Long Prairie-Grey Eagle School Board Minutes

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle
School Board Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, February 26, 2024
The Meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by Chairman Lemke at 6:00 pm, Monday, February 26, 2024 in the District Board Room 209. Board members present: Gohman, Hinson, Lemke, Levin, and Wolf. Lux and Wright were excused. Others in attendance were: Superintendent Daniel Ludvigson, Sherri Evenson, Tammy Cebulla, Barton Rud, Brad Evenson, Mitchell Ganske, Kaysie Worm, Mary Holman, Maria Buntjer, Abby Becker, Jessica Rosenow, Ashley Pesta, Carissa Bitz, Lisa Day, Michelle Halonen, Rusty Ray, Guadalupe Montanez, Bonnie Middendorf, Jenny Thelen, Cindy Dalton and Amanda Hinson of the Long Prairie Leader.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.
It was moved by Levin and seconded by Wolf to adopt the agenda. Motion unanimously carried.
It was moved by Wolf and seconded by Hinson to approve the following Consent Agenda with the addition of the Hourly Seniority Lists under personnel:
CA-1. Regular meeting minutes January 26, 2024
CA-2. Bills
CA-2a. Prewrite checks numbered to and including 20894-20979=$127,128.76
Checks numbered to and including 20980-21086=$342,935.22
CA-2b. Fund Transfers:
Date Type Vendor Amount
1/17/24 WX ELECTRONIC FED TAX PAY SYSTEM 141092.88
1/17/24 WX ELECTRONIC FED TAX PAY SYSTEM 214.2
1/17/24 WX COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE 0
1/17/24 x6 COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE 24525.79
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 1716.64
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 3317.04
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 750.01
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 15.4
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 3333.38
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 150
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 4777.14
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 3846.73
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 420.01
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 425
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 333.34
1/17/24 WX AVIBEN 1023.77
1/17/24 WX HEALTH PARTNERS 112783.52
1/17/24 WX HEALTH PARTNERS 0
1/17/24 WX PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMT ASSN 31169.92
1/17/24 WX TEACHERS RETIREMENT ACCOUNT 72947.21
1/17/24 WX EYE MED VISION CARE, LLC 271.35
1/18/24 WX PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMT ASSN 88.59
1/18/24 WX PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMT ASSN 0.05
1/24/24 WX DELTA DENTAL OF MN 3856.51
1/4/24 WX BMO 8651
CA-2c. Revolving checks numbered to and including – 5814=$20.00
CA-2d. P-Card Statement.
CA-3. Financial Report
CA-4 Personnel
A. New Hires
1) Jessica Vogel – Elementary Para Lane IV Step 1
B. Accept the following resignations:
1) Ronn Mindeman – Retirement effective 5/31/2024
2) Alexander Bailey – effective 5/31/2024
3) Angela Eldred – Head Girls Tennis Coach
4) James (Mike) Evans – Retirement effective 5/31/2024
C. Approve lane change Kristi Gaida - MA
D. Approve overload – Melanie Childrey – Social Studies 1 Semester
E. Approve the following coaches:
The following appointments are made contingent upon adequate enrollment/participation in the program. The board retains broad discretion to discontinue programs, without notice if enrollment/participation is not adequate.
1) Anthony Holloway – Assistant Football Coach
2) Keith Kraska – Head Girls Tennis
F. Conferences – Mr. Ludvigson – MASA Spring Conf. March 14-15, Day at Capitol MASA/MSBA – probably won’t attend but if schedule allows Mr. Ludvigson would attend
G. Approve the Local #70 Custodial Seniority List
H. Approve the AFSCME Seniority List for Clerical, Food Service and Para’s
CA-5 Policy 799 – Latex Safe Policy
Motion unanimously carried.
Student Representatives Maria Buntjer and Abby Becker shared with the board what events and activities they had for Snow Days. They announced the Top 10 Seniors and also talked about the upcoming Color Run and the Track and Field Day.
Guest Speakers:
Mrs. Cebulla gave an overview of the READ Act. The district is planning on focusing on LETRS training and OLLA (CORE). Mrs. Cebulla is waiting to hear from the state on whether the district’s proposed plan to meet the READ act requirements will be accepted.
Michelle Halonen, Secondary Special Education Teacher, shared a slide show from February 15th when they attended the Winter Special Olympics and Winter Carnival. The students had a great time and this was a very good opportunity for them.
Rusty Ray from SitelogIQ gave an overview on the bids that were received for the summer secondary HVAC project. The bids came in under budget and work is planned for June and July. There were questions asked about the bids from ARC Electric and Melrose Electric.
