Board Minutes – 03-13-2023

 

MFL MarMac Community School

Regular Meeting and Public Hearing on 2023-2024 Calendar

March 13, 2023

 

The MFL MarMac Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors was held on March 13, 2023, in the Learning Commons of the Monona Schoolhouse.

 

President Gina Roys called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.  Members present at roll call were Gina Roys, Tonya Meyer, Roberta Hass, Collin Stubbs, Josh Grau and Dr. Jon Moser.  Aaron Schroeder was absent.  Also present were Dr. Dale Crozier; Superintendent, and Karla Hanson; Board Secretary.   Student Board Member, Emme Schroeder, was present.  Visitors were recognized and welcomed.

 

Motion made by Roberta Hass, seconded by Tonya Meyer, to add a 10th item – File Audit – to the agenda and approve as such.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

President Roys opened the public meeting for 2023-2024 calendar at 6:03 pm.  Discussion included adding days for snow days and the upcoming legislation that may allow five days of virtual learning that count toward the required instructional hours.  Motion by Josh Grau, seconded by Dr. Moser, to close the open meeting at 6:08 pm.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Motion by Jon Moser, seconded by Roberta Hass, to approve the consent items from the agenda as follows:

 

  • Minutes from the February 13, 2023, Regular Meeting.
  • Bills against the district as listed: General Fund: $157,385.24, Management:  $1,500.00; Enterprise: $975.00; Capital Projects: $37,720.13, PPEL:  $14,224.60; Activity Account: $36,455.66, Food Service:  $29,794.34; Little Bulldog Childcare:  $5,140.79, Dr. Smith Childcare:  $1,417.05.
  • The Secretary’s Report, Activity Report and Food Service Report will be filed subject to audit.

 

The motion was unanimously carried.

 

MORE students, Karter Decker and Wyatt Powell spoke about a proposed project that would include increased lighting in the south parking lot, fencing of the south property and an archway entrance to sit near Bulldog drive and the north entrance.  Some funding has already been secured from previous classes who had funds left in their class accounts.  Hunter Meyer and Will Koether talked about their courtyard project.  They would like to trim the trees, remove the pond and bridge, add new seating and grow on the existing flower beds that are registered to the National Butterfly Registry.

 

Motion by Tonya Meyer, seconded by Dr. Moser to approve the contracts, resignations and transfers as follows:

 

Contract:             Kelli Saxe – Football Cheer Coach

Lary Walter – Assistant Baseball

 

Resignations:     Donna Krambeer – Paraprofessional

Monica Peterson – Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

 

Motion by Collin Stubbs, seconded by Dr. Moser, to approve the renewal to participate in the Risk Management Pool for natural gas.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Motion by Dr. Moser, seconded by Roberta Hass, to approve the cooperative swimming agreement with Decorah High School for the 2023-2024 school year.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Motion by Collin Stubbs, seconded by Tonya Meyer, to approve Board Policy 302.7 Voluntary Early Administrative Separation as presented.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Motion by Josh Grau, seconded by Roberta Hass, to approve all existing 28E agreements for FY24.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Motion by Roberta Hass, seconded by Tonya Meyer, to make Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. the law firm for the district because our lawyer, Brett Nitzschke, moved from Lynch Dallas to Ahlers in March.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Motion by Collin Stubbs, seconded by Dr. Moser, to file the FY22 audit as presented.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Student Board Member, Emme Schroeder, reported that new student board members will be Mindy Keehner and Eric Grady.   High School activities include, State Speech, State Boys Basketball, end of girls basketball season, Legacy competitions, All-State, and spring sports beginning.

 

High School Principal, Larry Meyer, reports that the MORE program continues to challenge students to find new projects and learning opportunities.  Other things happening in the high include the following: evaluations, FFA banquet and competitions, sports, Pops concert, Parent Teacher Conference prep, course discussions for next year, Dan Anderson’s Coach-of-the-Year award.

 

Middle School Principal, Denise Mueller, highlighted ice skating and ski trips, DARE graduation and bowling trip, MS Concert, Coding, STEM, grant applications for STEAM carts, Eagle Bluff fundraiser, intervention continues to help struggling students, and the last Character Ed day focused on fairness.

 

Elementary Principal, Kathy Koether, reports that STEAM day for the kindergarten was a success, spring concert is coming up, Parent Teacher Conferences will be held at the end of the month, an author visit is planned, and Reading Rodeo will be the theme for Reading Month.

 

Superintendent, Dale Crozier, reports that 2022 graduation rate was 100% and 2021 was 98%.   While we thought that our attendance rates were problematic, when compared to other schools, we are in the 92nd percentile.  Academics are above the 50th percentile.  EMC has notified the district that insurance rates will be increasing by 15-30% due to inflation and world catastrophic events.  Turner Park has asked for assistance in renovating the bathrooms.  This is within our 28E Agreement and because the school utilizes the park, Dr. Crozier recommended donating to the project.  Dr. Crozier finished with a list of projects – listing them in priority of what needs to be done now and what we need to plan for in the future.

 

The next meeting will be held in the Monona Center Library on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.

 

President Roys adjourned the meeting at 6:58 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Karla Hanson, Board Secretary