April 12th Board Work Session and April 15th Board of Education Meeting

GWINN AREA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

GWINN, MICHIGAN 49841

BUDGET WORK SESSION SUMMARY

APRIL 12, 2013

 

Superintendent Tufnell presented the Board with the following information: factors that continue to negatively impact the District, enrollment figures, a list of previous budget reductions, a list of budget cuts/reductions up for consideration, an outlook for the 2013-14 budget, a list of proposed cuts for 2013-14, a list of MARESA-wide class sizes for 2013-14, a list of all possible building reconfigurations, a list of bond items needed regardless of building reconfiguration, the recommendation from the Finance Committee for the need for a bond proposal, the costs and timeline associated with such a proposal, and the timeline and course of action should a bond proposal not pass.

The following people gave Public Comment on a several topics, most of which included the reconfiguration of the elementary schools and the current budget deficit: Jamie Gollakner, Karen Maki, Nicole McConnell, Dale Throenle, Rob Soyring, Angie Sanchez, Heather Anderson, Tom Patterson, Leesa Misterly, Len McKeen, Dion Krysmalski, Tricia Miilu, Kelsey Niemisto, Roger Stein, Lynn Osborne, Joe Boogren, Jessica Anderson, Jane Nordeen, Steve Anderson, Dale Wedig, LaTonya Redfearn, Robert Strohm, Amanda Peterson, Mary Jo Paris, Kristy Gollakner, Carla Lauren, and Renee Patterson.

 

GWINN AREA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

GWINN, MICHIGAN 49841

BOARD MEETING SUMMARY

APRIL 15, 2013

The following Gwinn Middle School students were named “Students of the Month” for April: Autumn Graham & Jacob Wainio (6^th); Claire Hohman & Peter Evans (7^th); and Mikalya Miilu & Kevin Roberts (8^th).

Ms. Elizabeth Woodruff was named Gwinn High School’s “Student of the Month” for April.

 The following people gave Public Comment on a variety of topics including the reconfiguration of the elementary schools, the current budget deficit, the common core curriculum, and the booster club: Karen Maki, Mary Graham, Julie Baker, Lisa Johnson, Peggy Noah, Tricia Miilu, Leesa Misterly, Jackie Hart, Jane Nordeen and John LaCount.

 Claims in the amount of $530,354 were approved for payment.

 District News

Gilbert Elementary School

• Congratulations to the following Students of the Month: Noah Wautier & Carter Stansky (Kdg.); Austin Hutchens & Michael Allie (1^st); Ashlyn Flourre & Sydney Osborne (2^nd); Chloe Biela & Jada LaCount (3^rd); Mia Mitchell & Kaden Weir (4^th); Kaden Watt & Jennifer Jerome (5^th).

• Our February “Classes of the Month” were as follows: Lower Elementary (K-2): Mrs. Dunham – 2^nd grade; Upper Elementary (3-5): Ms. Noel – 5^th grade.

• Our February Staff Member of the Month was Mrs. Sally Verpoorten, secretary.

• We had a great time with students, families and staff members at our Family Literacy Reading Rodeo. Our students read over 72,000 minutes during the month of March! Mrs. Goldsworthy’s class out-paced the rest and lead the school in total minutes read. Sydney Osborne won the Kindle drawing for the classroom top readers.

• Our students will attend Young Authors at NMU during the week of May 6-9, 2013.

• Our next session of Countdown to Kindergarten will be held on April 22^nd at 6:30 p.m.

• Our Spring Concert will be held on May 14^th at 10:00 am and 1:30 pm.

 KI Sawyer Elementary School

• Our students and staff enjoyed an assembly on March 28^th to celebrate the end of March-is-Reading-Month. Our theme was author Roald Dahl. Students had the opportunity to win “Golden Tickets” (a $25 Scholastic Book voucher) based on achieving weekly reading goals.

• Congratulations to the following Students of the Month: Blake Gereau, Tedra Forbes & Lambert Shannon (Kdg.); Luke Abbott & Hunter Dunlap (1^st); Addison Koenig & Hannah Findley (2^nd); Emily Evans & Elizabeth Wagner (3^rd); Haley Rininger & Casey Taylor (4^th); Issaac Burgess & Raina Humphrey (5^th).

• On April 9^th, our 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grade students enjoyed a Michigan History Assembly presented by NMU students.

• On April 19^th, the PTO will host a 2^nd/3^rd grade After School Recreation Time. This is also the PTO Family Movie Night.

• Countdown to Kindergarten will be held on Monday, April 22^nd.

• April 24^th at 7:00 p.m. is the day and time set for the GACS Celebration of the Arts. The KI Sawyer Elementary Choir and Bell Choir will be performing. We will also have student art work on display.

• Our Spring Program will be held on May 21^st. K-2 students will perform at 10:00 am. 3^rd-5^th students will perform at 2:00 pm.

• Kindergarten Registration Day is May 22^nd. This is also the day of our final Countdown to Kindergarten with the lunch and bus ride.

