NORTH STAR PUBLIC SCHOOL
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
April 20, 2022
The School Board of North Star Public School District #10 met in regular session on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in North Star Room 101. PRESENT: Chris Doehler, Michelle Gibbens, Vickie Jacksen, Jeana Jorde, Jay Nicholas, John Peters, Paul Wagenman; Administration: Jeff Hagler, Jessica Gunderson, Nancy Reiser, Cathy Johnson. VISITORS:
Lindsey Bundermann - NS staff; Kim Elsperger, Tyler Olsen – Cando, ND; North Star FCCLA students.
Board President Jacksen called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Agenda items 9.e. and 11.b. were noted as Retirement Letter and Negotiations, respectively.
MOTION to approve the minutes of the March 16, 2022 regular meeting was made by Paul Wagenmann, seconded by Michelle Gibbens, and CARRIED - all voting aye. MOTION to approve the April bills presented for payment was made by Michelle Gibbens, seconded by John Peters, and CARRIED - all voting aye. Monthly financial reports for March 2022 were reviewed.Item 8.c.4. STAR Events was moved up on the agenda: NS FCCLA students with national-qualifying projects presented brief summaries of their projects; advisor Hannah Alto noted that the national convention will be in San Diego in July 2022; expenses will be covered with chapter fundraising, student payments ($300 each from those attending) and a general fund contribution as necessary (as per past arrangements).
Principals’ and Activities Director Reports:
Elementary Principal’s report by Ms. Gunderson: PK-6 enrollment: 182; YTD attendance: 93.5%; plans for 2022/23 fulltime and substitute elementary staffing were presented and discussed: PK position will be advertised (50% of fulltime) and current staff teaching assignments will be made according to the proposed plan that includes a new hire for the PK position; NS has requested social work services from LRSE for 2022/23 (2 days/week; t/b charged for 1 day).
Item 11.a. Audit Report was moved up on the agenda: Jay Walsh, Brady Martz, presented (via Zoom) a review of the FY2021 management report and audited financial statements, including changes in financial presentations required per new GASB rules; an unreserved opinion was issued by Brady Martz for FY2021.
Principals’ and Activities Director Reports (continued):
High School Principal’s report by Mrs. Reiser: JH/HS enrollment: 115, YTD attendance: 92.8%; 2022/23 JH/HS class schedule is a work in progress but will include 7/8 STEM classes, a variety of elective sciences, and time for studentintervention services; the contract offer to Jessica Edwards for the interventionist position was presented for board approval.
MOTION to approve the contract offer to Jessica Edwards for the new interventionist position and other duties as assigned was made by Michelle Gibbens and seconded by John Peters. MOTION CARRIED on a roll call vote: Doehler-yes, Gibbens-yes, Jorde-yes, Nicholas-yes, Peters-yes, Wagenman-yes, Jacksen-yes. No applicants yet for the open Tech Ed position for the 2022/23 school year; one person has expressed interest for 2023/24; contract with NESC for tech equipment will be renewed; Cindy Craig, JH/HS para, will be resigning at the end
of the 2021/22 school year; graduation service for 12 seniors (6 honor students) will be held May 22 at 3 p.m. in the North Star Gym; upcoming events for NS students/staff include state/national competitions in Speech, Music and FCCLA, State Assessment testing, senior banquet, PTO Pancake Pals breakfast, and Mental Health and Suicide Awareness staff training.
Long-Term Planning Meeting began at 8:07 p.m. A Powerpoint presentation by Mr. Hagler included an introduction of board members, map of district boundaries, information re: enrollment, academic and extracurricular programs, and instructional and administrative staffing (current and anticipated changes for the 2022/23 school year), mill levies and
state per pupil funding, eight-year comparative general fund revenues and expenditures, past construction projects/dates, and current year and future property upgrades.
Principals’ and Activities Director Reports resumed following the long-term planning meeting.
