SOUTH WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL NOVEMBER MEETING MINUTES

District 833 School Board Regular Meeting

Unofficial Clerk's Summary

17 November 2011

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a workshop of the School Board of Independent School District 833, South Washington County, was held on Thursday, November 17, 2011. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Leslee Boyd at 6:00 p.m. at the District Service Center, located at 7362 East Point Douglas Road South in Cottage Grove, MN. School Board members present were Marsha Adou, Leslee Boyd, Tracy Brunnette, Jim Gelbmann, Laurie Johnson, Ron Kath and David Kemper. Superintendent Mark T. Porter was also present.

The School Board met in a closed session to discuss labor negotiations strategy pursuant to MN Statute § 13D.03. Denise Griffith, Director of Human Resources, was present for the meeting.

Mike Vogel, Assistant to the Superintendent for Operations, presented information as it relates to future capacity issues at Liberty Ridge Elementary. At the October 27th School Board meeting, administration shared the district's enrollment trends and projections. As part of that presentation, it was pointed out that enrollment at Liberty Ridge Elementary School has grown by 220 students over the last two years. The conversion of existing classrooms at Liberty Ridge Site 2 from Early Childhood to Kindergarten, coupled with the expansion of Site 2 to add two more classrooms and core facility space has provided adequate space for the 2011-2012 school year. However, it will not accommodate projected growth through the 2014-2015 school year as anticipated previously. The primary component of the enrollment growth is new housing construction. Currently, there are 110 multiple dwelling lots and 277 single family lots available for new construction in the Liberty Ridge attendance area. Additionally, Stonemill Farms has submitted an application to the City of Woodbury for approval of an additional 51 multiple dwelling lots and 174 single family lots, and the Ridgestone development has only platted 22 of a potential 135 lots at this time. Without adopting measures to constrain enrollment growth and increase the capacity of the building, Liberty Ridge will not be able to support the enrollment for the 2012-2013 school year and beyond. Current economic conditions make it difficult to predict the pace of new housing construction over the next few years, but we are confident that the number of new homes constructed in the next 2-3 years will be comparable to those of the last 2-3 years and the pattern of enrollment growth will continue for 5-6 years until the lot inventory in the attendance area is depleted. Listed below are several methods identified by administration to address enrollment concerns at Liberty Ridge Elementary. A version of each of these methods has been used in the past at Liberty Ridge or another school as capacity issues arose.

Methods to Address Enrollment Concerns at Liberty Ridge Elementary School

1. Close LR to open enrollment and Intra-district transfers for 2012-13 and beyond.

2. Rescind all existing open enrollment and IDT agreements to attend LR (currently 60 students, 50+/- for 2012-13 and decreasing by approximately 10 students each year).

3. Change attendance boundaries to reduce number of students assigned to LR.

a. Shift neighborhood group W-38 and W38A (Ridgestone development), and neighborhood group W33 (Kingsfield, Oakview and Highland Knoll developments) from Liberty Ridge attendance area to Middleton attendance area.

b. Move Neighborhood group W-10 (Powers Lake) from Liberty Ridge to Royal Oaks or Middleton.

c. Create an attendance boundary for Valley Crossing within the current LR attendance area.

4. Relocate Autism program from Liberty Ridge to an alternate elementary site.

5. Restrict/reduce/eliminate enrollment in all-day kindergarten program to free up 1-3 classroom spaces as needed at Liberty Ridge main campus.

6. Expand capacity at Liberty Ridge site 2 from 3 kindergarten classrooms and 1 school readiness classroom in 2011-12 to 8 kindergarten classrooms and 2 school readiness classrooms in 2012-2013.

The primary objective is to provide adequate space to accommodate future enrollment through the 2014-2015 school year, by which time a decision will need to be made on the use of Valley Crossing School or construction of another elementary school to house the growth in students from new development. Administration has evaluated the pros and cons of each of the alternatives presented and have identified two options. The two options are listed below:

Option 1 Proposal

• Construct 12,500 sq. ft. addition at Liberty Ridge Site 2 for 2012-2013, adding 5 classrooms and reducing classroom use at the main campus by 3 classrooms.

• Close Liberty Ridge to new open enrollment and intra-district transfers.

• Shift neighborhood group W38 and W38A (Ridgestone development) from Liberty Ridge to Middleton.