Gwinn Middle School

• Over the next two weeks, academic hearings will be held for those students who may need to attend summer school.

• Mrs. Gollakner and the 6^th grade students will release the salmon on Friday, May 3^rd.

• Students in Mrs. Gollakner’s classes have been learning about Tanzania and have been gathering materials to provide assistance to people living there. Mrs. Gollakner will deliver these materials when she travels there this summer.

• Track season has started, and our numbers look good. If the weather could cooperate, we should have a very strong showing at our meets.

• Ms. Meghan McLeod’s Peer to Peer program has been a positive addition to GMS. This program partners up students to work together on both academic and social aspects of school.

• In honor of Administrative Professionals day on April 25^th, GMS would like to give special recognition to our secretary, Mrs. Julie Akerley, who keeps GMS running smoothly. She is always willing to go the extra mile to assist a student, parent, or staff member.

Gwinn High School

• Gwinn’s prom will be held Saturday, April 26^th at the Marquette Historical Museum. The Grand March will be in the HS cafeteria that day at 3:30.

• The GHS Celebration of Arts will be held on Wednesday, April 24^th. Student art work will be on display and the spring concert will be held in the gym at 7:00 pm.

• Education week is April 22-26 with our top 5 seniors being honored at a reception at NMU on April 22^nd and our local day of excellence on April 25^th.

• Our National Honor Society induction ceremony will be held on May 1^st at 7:00 pm in the library.

• The Senior Awards Ceremony will be held on May 8^th at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria.

• Congratulations to Ellie Olsen who received All UP Special Mention for basketball and Derek Reetz who received All UP 2^nd Team designation for basketball.

Superintendent Tufnell presented the Board with minutes from the recent Finance/Personnel Committee meeting. The Board also heard reports from the Parent/Community Advisory Committee and the Youth Advisory Committee. The Board was presented with correspondence from the following: Mike & Marlene Dietrich and Walt Maki.

 The Board agreed to again host a reception following the graduation ceremony on May 26, 2013.

 The Board took action on the following:

• Approved the continuation of the current contract with the YMCA of Marquette County at their Early Childhood Development Center at KI Sawyer Elementary School, as space permits during the 2013-14 school year.

• Approved the closure of Gilbert Elementary School at the end of the 2012-13 school year in an effort to reduce the District’s nearly $1.3 million deficit. All K-5 students will be housed at KI Sawyer Elementary School beginning with the 2013-14 school year.

• Passed a resolution supporting the Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency’s General Fund Operating Budget for 2013-14.

• Appointed Bill Nordeen as the Board’s representative to attend the MARESA Biennial Election on June 3, 2013 and Cynthia Filizetti as the Board’s alternative.

• Approved a request from the Class of 2013 to use GHS as the site for their Senior Lock-In.

• Accepted the resignation/retirement of the following personnel:

1. Regina Sterwald – Food Service Director, effective date of retirement – end of the 2012-13 school year

2. Paula Hammerschmidt – part-time counselor, Gwinn High School, effective date of retirement – end of the 2012-13 school year

3. Irene Grage – LRE paraprofessional, Gwinn Middle School, effective date of resignation – April 10, 2013

• Approved the employment of the following personnel:

1. Dion Brown – JV head football coach, Gwinn High School, effective date of hire – first day of the 2013-14 fall sports season

2. Shaun Clark – boys/girls golf coach, Gwinn High School, effective date of hire – first day of the 2012-13 spring sports season

• Accepted, with great appreciation, the following gifts and donations:

  1. Jeff Martin – $25 donation towards the “Day of Challenges” trip for 5^th grade students at KI Sawyer Elementary School

  2. Superior Extrusion – $100 donation towards the “Day of Challenges” trip for 5^th grade students at KI Sawyer Elementary School

  3. Mr. & Mrs. Paul Germann – books from Sea World and the Kennedy Space Center donated to KI Sawyer Elementary School

  4. Donors Choose – rocket kits, solar car kits, Halloween science kit, Lego Mindstorms, Science World magazines, iPad and accessories, science journals, solar energy unit materials, tree identification unit materials, and science teaching books (valued at $3,901.05) donated to Heather Hollands’ science classes at GMS

  5. Donors Choose – four classroom sets of books, UpFront magazines, and classroom library materials (valued at $2,549.08) donated to Heather Hollands’ English classes at GHS

  6. MEEMIC – $2400 donated to the GMS science classes for the purchase of nets and chest waders

• Approved the GHS Spanish Club’s request to sponsor a 5K Cinco de Mayo fun run/walk fundraiser on May 5, 2013.

• Changed the location of the May 20, 2013 Board of Education meeting to KI Sawyer Elementary School.

 The following people gave Public Comment on a variety of topics, the main topic being the closure of Gilbert Elementary School: Lynn Osborne, Joelle Olsen, Peggy Noah, Leesa Misterly, John LaCourt, Jane Nordeen, Steve Anderson, Kristy Gollakner, Dale Wedig, Beth Bond, Traci Shipman and Jack Heidtman.

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