GWINN AREA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

GWINN, MICHIGAN 49841

BOARD MEETING SUMMARY

SEPTEMBER16,2013

CongratulationstothefollowingGwinnMiddleSchoolstudentswhowerenamed “StudentsoftheMonth” forSeptember:6^thgrade:ZaidaPearson&SethQuayle;7^thgrade:SydneySt.Clair&JacobSteiler;8^thgrade:CassidyJohnson&MaxBigger.

CongratulationstoMs.ShelbyTalsma,GwinnHighSchool’sStudentoftheMonthforSeptember.

The Board heard public comment from the following:

1. DavidLaurich – commentedonthelengthofstudentbusridesto/fromschool

2. AJFilizetti – commentedontheDistrict’senrollment

3. RobertFriot – commentedonastudentexpulsion

4. DaleThroenle – commentedontheKISAlliance,2013FallFestivalandtheFishingwithFriendsevent

5. JaneNordeen – commentedontheKISAlliance,useofthegymattheSalvationArmybuildingatSawyer,keepingbusinesslocal,andthepropertyneartheKISawyerschoolcurrentlyownedbytheMarquetteCountyLandBank

6. RobertaJacobson – commentedonbussing

Claimsintheamountof$492,371wereapprovedforpayment.

District News

KI Sawyer Elementary School

• Wehadagreatturn-outatourAnnualOpenHouseonWednesday,August28th.WehadafewmenfromtheSawyerCommunityWatchgrouphelpwithparkingcars;thePTOoffereddoorprizesaswellasicecreamforeveryone.Itwasagreatstarttoournewyear!

• The first day of school also went well! Parents were welcomed with coffee and donuts after students were in class.

• Volunteers including staff members and parents helped to paint the front and back playgrounds at school.

• FirePreventionWeekstartsOctober7^th.MembersoftheSkandiaWestBranchFireDepartmentandForsythFireDepartmentwilljoinusforfiredrillsandfiresafetyassemblies.

• MEAPtestingbeginsOctober8^thandendsOctober25^th.

Gwinn Middle School

• GMSstaffandstudentshaveadoptedthemotto, “Attitude,it’sthedifferencebetweenanordealandanadventure” forthe2013-14schoolyear.ThemottohasbeenborrowedfromKristyGollakner,scienceteacher,whouseditasthethemeduringherrecenttriptoAfrica.

• StaffandstudentsaregearingupforMEAPtestingwhichbeginsonOctober5^th.

• TheGMSboysfootballteamhastheir2^ndgameoftheseasontomorrow.

• Student Council, Quiz Bowl, and the “Take a Hike” Club all start this week.

Gwinn High School

• The start of the school year has been very smooth. With the shift back down to a 6-hour day, we are seeing bigger class sizes, but our staff has been exceptional in working with our students.

• HomecomingwillbeheldtheweekofSeptember23^rd.Thethemeforthisyear’sactivitiesisappliances,withtheslogan, “PoweringupGwinnforaWin!” Manyactivitiesarescheduledallweeklong,culminatingwiththeHomecomingparadeat5:00pmandtheVarsityfootballgameagainstNegauneeat7:00pm.

• Parents’ nightforVarsityFootballwillbeheldonFriday,September20^that7:00p.m.againstBarkRiverHarris.

• OurfootballteamandcheerleaderswillbesportingpinkjerseysandpomponsattheOctober11^thgameagainstStephensoninhonorofCancerAwarenessMonth.

• TheDare2BGreatcampaignhastotaled$34,000todate.

• StudentsatGHShavebeenimpressedwiththemanychangestothefoodserviceprogramasfollows:décorinthecafeteriaservingline,biggersaladbar,themicrowaveavailableforusebythosestudentsbringingcoldlunch,andthedailyhotsoupoption.

