LINDEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Regular Meeting

Linden High School

7201W. Silver Lake Road

Linden, Michigan  48451

(810) 591-0410

December 16, 2009

7:00 p.m.

 

 

Members                      Laura Starrs, Pam Snyder, Mike Murphy, Steve Murphy, Rick Kursik, Scott Maker,

Present                          Rob Rossow.  Student Reps:  Kaley Holloway and Rachel McCloskey

                                       

Members                      None.

Absent

 

ADOPTION               Moved by M. Murphy, supported by Snyder to adopt the agenda as presented.  

OF AGENDA             All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

105-09                          

(P)                                  

                             

SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS

 

Superintendent Koledo reported that he met with Evie Jensen over lunch and her spirits are high.  She is hopeful to return soon, but may be out longer depending on follow up treatments.

 

Mr. Koledo reported that he heard today that Race to the Top legislation is looking at having districts sign up for the plan.  He will be working with the LEA and Board President regarding the Race to the Top,  to research  and come up with a plan to sign up for the funding.

                                        Mr. Koledo reported that the State Superintendent is advising districts to sign onto the plan.

 

                                        Mr. Koledo also spoke about the $127 per pupil cut has been delayed by Governor Granholm. 

 

STUDENT BOARD REPORTS

 

Kaley Holloway, student representative, talked about the blood drive that took place on December 4, 2009.  The blood drive was successful.  She also reported that the Christmas

Express collection at the high school brought in 236 cans of food, along with $873.00 in angel links and they are still collecting for this.

 

Miss Holloway said the Green Committee is up and running.  She reported that SADD is collecting used cell phones and having students make a Christmas promise to ensure  good decisions are made over the holiday break.

 

Miss Holloway stated NHS is selling hot chocolate as well as having an ultimate Frisbee competition with a goal of raising $200.00 per team. 

                                       

Miss Holloway took several minutes to share names of students who received academic and sports recognition awards for Volleyball, Football, Cross Country, and more. 

 

Miss Holloway spoke about ineligible players will be mandated to attend Eagle Study Table

three days a week after school until their grades improve and become eligible to participate.

                                       

Miss Holloway compliments the teams for their sportsmanship and complimented Coach Lawhorne for being Coach of the Year.

                                       

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

                                                                                                                                                               

                                        Mike Engelter, Assistant Superintendent gave a power point presentation on deficit budgets.

                                        Mr. Engelter reported that at last count there were 42 districts operating in a deficit budget.

 

 

 

Mr. Rossow asked if those districts were borrowing monies to stay afloat.  Mr. Engleter replied that they were in fact borrowing from the state pool.  He also made comment that the loans are backed by the state which is a problem.

 

Mr. Kursik made comment that many of the districts that are in deficit budget are those who lost 20J funding.

 

There was much discussion with board members about the implications of ending up in a deficit budget in the future.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS  

                                       

                                        None.

 

CONSENT                  Moved by Maker, supported by Snyder to adopt the Consent Agenda as presented.

AGENDA                   

106-09                    1.     Minutes of Regular Meeting, November 18, 2009.

(P)                                   2.     Minutes of Executive Session, November 18, 2009.                               

                                        3.    Minutes of Board Work Session, December 2, 2009.

                                        4.    Invoices for the Month of December, 2009 in the amount of $2,243.015.71.

                                        5.     Approval of Personnel Summary Sheet (Attachment A).

 

                                        Roll call vote taken.

                                        All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Third Reading/         Moved by S. Murphy, supported by  Snyder to take the motion to adopt the New Policy Adoption of         8315-Information Management as presented.

New Policy 8315-

Information                 All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

Management

107-09                          

(P)

 

Third Reading/         Moved by Snyder, supported by Maker to adopt the New Policy 8470–Students-Sex Offender

Adoption of                 Registry;Criminal Convictions as presented.

New Policy 8470-

Student-Sex                 All yea votes: Motion carried 7-0.

Offender

Registry;Criminal

Convictions

108-09

 (P)                                 

 

Adoption of                 Moved by S. Murphy, supported by Snyder to contract with the GISD to provide before and

GISD Health               or afterschool programming for students and their families for the 2009-2010 school year at a

Safety and                    cost of $21,135.00

Nutrition Services    

Contract-After

School Program         M. Murphy raised question about how this was being paid.  Mr. Koledo explained that Title I    

Supervisor                   money will be used for this program.