• Shift neighborhood group W33 (Kingsfield, Oakview and Highland Knoll developments) from Liberty Ridge to Middleton, over time allowing 2012-2013 4th grade students to remain at Liberty Ridge in 2013-2014.

• Phase out existing open enrolled students at Liberty Ridge effective 2013-2014.

• Phase out existing intra-district transfer students at Liberty Ridge allowing 2012-2013 4th grade students to remain in 2013-2014.

Option 2 Proposal

• Construct 12,500 sq. ft. addition at Liberty Ridge Site 2 for 2013-2014, adding 5 classrooms and reducing classroom use at the main campus by 3 classrooms.

• Close Liberty Ridge to new open enrollment and intra-district transfers.

• Rescind open enrollment agreements at Liberty Ridge effective for 2012-2013 allowing 2011-2012 4th grade students to remain at Liberty Ridge.

• Rescind intra-district transfer enrollment agreements at Liberty Ridge effective for 2012-2013, allowing 2011-2012 4th grade students to remain at Liberty Ridge.

• Shift neighborhood group W38 and W38A (Ridgestone development) from Liberty Ridge to Middleton.

• Shift neighborhood group W33 (Kingsfield, Oakview and Highland Knoll developments) from Liberty Ridge to Middleton, over time allowing 2011-2012 4th grade students to remain at Liberty Ridge in 2013-2014.

• Eliminate School Readiness classroom at Site 2 for 2012-2013.

• Limit classrooms assigned for K students at the main campus to 2 in 2012-2013.

Central to both options is the purchase of the existing Site 2 leased facility and construction of a 12,500 square foot addition. The foundation and footing for a second building identical to the first already exist and a connecting commons would be required to tie the two buildings together. The proposed construction would allow that facility to serve 100% of the kindergarten and school readiness students in the attendance area for the foreseeable future, and free up kindergarten classrooms at the main campus for grades 1-5. Several questions need to be answered from construction timelines to available funding alternatives and the corresponding tax-impact before the district can proceed. Therefore, option 1 proposes that construction be completed for the start of the 2012-2013 school year and option 2 proposes construction be completed for the 2013-2014 school year. Each option contains a series of additional actions that need to be considered in addition to the expansion of Site 2 to allow the solution to be viable through 2014-2015. The estimated cost of the purchase and construction of the addition is $4.5 million. It is anticipated that the district will be able to use the lease levy to finance all or a portion of the estimated costs. Superintendent Porter will work with board members on next steps.

The workshop adjourned at 7:30pm.

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District 833, South Washington County, was held on Thursday, November 17, 2011. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Leslee Boyd at 7:35 p.m. at the District Service Center, located at 7362 East Point Douglas Road South in Cottage Grove, MN. School Board members present were Marsha Adou, Leslee Boyd, Tracy Brunnette, Jim Gelbmann, Laurie Johnson, Ron Kath and David Kemper. Superintendent Mark T. Porter was present for the meeting.

Motions were made and seconded to approve the consent and main agendas for the meeting. Motions were passed. Consent agenda items included approval of resignations and terminations; acceptance of electronic fund transfers; acceptance of gifts; approval of October 27, 2011 School Board meeting minutes; approval of November 3, 2011 School Board meeting minutes; approval of resolution of intent for alternative facilities funding and bonds; approval of change orders.

Mary Amidon, Assistant to the Superintendent and School Board, presented the November 2011 General Election results. Mary requested that the School Board certify the election results of the November 8, 2011 General Election for the election of three (3) school board members for 4-year terms. A resolution was also presented that authorizes the issuance of certificates of election documents to the elected individuals following expiration of the 7-day contest period and receipt of the required campaign financial reports. For this election, the district had 54,543 registered voters. Of those registered individuals, 4,010 people (just over 7%) voted. 191 absentee ballots were included in those totals. The totals for the candidates and write-in candidates are as follows:

RON KATH 2127

JIM GELBMANN 2036

LESLEE BOYD 1964

KATIE SCHWARTZ 1501

JOE RYAN 1471

LEZLIE L. SCHRIVER 852

STEVE LAGOON 572

WRITE-INS 50

Having received the highest number of votes, the following candidates are elected to 4-year terms beginning on the first Monday in January, 2012: Ron Kath, Jim Gelbmann and Leslee Boyd. Following expiration of the 7-day contest period and receipt of the required campaign financial reports, certificates of election will be issued to these individuals. A motion was made and seconded to approve the results as presented. Motion was passed.