SuperintendentPieresonupdatedtheBoardonthefollowing:asmoothstarttothecurrentschoolyear,currentenrollmentfigures,severalitemsthatcouldbecomingtolightasthelegislatureisnowbackinsession,thepotentialtoacquirethelandadjacenttotheKISElementarySchoolviatheMarquetteCountyLandBank,progresswiththeseveral “focusgroups” recentlyheldwithdifferentgroupsofDistrictstakeholders,andareminderthattheOctoberBoardmeetingwillbeheldoneweekearlier,onMonday,October14^th.Dr.PieresonalsoreadcorrespondencefromtheGwinnLionsClubandMSBO.

BarbieWard-Thomas,FoodServiceDirector,reportedthatthe2013SummerFoodProgramservedatotalof1,833mealstolocalchildrenfromJune-August.

TheBoardtookactiononthefollowing:

• Approveda3-yearbidforwastedisposalservicesfromNorthCountryDisposal.

• Changedthedateofthe2014JuniorPromwhichwillnowbeheldonSaturday,May3,2014.

• Approved the layoff of the following personnel:

  1. RobertBrady – busdriver,BusGarage,effectivedateoflayoff – September3,2013

• Accepted,withregret,thefollowingemployeeresignations:

  1. DavidGill – 1^stgradeteacher,KISawyerElementarySchool,effectivedateofresignation – endofthe2012-13contractyear

• Approved the employment of the following personnel:

1. JeffreyMartin – part-timechemistryteacher,GwinnHighSchool,effectivedateofhire – 1^stdayofthe2013-14contractyear

2. AndrewMacario – part-timephysicaleducationteacher(1-yearposition),GwinnMiddle/HighSchool,effectivedateofhire – 1^stdayofthe2013-14contractyear

3. AmyKimsel – 1^stgradeteacher,KISawyerElementarySchool,effectivedateofhire – 1^stdayofthe2014-14contractyear

4. PhilipPickard – specialeducationresourceroomteacher,KISawyerElementarySchool,effectivedateofhire – 1^stdayofthe2013-14contractyear

5. PatriciaHooper – part-timespecialeducationresourceteacher,KISawyerElementarySchool,effectivedateofhire – 1^stdayofthe2013-14contractyear

6. DeboraWhite­ – part-timeartteacher,KISawyerElementarySchool,effectivedateofhire – 1^stdayofthe2013-14contractyear

7. NicoleLackey – Districtschoolsocialworker,effectivedateofhire – October1,2013

• Accepted,withgreatappreciation,thefollowinggiftsanddonations:

1. PhilipSpade – $1000donatedtothePhilip&RuthSpadeScholarshipatGHSforagraduatingsenioroftheclassof2014

2. WilliamRoos – 16backpacksdonatedtoKISawyerElementarySchool

3. VWFLadiesAuxiliary – backpacksandschoolsuppliesdonatedtoKISawyerElementarySchool

4. JoniTaylor – schoolsuppliesdonatedtoKISawyerElementarySchool

5. SilverCreekChurch – clothingandbackpacksdonatedtoKISawyerElementarySchool

6. GwinnUnitedMethodistChurch – “seatcovers” andpantsdonatedtoKISawyerElementarySchool

7. Anonymous – 6backpacksandschoolsuppliesdonatedtoKISawyerElementarySchool

Board Member Comments

1. BillNordeen – commentedonpotentialuseoftheSalvationArmygymatSawyer,theKISawyerAlliance,theneedforthePolicyCommitteetomeetandreviewtheGMS/GHSstudenthandbook,andaconcernwiththepotentialsafetyissueswithlargerclasssizesintheeventofanemergency

2. MichelleDolby – commentedonparentparkingatKISduringstudentdropoffandbussing

3. JoeBoogren – commentedonbussing,progressonworkingtowardaDistrictstrategicplan,andtheexcitementandsupportforourathleticteams

4. CindyFilizetti – commentedonthepositivechangestothefoodserviceprogram

5. GloriaBigelow – commentedontheBoardparticipatingintheKISawyerAlliancemeetings

6. RonLibey – commentedonourstaffgoingaboveandbeyondtomakethestartoftheyearasgreatasitcouldbe

The Board then adjourned to Executive Session to discuss negotiations.

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