Wheels-for-Life®

Lisa Kent called the meeting to order at 4:45 p.m.

ATTENDANCE

Board Members: Lisa Kent (treasurer - teacher), Gordon= Nagle (president – parent) 4:55 p.m., Kim Jurgerson (member - parent), Bran= don Mehling (secretary – teacher), and Tina Beckman (member – teach= er).

Board Members Absent:

Staff Members: Darin Shepardson (director), Mary Feath= ergill (business manager)

Other:

POLICY REVIEW

Board Poli= cies 204 and 205 were reviewed and approved. Board Policies 206 and 207 will be reviewed for the next meeting.

AGENDA

Agenda was discussed. Agenda was approved.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None

REPORTS

Teachers:

Lisa Kent re= ported that Iowa Test of Basic Skills student testing results from the Spring test period have arrived at Da= kota Area Community School. The teachers are analyzing the scores and at first glance there are improvements across the grades. The results will be brought the board at their next meeting.<= /p>

Brandon Mehl= ing reported that the whole school attended a field trip to the Oxbow Zoo in Byron, = Minnesota. The field trip was a success.

Tina Beckman reported that the fifth graders went on their end of the year field trip to= the Wisconsin Dells on May 29^th.

Lisa Kent re= ported that CPR and first aid recertification was completed on June 5^th= by many of the school’s staff.

Tina Beckman reported that student report cards were sent home to parents/guardians on t= he last day of school, June 4^th.

Director:

Darin Shepar= dson reported that Alison Seagrave, the Minnesota Commissioner of Education, tha= nked Dakota Area Community School for particip= ating in The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. The results of s= tudy were made public in the winter of 2008.&nb= sp;

Darin Shepar= dson reported that he completed the Minnesota School Safety survey looking at areas where schools can perform better in their school safety needs.<= /p>

Darin Shepar= dson reported that Dakota Area Community School will once ag= ain be taking part in the School Mall program for fundraising. (see action item)

Darin Shepar= dson reported that he filled out the annual national charter school survey from The Center for Education Reform and the school received bumper stickers to share with = the community.

Darin Shepar= dson received a letter from the Minnesota Board of Teaching stating that Dakota Area Community School is discrepancy-free regarding teaching licensure/assignment compliance for = the 2008-09 school year.

<= /o:p>

Business Manager:

Mary Feathergill stated that the school’s insura= nce policies for 2009-10 have been renewed.

Insurance policies for the 2009-10 school year start o= n July 1, 2009 end on June 30, 2010:

Commercial property &n= bsp; = ; $997

Commercial liability &= nbsp; &nbs= p; $706

Commercial auto &= nbsp; &nbs= p; $990

&nbs= p; TOTAL &= nbsp; &nbs= p; $2,693

Director’s and Officers $1596

Worker’s Comp&nb= sp; = $2064

Policies were reviewed by board members.

Mary Feathergill stated that she attended training by Minnesota Department of Education on the new federal accounting requirements for the Stimulus dollars. The new requirements will include a new interacti= ve database for reporting to the Minnesota Department of Education and additio= nal accounting UFARS codes.

The school’s 2008-1 Corrective Action Plan from = the 2007-08 audit finding has been completed. Finding 2008-1 Annual Financial Reporting Under Generally Accepted Account Principles (GAAP) procedure has = been stated that the business manager will prepare the financial reports. These preliminary financial reports will be brought to the board and all adjusting and year-end journal entries with substantial documentation for approval. T= he business manager will work with the auditor to finalize the annual financial reports. The final reports will be given to the board for full review prior= to submission to the state. (see action item)

COMMITTEES

Personnel Committee

Personnel met on May 18, 2009 and June 1, 2009 and dis= cussed job evaluation procedure document, interim wage agreement, emergency closing document, staff goal setting, new employee requirement, base wage rates, ne= xt school year staffing schedules, 2009-10 wage agreements, and employee handb= ook edits.

The next meeting has not been scheduled.

All interim wage agreements for the 2009-10 school yea= r were received and no hiring will need to be done.

Base wages set for the 2009-10 school year. Personnel Committee suggests increasing substitute pay from $17 per hour to $19 per h= our with a $95 per day cap and all $8 per hour substitute positions to $9 per h= our. (see action item)

Wage agreements for Darin Shepardson, Michelle Boelter, Loretta Markey, and Mary Feathergill for the 2009-10 school year. (see action item)

Technology Co= mmittee

Committee did not meeting on May 11, 2009. The next me= eting will be on June 8, 2009

Finance Commi= ttee

Met on June 1, 2009 and completed the budget for the 2= 009-10 school year, reviewed base wage rates, stipend for non-contract day of trai= ning, mileage rate, petty cash accounts, and auditor quote. The next meeting has = not been scheduled.