Keith Ryskoski, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education, presented the recommendations for the intra-district transfer and open enrollment parameters. This was discussed in detail at the November 3 School Board workshop. Intra-district transfers, Board Policy 509.1, provides the opportunity for District 833 families to request to have their students attend a school other than the one assigned by attendance boundaries. If approved, transportation arrangements are the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Open Enrollment, Board Policy 509, provides the opportunity for non-resident families to attend a District 833 school. The open enrollment statute allows the board to pass a resolution to limit the open enrollment of non-resident students to a number not less than 1% of the total enrollment at each grade level in the district. The following summarizes the administrative recommendations for the application of board policy 509.1, Intra-district Transfers and 509, Enrollment of Non Resident Students, for the 2012-2013 school year.

Elementary Schools (bold statements are new or revised)

1. Intra-district transfer requests for the 2012-2013 school year may be granted on a space available basis subject to the approval of the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools.

2. Acceptance of a student under an intra-district transfer shall be determined after the staffing levels for the schools have been determined and shall not increase the number of students at a grade level within the receiving school beyond 90% of the established classroom cap for that grade level.

3. Zero intra-district transfers will be considered to Liberty Ridge Elementary School for the 2012-13 school year due to capacity constraints.

4. Acceptance of a student under an intra-district transfer shall not increase staffing requirements at the school receiving the student.

5. Students approved for an intra-district transfer in one year shall be included in the enrollment projections of the receiving school in future years for staffing purposes.

6. Kindergarten students with an elementary sibling attending a school under an intra-district transfer the year the kindergarten student will be enrolled will also be enrolled in the intra-district transfer school unless requested otherwise.

7. Applications for consideration for transfer to another elementary school should be submitted by April 6, 2012.

8. If the number of intra-district transfer requests exceeds the available space in a grade level, the order of approval shall be determined by selecting names through a random drawing process.

9. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing transportation to and from school in every instance where an intra-district transfer has been approved.

10. Families must reapply if requesting enrollment at a school outside the assigned attendance boundary when school transitions occur (elementary to middle; middle to high school).

11. The School Board shall review the outcome of the intra-district transfer policy for elementary schools and make recommendations for the 2013-2014 school year.

Middle Schools (bold statements are new or revised)

1. Intra-district transfer requests for the 2012-13 school year may be granted on a space available basis subject to approval of the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools.

2. Transfer approvals will be limited to a net +/- 3% above or below the assigned attendance boundary enrollment per grade level at Oltman and Woodbury Middle Schools.

3. Intra-district transfers to Cottage Grove Middle and Lake Middle Schools will not be approved due to capacity constraints.

4. Acceptance of a student under an intra-district transfer shall not increase staffing requirements at the school receiving the student.

5. If the number of intra-district transfer requests exceeds the available space in a grade level, the order of approval shall be determined by selecting names through a random drawing process.

6. Students approved for an intra-district transfer in one year shall be included in the enrollment projections of the receiving school in future years for staffing purposes.

7. Applications for consideration to transfer to another district middle school outside the assigned attendance area should be submitted by January 13, 2012.

8. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing transportation to and from school in every instance where an intra-district transfer has been approved.

9. Families must reapply if requesting enrollment outside the assigned attendance boundary when school transitions occur (elementary to middle; middle to high school).

10. The School Board shall review the intra-district transfer policy and make recommendations for middle schools for the 2013-2014 school year.

High Schools (bold statements are new or revised)

1. Intra-district transfer requests for the 2012-2013 school year may be granted on a space available basis subject to the approval of the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools.

2. Transfer approvals will be limited to a net +/- 3% above or below the assigned attendance boundary enrollment per grade level at Park High School and Woodbury High School. Preference for enrollment will be given to students in grades 11 and 12 who request transfer to the International Baccalaureate Program at Park High School.

3. Intra-district transfers to East Ridge High School will not be approved due to capacity restraints.

4. Acceptance of a student under an intra-district transfer shall not increase staffing requirements at the school receiving the student.

