Gwinn Area Community Schools November Board Summaries

GWINN AREA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

GWINN, MICHIGAN 49841

BOARD HEARING SUMMARY

NOVEMBER 6, 2013

The Board of Education took action on the following:

• Acted NOT to expel Student A for possession of a dangerous weapon while on school property based on the following exemptions:

• Student A did not possess the object/instrument for use as a weapon or for direct or indirect delivery to another person for use as a weapon; and

• Student A did not know or have reason to know that the object/instrument constituted a dangerous weapon

WORK SESSION SUMMARY

NOVEMBER 21, 2013

The Board of Education held a work session with MASB Consultant Sheri Davie to discuss qualifications they would like to see in the next Superintendent, as a part of the Superintendent Search process.

SPECIAL MEETING SUMMARY

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

The Board of Education took action on the following:

• Accepted the 2012-2013 fiscal year audit, as prepared by the firm of Anderson, Tackman & Company, PLC. All funds had positive balances at year-end; the General Fund balance for the year ending June 30, 2013 was $227,644.

RESCHEDULED REGULAR BOARD MEETING SUMMARY

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

The following Gwinn Middle School students were named “Students of the Month” for November:Mallorie Coulliard and Ethan Parsons (6^th grade); Mallory Delmont and Christopher Sirois (7^th grade); Abigail Liggett and Noah York (8^th grade).

The Board heard public comment from the following:

1. Jackie Hart – commented on the District’s athletic program

Claims in the amount of $445,717 were approved for payment.

District News

KI Sawyer Elementary School

• Congratulations to the following Students of the Month: Bret Sapikowski, Jordyn Pelkola, Ashton Ketola, Ailee Holsworth (Kdg.); Allianna Mickelson, Seth Phillips, Leela Monarch, Tammy Packard, Brooke Kato (1^st); Amelia McGeshick, Makayla Olson, Logan Soyring (2^nd); Andrew Harris, Bruno Delmont, Addison Koenig (3^rd); Gavin Pomeroy, Brittany Ouellette, Kyla Sarasin (4^th); Jessica Barnes, Abby Cramer, Chris Kirkwood (5^th).

• Christmas Concerts will be held on Tuesday, December 17^th, at 9:15 a.m. for Kindergarten, 10:30 a.m. for First Grade, 2:00 p.m. for Second Grade, and on Wednesday, December 18^th at 9:15 a.m. for Third Grade, 10:30 a.m. for Fourth Grade, and 2:00 p.m. for Fifth Grade.

• The South County Fund Committee contributed $500 to Marquette Rotary to help fund the Anti-Bullying Assemblies by Mariah Moore, World Champion Martial Artist, held at KI Sawyer Elementary School on Tuesday, November 12^th.

Gwinn Middle School

• Congratulations to all GMS fall athletes who will be recognized at an assembly on Wednesday, November 27^th.

• Our winter sports season is underway – good luck to our boys basketball teams and cheerleaders.

• GMS PTO had great success with our recent fundraising activities for the 8^th grade trip to Great America.

• The 1^st marking period wrapped up on November 1^st with parent-teacher conferences held November 5-7. Staff enjoyed meeting with the many parents who attended.

• Thanks to the Quayle family for making the November 11^th Anti-Bullying assembly a reality.

Gwinn High School

• Congratulations to the GHS Chorale for their recent performance at the “Sing! Dance!” workshop at NMU on November 19^th. Special congratulations to Ben Hafer for being selected as one of three outstanding soloists chosen during the event.

• Congratulations to the following students on being selected for the Menominee River District (Wisconsin School Music Association) Honors bands for 2014: Jazz Band: Kerry Winkler, Stephen Simpler, Brandon Sorens and Bobby Proulx. Concert Band: Ben Barnhart, Danny Miller, Autumn Peterson, Makayla Peterson, Erik Flinn and Bradley Veale. These students will perform with the honors bands on January 18, 2014 at Niagara High School.