Finance Committee proposes the 2009-10 school year bud= get with a net of <$15,361> (see action item)

Finance Committee proposed that the school open an add= itional petty cash account for food service with a maximum of $100. (see action ite= m)

The new Federal Stimulus funds for public education we= re discussed. Discussion was hel= d on how the changes in federal will affect Dakota Area Community School.

Enrichment Co= mmittee

Met on June 1, 2009 and discussed next year’s calendar. Stephanie Peterson = is working on setting up an activity calendar for 2009-2010 school year. Field day will be held on Thursday= , June 4. Stephanie Peterson will se= t up activities. Classroom teacher= s will assist with activities.

Next Community Enrichment meeting will be in September= 2009 at 2:30 p.m.

OLD BUSINESS

Public Relations – Connections newsletter went o= ut during the week of May 18, 2009. Next connections newsletter will go out in July of 2009.

DirectorR= 17;s evaluation process –Meeting was held Friday, June 5, 2009. A copy of the evaluation will go i= nto Darin Shepardson’s personnel file. The evaluation will be discussed by the personal committee who will bring any issues to the board at their next meeting.

Building lease renewal – Darin has contacted Win= ona Area Public Schools, Jeff Seeley Business Administrator, regarding renewing= the lease. It was discussed that the lease will be for another three years. Cha= nges to student numbers and amount of the ten monthly payments will be made. The lease will go to the Winona Area Public Schools’ board meeting in June and then Dakota Area Community School will receive= it for review.

National School Lunch Program Equipment Stimulus 2009 = Grant requesting $6,399 for hot serving table update. Notification was to be done on Fri= day, June 5. The school has not re= ceived any notice as of today.

Operation Round Up – Tri-County Electric Coopera= tive grant that the Dakota Cub Scout Pack #15 is applying for on behalf of Dakota Area Community School. The school is still waiting to hea= r if this was received.

Employee Handbook edits – board members reviewed= the handbook and no edits were suggested at this meeting. (see action item)

NEW BUSINESS =

Contract with Pamela Ristau for auditing services and = 990 tax form preparation for the 2008-09 school year. Contract is for $3,495 pl= us additional fees if significant additional time is necessary. The change was discussed. (see act= ion item)

Food Service application for the National School Lunch Program state and federal funding for an Enhanced Food-Based Menu Planning program for a regular school lunch program for the 2009-10 School Year.

Food Service commodity entitlement dollars transferred= to Winona Area Public Schools for the 2009-10 school year. (see action items)<= /p>

2008-09 final school calendar. Student service days decreased from 175 to 171 due to emergency snow day closings. Calendar will= be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education. (see action item)

Contract with Hiawatha Valley Education District for S= pecial Education director and Minnesota Department of Education Statement of Assurances for the 2009-10 school year. (see action item)

Application for the Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services with the Minnesota Department of Education for the 2009-10 School Year. Amount applied for is $8,801.79. (see action item)

Final report for the 2008-09 Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instruction Services with the Minnesota Department of Education= was reviewed. Lisa Kent will be submitting the report. (see action item)

Char= ter School governance a= nd accountability updates with state legislature. There have been changes passed in = state legislation that affect governance and accountability.

Governance: Board must consist of at least five members, one must be a licensed staff member, one must be a parent/guardian= of student enrolled, and one must be an interested community member who does n= ot have a student enrolled at Dakota Area Community School. All members= must not be related. Darin will inquire about when the school will need to get a community member on the board.

All new members will need b= oard training and it must be Minnesota Department of Education approved training= . So far there are no issues as most= all of our members are trained. Darin will inquire if some members may be train= ed and bring information to other members.

Accountability: Dakota Area Community School will put up contact information for the sponsor of the school on the school’s website to comply with the requirements of accountability. <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Dakota Area Community School will send a notice home, each month, to parents through electronic email ab= out how to access the board minutes to comply with accountability. Administration and personnel commi= ttee will review job descriptions for key positions in administration, superviso= ry, and educational leadership to make sure there are clearly stated and requir= ed qualifications described. Dis= cussion was held.

Sponsorship renewal – The school is one year awa= y from having to have our sponsorship renewed.&nb= sp; This renewal may not be with current sponsor, Minnesota Department of Education. Members discussed sponsor options: Wi= nona Area = Public Schools, Winona State University, Saint Mary’s University, La Crescent Public schools and The Audubon.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The school director will pursue a = new sponsor for Dakota Area Community School and bring fi= ndings and information to the board to be discussed. The board would like him to contact our current sponsor to discuss the process with them. This will be = reviewed again at the next meeting.

CONSENT AGEND= A

Lisa Kent motioned to approve, Kim Jurgerson seconded,= and the motion carried for the consent agenda item as follows:

Approve minutes – May 11, 2009

May bank statements and reconciliation reports.

May payment register and deposit summary.

