes, Wagenman-yes, Gibbens-yes, Jacksen-yes (Jorde absent).
Old Business: Negotiations update: teacher group and board committee settled on 2-year agreement for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 with new terms as follows: base salary increases of $1,000 to $47,500 for 2023/24 and $500 to $48,000 for 2024/25; yearly step increment of $500 for all staff for 2023/24 and 2024/25 (move lanes 3-8 step freeze to year 39 for 2023/24 and to year 40 for 2024/25); add lane MA+16 with $1,00 increment from lane MA+8; increase
North Star TFFR pickup under Model 2 partial from 2.5% to 3.5% for 2023/24 and to 4.0% for 2024/25; increase payout rate for excess/unused sick from $15 per day to $50 per day; increase extracurricular salaries across the board by $250 yearly for 2023/24 and for 2024/25.Update on superintendent search presented by N. Reiser: 18 views of the job opening, 3 applicants have been or will be interviewed; discussion re: hiring options and job responsibilities. Next election deadline is May 4 for ballot preparation.
New Business: Board designated one precinct and one polling place (NS school lobby) for the June 13, 2023 election and set poll hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Board reviewed NS policy DKBD Dismissal for Cause and NDCC 15.1-15-07(definition of “cause”) re: procedure to be followed, if necessary, to address concerns with a teacher’s actions currently being addressed by administration.
Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. in the Shop Classroom. Meeting adjourned at 8:46 a.m.