January 4

Members of the Board of Education, East Central ISD #2580, met in special session on Monday, January 4, 2010, in the Community/Board Room #413 for the annual organizational meeting.

Superintendent Peura called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Present: Members – Domogalla, Ecklund, Melhus, Fogt, Jansen, Kester and Thomsen; Superintendent Peura, Jessi Fahey, Business Manager Renee Eiffler, Teacher Steve Pearson, Parent Maria Bowen-Lourey, Marlana Benzie-Lourey from Askov American, Mr. Domogalla and son.

Motion by Mr. Fogt, second by Mr. Ecklund to approve the agenda with pulling out the recommendation to hire Heidi Hatfield as Business Education teacher. Motion unanimously carried.

Superintendent Peura administered the oath of office to the newly elected board members, Rich Thomsen, Julie Domogalla and Polly Melhus.

There were two comments from the floor. Teacher Steve Pearson discussed reasons why the board should reconsider his request for two professional days in April for a trip to Malawi. Parent Maria Bowen-Lourey spoke in support of Teacher Steve Pearson’s request.

Superintendent Peura opened the nominations for officers. Mr. Jansen, second by Ms. Domogalla,  nominated Jeannie Kester for Chair. Roll call vote resulted in unanimous approval for Ms. Kester as Chair.

Mr. Fogt, second by Mr. Jansen, nominated Mr. Ecklund for Vice Chair. Roll call resulted in unanimous approval for Mr. Ecklund as Vice Chair.
Ms. Kester, second by Ms. Melhus, nominated Mr. Jansen for Clerk. Roll call resulted in unanimous approval for Mr. Jansen as Clerk.
Ms. Kester, second by Mr. Ecklund, nominated Mr. Fogt for Treasurer. Roll call resulted in unanimous approval for Mr. Fogt as Treasurer.

Motion by Mr. Ecklund, second by Ms. Domogalla to leave per diem and meals the same (half day $35 and full day $55; breakfast $5.50, Lunch $6.50, Dinner $10.50) and to set the mileage to the IRS rate of 50 cents per mile. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Mr. Thomsen, second by Mr. Jansen to approve the Committee Assignments as follows: Activities-Ecklund, Fogt, Thomsen; Attendance-Domogalla, Jansen; Collaborative Executive Committee-Kester, Ecklund (Alternate); Community Education-Jansen, Melhus (Alternate); Comparable Worth-Kester, Jansen, Ecklund; Continuing Education-Melhus, Jansen (Alternate); District Accountability Report-Kester; District Facilities- Fogt, Jansen, Domogalla; Finance- Melhus, Kester, Fogt; High School League- Fogt; Meet and Confer- Thomsen, Domogalla, Jansen; Negotiation (non cert)- Ecklund, Kester; Negotiation (ECUE)- Jansen, Kester; Parent Advisory Groups (both elementary and secondary)- Jansen; Policy- Domogalla, Kester, Thomsen; Safe School- Ecklund, Kester; St. Croix River Education District- Domogalla, Melhus (Alternate); Superintendent Evaluation- Ecklund, Melhus, Domogalla; Transportation- Fogt, Kester, Thomsen. Motion unanimously carried.

Mr. Fogt left at 7:01 pm.

Motion by Mr. Ecklund, second by Ms. Domogalla, to continue with the Askov American and Pine County Courier as the official newspapers. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Mr. Jansen, second by Mr. Thomsen to authorize the Superintendent to invest and transfer funds within the State Statutes. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Mr. Ecklund, second by Ms. Melhus to continue with the First National Bank of the North, Sandstone, and US Bank, National Association, Minneapolis, MN as the district financial depositories and approve the resolution thereof. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Ms. Domogalla, second by Mr. Jansen to approve the use of facsimile signatures. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Mr. Ecklund, second by Mr. Thomsen, to authorize payment of certain invoices prior to the regular board meeting to take advantage of discounts, etc. with the stipulation that these payments are presented at the next regular board meeting. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Ms. Kester, second by Mr. Ecklund to approve authorizing the Superintendent to sign contracts under $10,000. Motion denied.

Motion by Mr. Jansen, second by Mr. Ecklund to approve authorizing the Superintendent to sign contracts under $4,000. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Mr. Ecklund, second by Mr. Thomsen to approve District Policies. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Mr. Ecklund, second by Ms. Kester to approve the 2010 regular meeting schedule as follows: All meetings will start at 6:30pm: January 19, February 16, March 15, April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 18, November 15, December 20. All meetings will be held in the East Central Community Board Room with the exception of the April 19 meeting being held at Crossroads Learning Center. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Mr. Jansen, second by Mr. Ecklund, to approve Mr. Peura as the local education agency (LEA). Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Ms. Domogalla, second by Ms. Melhus to approve Ms. Kester as the Legislative Liaison. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Mr. Jansen, second by Mr. Thomsen to approve the hire of Barry Shelton, paraprofessional, AFSCME, Class III, Step I, 6.25 hours a day effective January 4, 2010 contingent on a successful background check and successful passing of the para test within 3 weeks. Motion unanimously carried.

Motion by Mr. Jansen, second by Mr. Ecklund to again reconsider the previous motion made on December 21, 2009 which was to review the request of a two day professional leave of teacher, Steve Pearson. At the December 21, 2009 meeting the recommendation was denied.

Motion by Mr. Ecklund, second by Ms. Domogalla to approve the 2 day professional leave of Steve Pearson. Motion unanimously carried.

There is a work session on January 25th, 2010 at 6:30 pm in the Board Room. There is a work session on February 22nd, 2010 at 6:30 pm in the Board Room. The next regular meeting is January 19, 2010 at 6:30 pm in the Board Room.

Chair Kester adjourned the meeting at 7:43 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Jansen, Clerk