109-09                          

(P)                                   All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

                                       

 

Adopttion of               Moved by Kursik, supported by S. Murphy to adopt the board goals for 2009-10 school year,

Board Goals                as presented.

110-09                          

(P)                                   There was a comment from Mr. Kursik that he was happy with the verbiage added to goal 2.

                                       

                                        All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

Approval of                 Moved by Snyder, supported by Maker to approve the Human Development Curriculum as

Of Human                   presented.

Development

Curriculum

111-09

(P)                                   All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

NEW                            

BUSINESS

 

State School Aid        Mr. Koledo provided an explanation of section 101 of the State School Aid Act that limits the

Act-Minimum             number of pupil instructional days to that which the district had in the 09-10 school year.  This

Number of Days        topic was for discussion purposes only.

Instruction                  

                                        Mike Murphy wanted to make mention that there needs to be discussions with legislators to

                                        change the law.

 

Pam Snyder commented that considering seven furlough days to reduce our days may be a benefit.  This led to much discussion among the board members. 

 

Rick Kursik commented that purely from a financial stand point that as many options as possible need to be looked at.  He also indicated that making discussions based strictly from a

financial stand point instead of an educational one is terrible, but something the state is forcing districts to do.

 

Board members would like to see what savings the furlough days would bring to reducing costs.

 

Adoption of                 Moved by S. Murphy, supported by Maker to adopt the summer tax resolution to continue Summer Tax  to collect one-half  of the total taxes for 2010 summer taxes.

Resolution                  

112-09                           Rick Kursik mentioned considering collecting all school tax for the year at one time.  Other

(P)                                   districts are doing this.

                                       

                                        Pam Snyder concurred with collecting all at once.

 

                                        Steve Murphy wants to be sure that when we share townships with other districts that we are

                                        paying equally in fees.

                                       

Mr. Koledo commented that switching could be a burden initially on the individual homeowners who escrow their taxes.   

                                       

Mike Engelter explained that moving to once a year could not take place right now.  There are several steps that have to be taken approximately six months in advance.  The summer tax resolution has to be submitted before the end of December, 2009.

                                        All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

 

 

Strategic Plan             Mr. Koledo asked for discussion about the updated questions for Strategic Planning.

Questions-                  

Potential

Revisions                     Pam Snyder would like to see question 7 read better.  She would like it expanded on what Linden Community Schools merits can do to reach a regional community of potential new families.

 

There was also discussion about removing the second part of question number 5 (after priorities…).

 

                                        Mr. Koledo will make the updates.

 

Frequency of               Mr. Koledo explained that the frequency could be reduced during the summer and at some

Lawn Mowing           buildings where grass does not grow as quickly due to soil conditions. 

 

                                        Mike Murphy stated that since has in the past and may in the future share in the maintenance

                                        of lawn service that he had a conflict and wanted to abstain from discussion.

 

BOARD REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS                  

 

Mr. Kursik attended the high school volleyball banquet and commended Miss Hopkins on doing such a great job of putting the event together.  Well done!

 

Pam Snyder attended the weighted grade meetings and complimented the teacher and parents

on their efforts during these meetings.

 

Mike Murphy enjoyed the holiday dinner hosted by the GMASMB in Frankenmuth.

 

Steve Murphy thanked the board president and Mrs. Hayes for their efforts and participation in the Linden Follies.  He complimented all of the Linden staff for their involvement with this worthwhile event.

 

Mrs. Starrs was pleased to hear from Miss Holloway’s report on the long list of student athletes who achieved the many academic awards, athletic awards, and more.  She complimented the wrestling team for their recognition of great sportsmanship.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

113-09                          Moved by Snyder, supported by Kursik to adjourn to Executive Session per Section 8(h),

(P)                                   Pending Litigation, Jason & Brandi Baroni, et.al, Petitioner v Linden Community Schools, Case

                                        No. 2009-1214, C2787, of the Open Meetings Act at 8:30 p.m.

                                        Roll call vote taken.

                                        All yea votes.  Motion carried 7-0.

 

                                        A short recess was called at 8:31 p.m.

 

                                        The regular meeting reconvened at 11:22 p.m.

                                                               

ADJOURNMENT

 

                                        Board President Starrs adjourned the meeting at 11:25 p.m.

 

                                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                                ___________________________

                                                                                                                Steve M. Murphy, Board Secretary