Mr. Evenson talked about the increase use of our school space being rented out since launching RSchool. We are significantly cheaper than any of the surrounding areas so we need to look into possibly raising our rates. He is seeking members for a committee to gather input on what a change of policy and fair pricing might look like. The RSchool demonstration was moved to the March meeting.
Superintendent Ludvigson gave his report and shared information on some updated planning in regards to strategic planning. Discussion occurred around the strategic plan set for fellowship and Thunder Hour. The plan is to make more progress on the other four strategic initiatives and come back to Fellowship/Thunder Hour and clarify the intent.
Board Highlight – Congratulations to: Jessie Sogge – Gymnastics Section 8A Coach of the Year; David Liebsch – 1,000 career basketball points; Elementary Robotics – going to state; Wrestlers going to state – Mason Bruder, Oliva Browen, Hunter Katterhagen, and Tucker Zigan.
The donation resolution was moved by Wolf and seconded by Levin:
RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DONATIONS for February 2024
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes 123B.02, Subd. 6 provides: “The board may receive, for the benefit of the district, bequests, donations, or gifts for any proper purpose and apply the same to the purpose designated. In that behalf, the board may act as trustee of any trust created for the benefit of the district, or for the benefit of pupils thereof, including trusts created to provide pupils of the district with advanced education after completion of high school, in the advancement of education.”; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes 465.03 provides: “Any city, county, school district or town may accept a grant or device of real or personal property and maintain such property for the benefit of its citizens in accordance with the terms prescribed by the donor. Nothing herein shall authorize such acceptance or use for religious or sectarian purposes. Every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by a two-thirds majority of its members, expressing such terms in full.”; and
WHEREAS, every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by a two-thirds majority of its members, expressing such terms in full;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the School Board of Long Prairie Grey Eagle, ISD 2753, gratefully accepts the following donations as identified below:
Donor Item Designated Purpose (if any)
Hillig Auto Center, LLC dba The Trailer Center $200.00 Activity Day
Long Prairie Lions Club $15,000 Activity Day
Sandy Wienhold $20 in Gift Card Post Prom
Minnesota National Agency, Inc $50.00 Post Prom
Dennis Breitenfeldt $500.00 Post Prom
American Legion Post 12 $500.00 Post Prom
Long Prairie Plumbing and Heating, Inc $25.00 Post Prom
Philips Repairables and Collision Center, LLC $100.00 Post Prom
Graves & Associates American Family Ins. $50.00 Post Prom
Minnesota National Bank $100.00 Post Prom
Fleet Supply of Long Prairie, Inc. $60.00 Post Prom
John Wiese Ford, Inc $50.00 Post Prom
American Heritage Bank $100.00 Post Prom
Jenkins Iron and Steel Inc $200.00 Post Prom
Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative $50.00 Post Prom
Enterprise CP LLC Gift Basket Post Prom
Coborns $75 Gift Cards Post Prom
Long Drive in Movie/popcorn passes Post Prom
The Trailer Center $300.00 Post Prom
Long Prairie Sanitation $100.00 Post Prom
Central Bi-Products $50 Gift Card Post Prom
Long Prairie Packing Co. $100.00 Post Prom
Grey Eagle/Burtrum Lions Club $1,000.00 Post Prom
Magnifi Financial Credit Union $250.00 Post Prom
Lions Club of Long Prairie $1,000.00 Girls Youth Basketball
Cathedral Press, Inc. $100.00 Post Prom
Advantage 1 Insurance Agency $50.00 Post Prom
Lions Club of Long Prairie $1,500.00 Post Prom
CentraCare $125.00 Post Prom
Dan’s Prize / Hormel Financial Services Corp $150.00 Post Prom
Prairie Family Dental $100.00 Post Prom
Long Prairie Country Club 2 Golf Gift Certificates Post Prom
Long Prairie Vet Clinic $30.00 Post Prom
The vote on adoption of the Resolution was as follows:
Aye: Gohman, Hinson, Lemke, Levin and Wolf
Nay: 0
Absent: Lux and Wright
Whereupon, said Resolution was declared duly adopted.
Member Gohman introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION STATING THE INTENTION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2024A, IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY $14,630,000; AND TAKING OTHER ACTIONS WITH RESPECT THERETO
BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board (the “Board”) of Independent School District No. 2753 (Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Public Schools), Todd, Morrison, and Stearns County, Minnesota (the “District”), as follows:
1. Background. The Board is proposing to issue general obligation facilities maintenance bonds and refunding bonds. In connection therewith, it is hereby determined that:
(a) Facilities Maintenance Bonds.
(i) The District is authorized under the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 475, as amended, (the “Act”) and Minnesota Statutes, Section 123B.595, as amended (“Section 123B.595”), to issue general obligation facilities maintenance bonds for the purpose of financing certain facilities and site maintenance projects approved by the Commissioner of Education (the “Commissioner”).