Donations:

Don and Mary Ellen Meyer donated a VCR and CD player t= o the school.

Carl Christensen donated a lawn sweeper and sprayer to= the school.

Carl Christensen donated storage containers to the sch= ool.

ACTION ITEMS

Tina Beckman motioned to approve The School Mall progr= am for fundraising in the 2009-10 school year. All proceeds are to go to benefit t= he Community Enrichment programs. Kim Jurgerson seconded, motion carried.

Brandon Mehling motioned to approve School Insurances = with Continental Western Group Insurance Company for the 2008-09 school year. Policies begin on July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.

Basic Property coverage on $500,000 with $1,000 deduct= ible for $997

General Liability with 1,000,000/2,000,000 coverage fo= r $706

Automotive Liability for 1,000,000 for vehicles $990

Workers Compensation for $2064

Directors and Officers Liability for 1,000,000/1,000,0= 00 coverage for $1596

Tina Beckman seconded the motion and the motion carrie= d.

Kim Jurgerson motioned to approve the procedure for the 2008-1 Annual Financial Reporting Under Generally Accepted Account Principl= es (GAAP) audit finding. The procedure is stated that the business manager will prepare the financial reports. These preliminary financial reports will be brought to the board and all adjusting and year-end journal entries with substantial documentation for approval. The business manager will work with= the auditor to finalize the annual financial reports. The final reports will be given to the board for full review prior to submission to the state.

Brandon Mehling seconded, motion carried.

Lisa Kent motioned to approve the base wage rates for = all positions for the 2009-10 school year with the change to substitute pay from $17 per hour to $19 per hour with a $95 per day cap and all $8 per hour substitute positions to $9 per hour. Tina Beckman seconded. Motion carried.

Tina Beckman motioned to approve the 2009-10 School Ye= ar budget:

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; General &= nbsp; Food Service Restricted= = Comm. Ed

Revenues &n= bsp; = ; $283,669 = $12,879 &= nbsp; $70,755 $16,401

Expenditures &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 291,899 16,365 72,525 = 18,276

NET &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = <$8,230> = <$3,486> = <$ 1,770> &nbs= p; <$1,875> =

Gordon Nagle seconded, motion carried.

Brandon Mehling motioned to open an additional petty c= ash account for food service with a maximum of $100. Tina Beckman seconded, mot= ion carried.

Lisa Kent motioned to approve the School’s Emplo= yee Handbook for 2009-2010 including all the edits, additions, and changes made= to it by the Personnel Committee in the current school year. Gordon Nagle seconded, motion carr= ied.

Lisa Kent motioned to approved contract with Pamela Ri= stau for auditing services and 990 tax form preparation for the 2008-09 school y= ear. Contract is for $3,495 plus additional fees if significant additional time = is necessary. Kim Jurgerson seconded, motion carried.

Gordon Nagle motioned to approve application for the National School Lunch Program state and federal funding for an Enhanced Food-Based Menu Planning program for a regular school lunch program for the 2006-07 School Year. Brandon Mehling seconded, motion carried.

Tina Beckman motioned to approve transfer of the school’s Food Service Commodity entitlement dollars to Winona Area Pu= blic Schools for the 2009-10 school year. Lisa Kent seconded, motion carried.

Kim Jurgerson motioned to approve the final 2008-09 sc= hool calendar with student service days decreased from 175 to 171 due to emergen= cy snow day closings. Calendar will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education. Tina Beckman secon= ded, motion carried.

Brandon Mehling motioned to approve contract with Hiaw= atha Valley Education District for Special Education director and the Minnesota Department of Education Statement of Assurances for the 2009-10 school year= . Gordon Nagle seconded, motion carr= ied.

Lisa Kent motioned to approve the school’s appli= cation for funds for the Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services with the Minnesota Department of Education for the 2009-10 School Year. Amo= unt applied for is $8,801.79. Tina Beckman seconded, motion carried.

Tina Beckman motioned to approve the final report for = the 2008-09 Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services to the M= innesota Department of Education. Gordon Nagle seconded, motion carried.

Wage Agreements:

Darin Shepardson as School Director at a salary of $10= ,000 for the 2009-10 School Year.

Michelle Boelter as Administrative Assistant at the ra= te of $10.75 per hour for the 2009-10 School Year.

Loretta Markey as Food Service Personnel and Custodian= and Grounds Keeper at the rate of $10.50 per hour for the 2009-10 School Year.<= /p>

Mary Feathergill as contracted Business Manager with <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Ridgeway Community School at the rate of $15.50 per hour for the 2009-10 School Year.

Meeting adjourned at 6:14 p.m.

Next meeting will be on July 13, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. Pen= ding board members availability.

Respectfully submitted,

Brandon Mehling = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Gordon Nagle

DACS Board Secretary = = &nb= sp; = DACS Board President