• The Drama club production of “The Christmas Carol” will be showing December 14^th and 15^th. Performances will be at 2 and 7 pm on Saturday, and at 2 pm on Sunday.

• The GHS/GMS Combined Band and Choral Concert will be held on December 5^th at 7:00 pm in the cafeteria.

• GHS Student Council is sponsoring a can drive. For each canned good brought in, students can receive a half-price cookie in the lunch line.

• GHS Student Council will again sponsor a mitten tree, with all hats, mittens, scarves, etc., donated to KI Sawyer Elementary School.

• “Meet the Modeltowners” will be held on Saturday, December 7^th.

• GHS will be sponsoring a Book Fair from December 2-6 in Room 104.

• Winter Homecoming is scheduled for Friday, January 24, 2014 against Munising.

• The GMS/GHS students enjoyed a pep assembly on November 14^th to cheer on the girl’s Varsity Volleyball team as they competed in regional competition. During the assembly, the students were treated with an exciting game of volleyball between the Varsity girls team and their parents.

Superintendent Piereson gave a brief update on various topics including: the deed for the property adjacent to KIS Elementary school, HB 5111 and HB 5112 currently in legislation, winter athletics, a recent article in the Mining Journal highlighting the GHS CADD program, plans for the District’s upcoming holiday party for employees, the current Superintendent Search process and a preliminary building capacity completed by UPEA. Dr. Piereson also presented the Board with minutes from two recent Policy Committee meetings and read correspondence from Tim Kisner, LSSU Asst. Men’s Basketball Coach.

The Board took action on the following:

• Approved a contract with Marquette County as the District’s School Inspection Authority for 2012-13 school year.

• Approved, as a first reading, changes to the following NEOLA bylaws and policies: Conflict of Interest (0144.3), Job Description (1400), Family & Medical Leaves of Absence (FMLA) (1630.01, 3430.01, 4430.01); Anti-Harassment (1662, 3662, 4362, 5517), Managing Heat & Humidity in Interscholastic Athletic Programs (2431.01), Controlled Substance & Alcohol Policy for Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Drivers (4162), Entrance Age (5112), Bullying and Other Aggressive Behavior Toward Students (5517.01), Authorization to Accept and Distribute Electronic Records and to Use Electronic Signatures (6107), Conflict of Interest – Legal Counsel, Advisors, or Consultants (6420), Payment of Claims (6470), Payroll Deductions (6520), Iran Economic Sanctions Act (8120), Criminal History Record Check (8142), Animals on District Property (8390), Environmental Health & Safety Issues (8405), Wellness (8510), and Public Attendance at School Events (9160).

• Accepted the resignations of the following personnel:

  1. Darren Sinnaeve – varsity football coach, Gwinn High School, effective date of resignation – November 3, 2013

  2. Heather Toutant – math teacher, Gwinn Middle School, effective date of resignation – December 1, 2013

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

1. Michelle & Gerry Zabrowske, Dr. Catherine Kroll & Michael Prokopowicz, Gwinn Insurance Agency, UP Pink Power, VanDamme Farms, Wautier Wellness, Larry’s Family Foods, Nyquist Convenience Stores, Ace Hardware and Modeltown Express – cash donations for the “Girls on the Move” program for 5^th grade girls at KI Sawyer Elementary School

2. Donors Choose – $250 donated for the purchase of 6 large Newton’s cradles for Kristy Gollakner’s science classroom at Gwinn Middle School

3. South County Fund Committee – $750 donated to the GACS music/drama program to provide several students with scholarships to attend their educational field trip in February 2014

4. Donors Choose – yoga supplies (valued at $365) donated to Meghan McLeod’s special education classroom at GMS

• Ratified the 2013-2016 master agreement between the Gwinn Educational Support Personnel Association and the GACS Board of Education.

Board Comments

1. Joe Boogren – commented on the very successful JV basketball “boot camp” that was held this past weekend

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