(ii) The Board hereby finds and determines that it is necessary and expedient to the sound financial management of the affairs of the District to issue its general obligation facilities maintenance bonds (the “Facilities Maintenance Portion”), in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $8,445,000, pursuant to the Act and Section 123B.595 to finance the costs of certain facilities and site maintenance projects of the District included in the District’s ten-year facilities plan for Fiscal 2025 (the “Plan”) and related financing costs (the “Facilities Maintenance Project”).
(iii) The Plan approved by the Board is incorporated in this Resolution as though fully specified herein. District staff and officials are authorized and directed to submit the Plan, any amendments to the Plan, and the proposed issuance of the Facilities Maintenance Portion to the Commissioner for approval, as required by the Act and Section 123B.595. District staff and officials are further authorized and directed to submit to the Commissioner such additional information as may be necessary to secure such approval.
(b) Refunding Bonds.
(i) On July 9, 2014, the District issued its General Obligation School Building Bonds, Series 2014A (the “Series 2014A Bonds”), in the original aggregate principal amount of $9,000,000 pursuant to the Act, and a special election held May 8, 2014, to finance the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the acquisition, installation and construction of safety and security and indoor air quality and HVAC system improvements and the repair, remodeling, upgrading and completion of deferred maintenance projects, facility improvements and roof replacements to District elementary and secondary school sites and facilities. The Series 2014A Bonds are currently outstanding in the principal amount of $6,050,000 of which $6,050,000 is subject to optional redemption and prepayment on or after February 1, 2024.
(ii) The District is authorized by Section 475.67 of the Act to issue and sell its general obligation bonds to refund outstanding bonds when determined by the Board to be necessary and desirable for the reduction of debt service costs of the District.
(iii) The Board hereby finds and determines that it is necessary and desirable for the reduction of debt service costs to the District that District issue its general obligation refunding bonds (the “Refunding Portion”) pursuant to the Act, including Section 475.67, to optionally redeem and prepay the Series 2014A Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $6,185,000.
(c) The Board further finds and determines that the Facilities Maintenance Portion and Refunding Portion shall be issued together in a single series in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $14,630,000 (the “Bonds”). The Board hereby designates the Bonds as the “General Obligation Facilities Maintenance and Refunding Bonds, Series 2024A.”
2. Covenant as to State Credit Enhancement.
(a) The District hereby covenants and obligates itself to notify the Commissioner of a potential default in the payment of principal and interest on the Bonds and to use the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 126C.55 (the “Credit Enhancement Act”) to guarantee payment of the principal and interest on the Bonds when due. The District further covenants to deposit with the paying agent for the Bonds (the “Paying Agent”), or any successor paying agent, three (3) days prior to the date on which a payment is due an amount sufficient to make that payment or to notify the Commissioner that it will be unable to make all or a portion of that payment. The Paying Agent is authorized and directed to notify the Commissioner if it becomes aware of a potential default in the payment of principal or interest on the Bonds or if, on the day two (2) business days prior to the date a payment is due on the Bonds, there are insufficient funds on deposit with the Paying Agent to make that payment. The District understands that as a result of its covenant to be bound by the provisions of the Credit Enhancement Act, the provisions of that section shall be binding as long as any Bonds of this issue remain outstanding.
(b) The District further covenants to comply with all procedures now and hereafter established by the Minnesota Departments of Management and Budget and Education pursuant to subdivision 2(c) of the Credit Enhancement Act and otherwise to take such actions as necessary to comply with that section. The Board Chair, Clerk, Treasurer, Superintendent, or Business Manager of the District are authorized to execute any applicable Minnesota Department of Education forms.
3. Sale of Bonds. The Board has retained Ehlers and Associates, Inc. (the “Municipal Advisor”), to serve as the District’s independent municipal advisor with respect to the offer and sale of the Bonds and, therefore, is authorized by Section 475.60, subdivision 2(9), of the Act to sell the Bonds other than pursuant to a competitive sale.
4. Acceptance of Proposal. The Board shall meet at the time specified in the Preliminary Official Statement or at such other time designated by the Board to receive and consider proposals for the purchase of the Bonds and take any other appropriate action with respect to the Bonds.
5. Authority of Municipal Advisor. The Municipal Advisor is authorized and directed to assist the District in the preparation and dissemination of a Preliminary Official Statement to be distributed to potential purchasers of the Bonds and to open, read, and tabulate the proposals for the purchase of the Bonds for presentation to the Board. The Municipal Advisor is further authorized and directed to assist the District in the award and sale of the Bonds on behalf of the District after receipt of written proposals and to assist the District in the preparation and dissemination of a final Official Statement with respect to the Bonds.