5. If the number of intra-district transfer requests exceeds the space available in a grade level, the order of approval shall be determined by selecting names through a random drawing process.

6. Students approved for an intra-district transfer in one year shall be included in the enrollment projections of the receiving school in future years for staffing purposes.

7. Eligibility for athletic participation related to transfer to a different school will be under the rules and guidelines of the Minnesota State High School League. MSHSL has ultimate authority in these matters. ("Note: the MSHSL already recognizes International Baccalaureate as an exception to their transfer eligibility policy.")

8. Applications for consideration to transfer to another district high school outside the assigned attendance area should be submitted by January 13, 2012.

9. Parents/guardians/students are responsible for providing transportation to and from school in every instance where an intra-district transfer has been approved.

10. Families must reapply if requesting enrollment outside the assigned attendance boundary when school transitions occur (middle to high school).

11. The School Board shall review the outcome of the intra-district transfer policy for high school students and make recommendations for the 2013-2014 school year.

OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR NON-DISTRICT RESIDENT STUDENTS:

(bold statements are new or revised)

It is the recommendation that for the 2012-2013 school year that District 833 allow enrollment of

nonresident students at 3% of each grade level enrollment for elementary, middle and high schools. An exception would be for Liberty Ridge Elementary, Cottage Grove Middle, Lake Middle and East Ridge High Schools which would be closed to additional open enrollment students due to anticipated capacity constraints. Schools/grades meeting or exceeding the thresholds for intra-district transfer considerations have also met the criteria for being closed to open enrollment. Open enrolled students would continue at their assigned school throughout their years at each level. Families must reapply, indicating their preferred school, when school transitions occur (elementary to middle; middle to high school). The district retains the right to assign nonresident students to sites other than direct feeder schools when these transitions occur, based upon capacity and program considerations.

Board members discussed this item and asked questions, several that related to the sibling preference issue at the secondary level. Board members would like to see the secondary sibling preference numbers before they move forward with this item. This item will likely be brought back to the School Board at their December 1 workshop session for further discussion.

T. Porter, Superintendent, presented the proposed changes to the Series 800 School Board policies that focus on the district's buildings and sites. These policies were reviewed with the School Board at their November 3 workshop session. At that meeting, Board members commented on three of the proposed policies:

• Policy 801 (Equal Access to School Facilities for Students) and questioned the phrase "enrolled students" in the second line of the policy. This policy deals with district students. Out of district students using district facilities would follow the district's facility use policy.

• Policy 801.2 (Naming New Facilities) - it was recommended to include the words "and approval" under IIIA and IIIB - those changes were added.

• Policy 802 (Disposition of Obsolete Equipment and Material) - the question was brought up that if there is a cost associated with disposition of equipment, would that fall back to the school district. Ownership transfers to the receiving party when they accept the goods, whether by purchase or donation, and they become liable for any future disposal costs.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the recommendations as presented. Motion was passed.

Denise Griffith, Director of Human Resources, presented a tentative agreement with the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) International Union Local 12. This item was discussed in detail with the School Board at a closed session workshop prior to the regular meeting. The two year agreement would be effective July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013. The agreement includes step advancements for both year 1 and year 2; salary schedule improvements of $.30 per hour in year 1 and $.50 per hour in year 2. Longevity is increased by $.10 per hour for each of the longevity increments (10 years, 15 years and 20 years of service) starting year 1. The agreement includes a decrease in district contribution for health insurance. The district will decrease its contribution by $79 per month for the Open Access and Select Choice single plans and by $211 and $213 per month for the Open Access and Select Choice family plans, respectively. This results in no change in employee contribution for these plans. The district's monthly contribution toward the high deductible insurance plans will be reduced by $128 for the single plan and $98 for the family plan. The employees' contributions will remain at $0 for the single plan and will be reduced by $72 for the family plan. The district will also contribute $100 per month for both single and family plans towards and employee VEBA account. The agreement has a 3% district contribution increase toward all insurance plans in year 2. The district match toward 403B/TSA plans is increased from $1,000 to $1,100 per year. Administration recommends approval of the tentative agreement. A motion was made and seconded to approve the recommendations as presented. Motion was passed.

The meeting adjourned at 9:35pm.

12/28

Tags: public notices, meetings