August 22, 2022 Work Session Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF DISTRICT NO. 40, 
YAMHILL COUNTY,  McMINNVILLE, OREGON

• The Board of Directors of the McMinnville School District met in Work Session on August 22, 2022 virtually via zoom and in person. Chairperson Carson Benner called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.  Roll call indicated the following:

  BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
  Chair Carson Benner
  Dr. Paul Haddeland
  Ms. Janis Braich
  Mr. Larry Vollmer
  Mr. Jason Bizon

  BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
  Mr. Gerardo Partida
  Ms. Abbie Warmbier

  ADMINISTRATION:
  Debbie Brockett, Superintendent
  Cherice Bowden, Board Secretary

  AUDIENCE: 
  Samantha Nelson, Kourtney Ferrua, Steffanie Frost, Brian Crain, Kevin Carroll, Luke Neff, Karina Smith, and Kelly Couch.

• District Goals/Mission Statement
  Superintendent Brockett introduced and welcomed Kelly Couch as the newly hired Safety Consultant. 

  Superintendent Brockett stated; after taking input from the community, staff, Board of Directors, and the administration, we settled on a draft Mission Statement.  She shared the Mission Statement they agreed upon.  She said unless there is input from the Board, we will bring it back in September for a final reading.  She presented District Goals as a 1st reading to the Board for them to review.  Chair Carson Benner stated that the Board members will take them  home to  review to make sure they match their expectations.

  COVID-19 Management Plan
  Kevin Carroll presented the COVID-19 plan to the Board for the 2022-23 school year.  Staff will still be required to be vaccinated or tested.  He stated the District will be following the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and our local public health agencies guidance on our continuing practices in COVID management.  The message he wants to get out that has not changed is,  if a student or staff  tests positive, they are required to quarantine for five days and upon return they are asked to wear a mask until day ten.  Students who have a fever have to be fever free with medication for twenty four hours before returning to school.

  The plan will be posted on the district’s website.  Communication will be put out through each building on the mandated quarantine period, and it will be in the Brockett Bulletin as well.

  2022-2023 Professional Development Plan
  Kourtney Ferrua shared a presentation on the different types of Professional Development days and opportunities that are offered in the District.  She shared information on in-service and grading days.        

  She shared information on the Google site created by her department which is an internal site for staff.     

  HB 4030 Recruitment/Retention Grant
  Steffanie Frost shared HB 4030 Grant update information on bonuses that will be given to all staff.  She informed the Board that a small portion from the HB 4030 Grant will be used for signing incentives for hard to fill positions, and will be reserving a small portion for spring recruiting.  She gave an update on staffing; we have hired 53 licensed educators; 19 classified staff; two supervisors, and two Administrators.  She also shared updates on the positions that have not been filled.

  She thanked McEA and OSEA for their collaborative work with the District.

• Subcommittee Reports

  Subcommittee reports were given by the board:  

  • Fiscal Subcommittee:  Nothing to report.  Detailed information has been provided at different meetings.
  • Instructional Improvement Subcommittee:  Went over in-service training and Junior Orchestral Yamhill County (JOY).
  • Policy Subcommittee: ODE has a list of policies that need changing.  They will be working on those policy changes.
  • Long Range Planning Subcommittee:  Meeting will be held August 25, 2022.

• Directors Comments
  Jason Bizon welcomed Safety Consultant Mr. Kelly Couch.

  Larry Vollmer gave a shout out to the administrative team and staff at Buel ES.  They held a backpack event Saturday which allowed students to come through and fill their backpacks full of supplies. He said at least three to four hundred kids left with gear and another seventy five backpacks were filled and given back to the individual buildings.  He thinks it is an amazing program.

  Janis Braich echoed what Larry Vollmer said about the backpack event.  She mentioned that Kawanis donated athletic shoes at Newby ES as well.  She thanked Steffanie Frost and the principals for filling positions.  

  Dr. Paul Haddeland thanked the Board members and Superintendent Brockett.  He likes the Mission Statement, and said each student is important.  He thanked administrators for all of their hard work.

  Upcoming meeting dates:

  • Board Business meeting –  September 12, 2022 and October 10, 2022
  • Work Session meeting –  September 26, 2022 and October 24, 2022

  The Session adjourned at 7:18  p.m.