The annual organizational meeting of 2016 was held by the Cook County Schools – ISD 166 board on January 5. The board unanimously agreed to retain the same board officers with Jeanne Anderson as board chair, Sissy Lunde as board clerk and Chris Goettl as board treasurer.
The school board schedule was approved for a regular meeting to be held the first and third Thursday of most months. Grand Marais State Bank was retained as the official depository for the district as well as John Colosimo remaining as the school attorney.
Taking the lead in reductions the school board unanimously agreed to take zero compensation themselves for the upcoming year. The normal salary for a board member is $2,300 per year. Superintendent Beth Schwarz, noting the considerable time investment of the board members, recommended retaining at least mileage and cost reimbursements for the board which was approved.
As future enrollment projections continue to decline and budget reduction talks continue, Board Member Deb White recounted hearing very persuasive arguments from a number of people about the need to avoid cutting certain programs and activities. White said, “We don’t want to cut anything but we have to.”
White indicated she would welcome the input from individuals as to what they would cut to retain those budget items. “This is an opportunity to be really involved.”
Board Member Terry Collins reported on meeting with the board of the Grand Marais Playhouse concerning the terms of the lease for the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. With upcoming budget challenges there is a need to determine what types of revenue streams will be needed to continue the operation. Superintendent Schwarz and Board Chair Anderson also attended the gathering.
Collins said a similar conversation took place with the Early Childhood Coalition regarding shifting funds from the general fund to support preschool. No conclusions have yet been reached in either area.
Board Members White and Goettl discussed budget concerns with the local Booster Club asking how additional funds could be produced. Goettl also mentioned a comparable discussion with the Cook County Chamber of Commerce.
Anderson and White have begun informational dialogues with the charter schools. More information needs to be learned about union and state requirements relating to possible collaboration with them.
Superintendent search continues
Sandy Gundlach of the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) led a dialogue concerning the search for a new superintendent. Initially a timeline of the entire project was established. The process will begin with a survey of community members asking what specifics are most important to them in the new administrator. The survey will be available in a paper version and by a link located on the Cook County Schools website. The survey end date will be January 25.
A general posting of the open position will be placed on the MSBA website beginning January 7. The posting will become more detailed as the situation progresses. Applications will be accepted through March 7. The hope is to develop a pool of four to six candidates for the first round of interviews and decrease the pool to two to four candidates for second interviews.
Community and staff forums to give feedback to the board in an advisory capacity will be conducted February 8 and February 9. Staff forums will be held shortly before and after school while community forums will be evening meetings held in Grand Marais and Grand Portage.
Training for those who are to be directly involved with the interview process will take place at the February 25 board meeting. A list of interview questions will be determined as well as deciding if any non-board members will be involved in the process. The first round of interviews will take place Saturday, March 19 with the second round to follow Wednesday, March 23. Board members will probably then visit the home districts of the finalists before making their ultimate decision and beginning contract negotiations on April 7.
The intent is to have the new superintendent selected by April 21. The board plans to offer a three-year contract with the salary commensurate on experience. The base salary of the current superintendent is $107,000 per year.
Cook County News-Herald district official newspaper
Among items during the organizational portion of the meeting, a more involved discussion took place concerning awarding the bid for the district’s official newspaper. Bids had been received from both the Cook County News-Herald and the Northshore Journal.
Rhonda Silence, editor of the News-Herald, spoke during the community comments portion of the meeting. She raised the question of whether the other publication located in a different county even technically met the criteria of a legal newspaper. She stated that in addition to covering Cook County Schools – ISD 166 board meetings and sporting events, the News-Herald also offers the monthly feature Issues in Education in the paper. The local paper also published no less than a dozen letters to the editor concerning the recent levy referendum vote.
Recommending the Northshore Journal, Schwarz relayed that she had been in touch with the school attorney and had been counseled that the publication would be legally acceptable.
Board Member Sissy Lunde added that last year during the same debate, the Northshore Journal had indicated that it would begin covering ISD 166 board meeting and activities. However the coverage did not happen. Upon that Lunde made a motion that was seconded by Goettl and passed by the entire board to award the bid to the News-Herald.
Multi-Use path
Lunde conveyed that the Safe Routes to School Committee is continuing through the grant process for the creation of a paved multi-use path connecting County Road 7 near Great Expectations School with Highway 61 at the corner of the new Gunflint Trail. Although it is not yet definite she does expect that it will eventually happen. Maren Webb of the committee will be present at the next board meeting with further updates.
Your input on the ISD 166 superintendent search is wanted!
. Attend a community input meeting
Monday, February 8 | 6 p.m.
Grand Portage old log community building
Tuesday, February 9 | 6 p.m.
Cook County Schools,Jane Mianowski Conference Room
No registration or advance notice is required.
. Complete the Cook County Schools Superintendent Qualifications Survey online Find the survey at www.cookcountyschools.org Click “Cook County Schools Superintendent Qualifications Survey.”
. Pick up the Superintendent Qualifications Survey at Cook County Schools Stop by the school district office at 101 West 5th Street, Grand Marais, to pick up a copy of the survey. Mail completed survey to: MSBA, 1900 West Jefferson Avenue, St. Peter, MN 56082.
. Request a copy of the survey via email Email sgundlach@mnmsba.org to receive a copy of the survey.
Survey responses should be returned by January 25, 2016.
Leave a Reply