February 12, 2024 Business Board Meeting

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

The Board Business Meeting was held February 12, 2024, both in person and via Zoom at the
McMinnville School District Office, 800 NE Lafayette Ave., McMinnville OR 97128 

The link was https://msd40.zoom.us/j/215496199

At 6:31 p.m., the Board of Directors of McMinnville School District opened the board business meeting in Regular Session. The meeting was called to order by Chair Mr. Jason Bizon.

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chair Mr. Jason Bizon
Vice-Chair Ms. Abbie Warmbier
Ms. Lu Ann Anderson
Mr. Carson Benner
Mr. Gerardo Partida
Ms. Doris Towery
Mr. Larry Vollmer

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
None

ADMINISTRATION:
Debbie Brockett, Superintendent
Cherice Bowden, Board Secretary

Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Andrew McMahon, Sawyer Clemens and Andrew Woodworth.

AUDIENCE:
Karina Smith, Brian Crain, Kourtney Ferrua, Shelly Simonyi, Steffanie Frost, Laurie Fry, Martha Biggs and Jason Hall.  See attached. 

• 1.4  Introductions and Communications
  Superintendent Brockett welcomed the community from Memorial Elementary School and thanked them for taking time out of their evening and the students for playing their ukuleles.

  1.5.1  Classified Employee Appreciation Week (March 4-8, 2024)
  The proclamation was read by Director Doris Towery:

  PROCLAMATION

  WHEREAS the education of our youth is imperative to our school district, to
  Oregon, to our nation, our world;

  WHEREAS classified school employees in our school districts, education service
  districts and community colleges are the “backbone” of our public school system;

  WHEREAS classified employees work directly with our children, staff, parents,
  volunteers, business partners and community members and are responsible for
  the transportation, nutrition and general well-being of our children as well as
  assisting certified staff in direct instruction;

  WHEREAS classified employees ensure the smooth operation of our offices, the
  maintenance of buildings and property, and the safety of our staff and students
  and the community trusts them as important messengers about our schools;

  WHEREAS our community depends on classified employees to serve students
  and other staff, often in challenging circumstances and classified employees,
  with their diverse talents and true dedication, nurture our youth throughout their
  K-12 years;

  WE MEMBERS OF THE McMINNVILLE SCHOOL BOARD join Governor Tina Kotek in
  proclaiming March 4, 2024 through March 8, 2024 to be CLASSIFIED SCHOOL
  EMPLOYEE WEEK in McMinnville, Oregon, and encourage all members of our
  community to join in this observance recognizing the dedication and hard work
  of these individuals.

  1.5  Review of Agenda
  Moved item 5.0 to follow 2.0.
  Principal Furman will present on the ProStart field trip in place of Ms. Carpino.

  2.0 Consent Agenda
  2.1 Gifts to the District: 

  The Board accepted with gratitude, gifts to the District: High Heaven Timberlands, Inc. donated $400.00 to MHS for the baseball team, High Heaven Investments, Inc. donated to MHS $200.00 for the baseball team, R L C, Inc. donated $100.00 to MHS for the baseball team, Grimm Family Tree Farm donated $100.00 to MHS for the baseball team, Dan L. Grimm donated $100.00 to MHS for the baseball team, Joseph Grimm & Bette Grimm donated $100.00 to MHS for the baseball team, Bette Grimm donated $100.00 to MHS for the baseball team, Paul Medrano Tax, LLC donated $400.00 to MHS for Cheer Nationals, Hinchcliff, Inc. donated $250.00 to MHS for Mac Madness, Carl & Leslie Thompson donated $200.00 to MHS for holiday meals for the resource room, Jeniffer Brousius donated $100.00 to MHS for holiday meals for the resource room, Dave Cunliffe donated a jigsaw/tool combo set worth $399.00 to MHS for wood shop, Mule Skinner Club, Inc. donated $1000.00 to MHS for the Equestrian Club, Mary Ann Potter donated costume material worth $350.00 to MHS for the drama club, Elizabeth Hall donated $100.00 to MHS for food lab fees, Ronald & Annika Schilling donated $373.00 to MHS for the baseball team, Matthew & Gina Petersen gave a monetary donation of $500.00 to Patton MS for needy kids, Knights of Pythias donated $800.00 to MHS for the dance team, Give A Little Foundation donated miscellaneous snack/toiletries to MHS for the resource room, McMinnville Lions donated $450.00 to MHS for the baseball team, $250.00 for boys basketball and $250.00 for girls golf, Merle S Dix Irrevocable Trust donated $250.00 to MHS for girls basketball, Two Dogs Taphouse donated $250.00 to MHS for Mac Madness, and Kamph Rock Crushing Co., Inc. donated $600.00 to MHS for Mac Madness.

