Action of the School Board -1.22.24

January 22, 2024

Jeff Simon called the meeting to order and moved for the election of a Chair Pro Tem for the meeting. Simon announced that the school board would be rotating members to serve as Chair Pro Tem while options for a shared leadership structure are determined. Zach Arco was elected Chair Pro Tem for the Jan. 22 meeting on a unanimous vote.

Winners in the 20th annual kindness poster contest were recognized. Students at all grade levels are invited to submit artwork at each school and then a district level representative is selected. Students' work is posted at buildings throughout the district and winners receive a Kindle courtesy of the Horace Mann Insurance Company in appreciation of their winning effort. This year’s theme was “Make Kindness Your Purpose.” Nearly 150 posters were voted on by staff at the Educational Service Center (ESC) on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.

This year’s winners are Paisley Rugroden, kindergarten - McKinley Elementary School; Emersyn Buttweiler, first grade - Monroe Elementary School; Ahaan Kumar, second grade - Sunrise Elementary School; Hadley Hoehn, third grade - McKinley Elementary School; Anh (Sofia) Ngo, fourth grade - Monroe Elementary School; Aarohee Anand, fifth grade - Monroe Elementary School; Avery Dikken, sixth grade - Oak View Middle School; Jheel Sharma, seventh grade - Roosevelt Middle School; Audrey Shwen eighth grade - Roosevelt Middle School; and Hope Fletcher, 11th grade - Anoka High School. The annual event supports a districtwide initiative to support safe and welcoming schools for all students.

View recognition photos.

Aaron Nielsen, a certified public accountant with the accounting firm Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich and Company (MMKR), reviewed the annual audit his firm conducted of the district’s financial statements for the fiscal year 2023. The auditor gave the district an unmodified opinion on its basic financial statements and said the district is in a strong financial position with an adequate fund balance and provided trend data along with current financial measures to provide context. No findings, material weaknesses, or instances of noncompliance were reported. The analysis and report of district funds by an independent firm provides information for School Board consideration in financial planning and management of business affairs and compliance with legal requirements and mandates.

Watch the presentation.

Dr. Jennifer Cherry, executive director of human resources, and Todd Mensink, director of labor relations and benefits, provided the School Board with an update on the status of negotiations for employee groups consistent with Board Policy 209, Negotiations Code of Ethics. The presentation included an overview of the status of negotiations with the district’s 14 bargaining groups and five policy groups.

Watch the presentation.

The School Board held a closed session to deal with matters of labor negotiations, in accordance with Minnesota State Law 13D.03 sub 1.

1. Minutes from the 01/08 Board meeting.
2. Retirements, resignations, terminations, layoffs and recalls, leaves and modified leaves of absence, appointments.
3. Cash disbursements report.
4. Cash balance report.
5. Donations and scholarship reports.
6. Monthly revenue and expenditures.
7. Prior approval for release of payments in 2024.
8. Immunization exclusions as required by Statute 121a.15.

School Board work session, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Educational Service Center, 2727 Ferry St, Anoka, MN 55303.

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