6. Authority of Bond Counsel. The law firm of Kennedy & Graven, Chartered, is authorized to act as bond counsel for the District (“Bond Counsel”) and to assist in the preparation and review of necessary documents, certificates, and instruments related to the Bonds. The officers, employees, and agents of the District are hereby authorized to assist Bond Counsel in the preparation of such documents, certificates, and instruments.
7. Notice of Issuance of Facilities Maintenance Bonds. The Clerk is authorized and directed to cause a notice substantially in the form of the Notice attached as EXHIBIT A hereto to be published as a legal notice one (1) time in the official newspaper of the District as soon as reasonably practicable after adoption of this Resolution, but in any event, at least twenty (20) days before the earlier of the issuance of the Bonds or the final certification of levies.
8. Reimbursement from Bond Proceeds. The District may incur certain expenditures that may be financed temporarily from sources other than the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds, and reimbursed from the proceeds of the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds. Treasury Regulation § 1.150-2 (the “Reimbursement Regulations”) provides that proceeds of tax-exempt bonds allocated to reimburse expenditures originally paid from a source other than the tax-exempt bonds will not be deemed expended unless certain requirements are met. In order to preserve its ability to reimburse certain costs from proceeds of the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds in accordance with the Reimbursement Regulations, the District hereby makes its declaration of official intent (the “Declaration”) described below to reimburse certain costs.
(a) Declaration of Intent. The District proposes to issue the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds to finance the costs of the Facilities Maintenance Project. The District may reimburse original expenditures made for certain costs of the Facilities Maintenance Project from the proceeds of the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds in an estimated maximum principal amount of $8,445,000. All reimbursed expenditures will be capital expenditures, costs of issuance of the Bonds, or other expenditures eligible for reimbursement under Section 1.150-2(d)(3) of the Reimbursement Regulations.
(b) Declaration Made Not Later Than 60 Days. This Declaration has been made not later than sixty (60) days after payment of any original expenditure to be subject to a reimbursement allocation with respect to the proceeds of the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds, except for the following expenditures: (a) costs of issuance of the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds; (b) costs in an amount not in excess of $100,000 or five percent (5%) of the proceeds of the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds; or (c) ”preliminary expenditures” up to an amount not in excess of twenty (20) percent of the aggregate issue price of the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds that finance or are reasonably expected by the District to finance the Facilities Maintenance Project for which the preliminary expenditures were incurred. The term “preliminary expenditures” includes architectural, engineering, surveying, bond issuance, and similar costs that are incurred prior to commencement of acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of the Facilities Maintenance Project, other than land acquisition, site preparation, and similar costs incident to commencement of construction.
(c) Reasonable Expectations; Official Intent. This Declaration is an expression of the reasonable expectations of the District based on the facts and circumstances known to the District as of the date hereof. The anticipated original expenditures for the Facilities Maintenance Project and the principal amount of the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds described in Section 8(a), above, are consistent with the District’s budgetary and financial circumstances. No sources other than proceeds of the Facilities Maintenance Portion of the Bonds to be issued by the District are, or are reasonably expected to be, reserved, allocated on a long-term basis, or otherwise set aside pursuant to the District’s budget or financial policies to pay such original expenditures. This resolution is intended to constitute a declaration of official intent for purposes of the Reimbursement Regulations.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Hinson, and upon vote being taken thereon, the following members voted in favor of the motion: Gohman, Hinson, Lemke, Levin, and Wolf
and the following voted against: none
whereupon the resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
Member Gohman moved to ratify the LGEA contract for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. Member Wolf seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Member Hinson moved we put the old weight benches out for bid. Member Wolf seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
After discussion about the HVAC project bids Gohman made a motion to approve the bids for the project. Member Hinson seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote motion passed on a 3 to 1 vote, Levin voted nay and Lemke abstained.
Superintendent Ludvigson brought to the board the proposal of opening additional custodial staff hours in the summer to our paraprofessionals. After discussion it was decided he will move forward with collecting details.
Member Wolf made a motion to approve the 2024-25 and 2025-26 calendar changes pending MDE approval. The changes are adding four professional days in place of student days to allow the teachers to have training so they meet the requirements of the READ Act. Member Hinson seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Member Hinson made a motion to dismiss the elementary students two days early to allow the staff two work days to pack up their classrooms and prepare for the summer construction. Member Gohman seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Superintendent evaluation process was discussed and board members are to bring ideas to the March meeting. Board discussed using a simplified approach compared to the one used in 2023.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 pm by Chairman Lemke.
Tanja Levin
Clerk
M27C
o o o
Tanja Levin, Clerk