Activities Director report by Mr. Hagler: Update on the new football field/track complex included the latest diagram of the complex components and discussion/expectations about final funding responsibility for bathrooms under the crow’s nest, water hookups/accessibility for concession stand and baseball field (North Star) and lighting installation for the complex (TCMC); spring sports practices and games/meets have been hampered by weather and baseball schedule has been revised to include one round of district games instead of two; approval of a proposed 3-year extension (10/1/2026 - 9/30/2029) of the current Northern Bottling Company/Pepsi contract was put on hold until closer to the end of the current contract.
Superintendent’s Report by Mr. Hagler: free meals for all students will end as of June 30, 2022; proposed meal prices for the 2022/23 school year which meet USDA pricing requirements were presented for board approval (no changes were proposed for extracurricular and drivers ed/FACS/Tech Ed class fees). MOTION to approve the proposed fees and meals prices (student breakfast @$2.30, adult breakfast @$2.65; K-6 student lunch @$2.30, 7-12 student lunch @-$3.30, adult lunch @$4.15; extra milk @$.35) was made by Paul Wagenman and seconded by Jay Nicholas. MOTION CARRIED on a roll call vote: Doehler-yes, Gibbens-yes, Jordeyes, Nicholas-yes, Peters-yes, Wagenman-yes, Jacksen-yes. A chart showing 2021/22 late start/early dismissal/no school days due to weather and total hours/days in session vs
state-required hours was presented and discussed; early (2:30 pm) dismissal on 4/29/22 to allow student and staff participation in an NHS service project Color Run to begin at 3 p.m.; three quotes for a replacement drivers ed vehicle were reviewed vs the option to lease a vehicle at $1000 for the six-week course period - board consensus was to lease
a drivers ed vehicle. Letter of resignation from Bella Bjornstad, Office Manager, was presented to the board with the proposed position advertisement copy; Paul Wagenman, Jeana Jorde, Nancy Reiser, Jessica Gunderson, Jeff Hagler and Cathy Johnson will serve as the interview committee.MOTION to accept Bella Bjornstad’s resignation was made by John Peters and seconded by Jay Nicholas. MOTION CARRIED on a roll call vote: Doehler-yes, Gibbens-yes, Jorde-yes, Nicholas-yes, Peters-yes, Wagenman-yes, Jacksen-yes.
Old Business: Discussed meeting held 4/19/22 with Hays Companies, Inc/Brown & Brown representatives re: participation in NDPHIT for school health insurance program and their request for a release of information letter to be signed for Brown & Brown to provide advice on qualifying for NDPHIT participation in the future; update on school board election: two candidates have filed for the open positions on the board (Brooks Larson-Cando Area 1 and
Jeremiah Halley-Bisbee/Egeland Area 2).
New Business: Negotiating committee met with superintendent re: ancillary staff pay for 2022/23 and with administration re: 2022/23 administrative salaries/benefits. Salary and wage schedules were presented for board review and approval. MOTION to approve the proposed 2022/23 ancillary staff pay rates/benefits schedule was made by Jeana Jorde and seconded by John Peters. MOTION CARRIED on a roll call vote: Doehler-yes, Gibbens-yes, Jorde-yes,
Nicholas-yes, Peters-yes, Wagenman-yes, Jacksen-yes. MOTION to approve the proposed 2022/23 administration salaries/benefits schedule was made by Jeana Jorde and seconded by Jay Nicholas. MOTION CARRIED on a roll call vote: Doehler-yes, Gibbens-yes, Jorde-yes,
Nicholas-yes, Peters-yes, Wagenman-yes, Jacksen-yes. Business Manager Cathy Johnson informed the board that North Star is approaching ALE (Applicable Large Employer)
status according to the Affordable Care Act and will eventually need to address the subject of offering healthinsurance coverage to qualifying ancillary staff.
Next meeting set for Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m.
__________________________________ ________________________________
Vickie Jacksen, President Cathy Johnson, Business Manager