  2.2 Approval of minutes of the January 8, 2024 Business Board Meeting, January 22, 2024 Work Session Meeting and the February 3, 2024 Mid-Year Board Retreat approved.

  2.3 Personnel Actions approved.

  On motion by Director Carson Benner, seconded by Director Gerardo Partida, the Consent Agenda was approved on a unanimous vote.

  5.0 New Business
  Personnel Decision

  Nancy Hungerford explained that during the executive session prior to the open session, the board heard an appeal by a complainant contesting a decision made by the Superintendent regarding complaints filed and investigated according to policy.  Chair Jason Bizon asked  for a motion to abstain or not to abstain from the decision of the Superintendent.  He gave three options, option  1, the board will  decide to not make any decision, option 2 will be a vote to uphold the Superintendent’s decision, or option 3, to reverse or modify the decision of the Superintendent. 

  On motion by Director Carson Benner, seconded by Director Abbie Warmbier, to uphold the decision made by the Superintendent.  It was approved by four ayes, and two nays.  Director Gerardo Partida abstained from voting as he did not attend the executive session meeting. 

   

• 3.0 REPORTS
  The Board heard Monthly Reports.

  3.1 Student Report Memorial ES
  Principal Kim Price introduced the music teacher Rachel Zeleny.  Ms. Price explained how the ukulele club started.   This year the students are third and fourth graders.  Ms. Zeleny had the students play two songs for the board; Take Me Out To The Ball Game and The Lion Sleeps Tonight. 

  3.2 Student Envoy’s Report
  Sam King, Otto Davies, Viviana Garibay and Oliver Voit, Student Envoys from MHS, presented the student report for MHS highlighting their activities, academics, athletics, and arts and pathways.  Lunch with a Bunch, Staff In-service – ED Camp “Inviting Students to the Conversation”.  On February 29th, Mac High will be hosting Leap into Your Future Day.  Juniors will take the ASVAB test, the results of the test is to match with an interest inventory to help students find careers that match their skills and interests. Swimming and wrestling will have their meets, with swimming taking place at the McMinnville Aquatic Center on February 9-10, and wrestling will take place at Forest Grove HS on February 17, 2024.   Cheer competed in the state championship and won again this year.

  3.3 Superintendent’s Report
  Superintendent Brockett shared information on Attendance Mediation, EL supports, Legislative Short Session Education Funding Focus, and Swinging on a Star.

  3.4  Director of Fiscal Services’ Report
  Jason Hall presented the monthly fiscal report to the School Board of Directors.  See the business meeting packet for details from the presentation.  The presentation covered student enrollment, General Fund revenue and expenses.

  3.4.1 Audit Report
  Mr. David Bledsoe gave an overview of the audit report findings. 

  3.5  Inclement Weather Make-up Day
  Steffanie Frost shared information on inclement weather make-up days. See the business meeting packet for details from the presentation.

  4.0 Unfinished Business:

  4.1 Out of State Travel 2nd Reading (Choral Festival)
  Ms. Jones explained the importance of the field trip and asked the board for approval.

  On a motion by Director Doris Towery, seconded by Director Carson Benner, to approve the Out of State Travel for the Choral Festival field trip.  It was approved by a unanimous vote.

  4.2 In-State Overnight 2nd Reading (ProStart)
  Mr. Dave Furman shared information why this is an overnight field trip.  Check-in is on a Sunday and the students need to prep very early on Monday morning.  He asked the board for approval for students to attend the ProStart field trip.

  On a motion by Director Larry Vollmer, seconded by Director Carson Benner, to approve the In-State Overnight ProStart field trip. It was approved by a unanimous vote.

  6.0 Public Forum
  No public comment was received for the meeting.

• 7.0  Board Directors Comments
  Director Partida thanked Superintendent Brockett for focusing on families and finding out the real reasons why the students are absent.  He stated that we need to not only give the students  a quality education but we also need to protect them. This is something that we should always be thinking about.

  Director Anderson stated that one of the student envoys was at an event over the weekend and she handled herself very classy and well and another student gave a speech at another  event she was attending.  It was really nice for our students to be so poised and able to  articulate what they need to say at a public venue.  She mentioned that Duniway MS also has a ukulele class as well.  

  Director Towery congratulated the swimmers and cheerleaders.  She gave a shout-out to the music program.  

  Director Vollmer mentioned the last home game for both the boys and girls basketball teams is next Thursday, February 22 against Forest Grove.  He states that the girls basketball team is spectacular.  

   8.0  FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
  Any future agenda items will be emailed to Chair Jason Bizon or Superintendent Brockett, they will take them into consideration and get back to you.

  9.0  ANNOUNCEMENTS
  There were no announcements.

  The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.