May 20, 2024 Work Session Meeting Minutes

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

The Work Session was held May 20, 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/97721628814

At 6:30 p.m. the Board of Directors of McMinnville School District opened the work session meeting.  The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Abbie Warmbier.

Roll call indicated the following:

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

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
None

ADMINISTRATION:
Debbie Brockett, Superintendent
Cherice Bowden, Board Secretary

AUDIENCE:
Brian Crain, Kourtney Ferrua, Jason Hall, Steffanie Frost, Shelly Simonyi and Hiran Amerasinghe. 

• Nutrition Services Update
  Shiloh Ficek and Joanna Duyck shared a presentation with the board their:

  • Vision – Nourish students with healthy meal choices fueling their bodies to receive an excellent education.
  • Mission – The McMinnville School District Nutrition Department will create an atmosphere where each student feels empowered to make healthy meal choices by:
    • Creating an inclusive environment for each student.
    • Connecting with the community.
    • Providing excellent customer service.
  • Belief – A hungry child cannot learn.
  • We recognize the vital relationship between nutrition and education.
  • Diversity enriches our School Nutrition program through the recognition of different cultural backgrounds.

  They reviewed the breakfast and lunch programs.  Each meal has to meet strict guidelines.  Each program has its own menu parameters that you have to work around such as sodium, sugar, etc.  Data was shared on the meals served prior in 2022 to now to show where we were for breakfast, lunch and after school dinner.  They gave an update on the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (FFVP), and the Summer Food Service Program (SFAP).  They provide dietary accommodations as long as the child with a disability has a statement from a licensed physician that must explain the disability or need for accommodation, an explanation of why the disability restricts the child’s diet and the food or foods to be omitted from the child’s diet and the food or choice of foods that must be substituted.  For eight hours plus per week, they work directly with the nursing team to ensure students have appropriate accommodation for their needs, carbs counts are accurate for students with diabetes. See presentation.

  MANDT Grant Update
  Director Shelly Simonyi shared an update on our recent grant development.  The Student Services Department applied for a reimbursable grant from ODE to help with the MANDT system.  We were awarded a grant for $52,000.00.  The training program shows staff how to de-escalate students; 82 staff have been trained.  The grant will also help pay for subs.

  2023 Graduation Ceremony Overview
  Principal Dave Furman formally invited the Board to the Commencement Ceremony.  There will be reserved parking for board members.  He shared some of the activities that will be happening at the high school.  See the work session packet for details.

  Year End Events
  Year end events were presented to the board.

  Licensed Negotiation Update
  Director Frost and Director Hall shared a presentation with the board the MSD/McEA Bargaining Summary, McMinnville School District data funding as of June 30, 2023, MSD teacher turn-over and classroom size that showed where we are compared to other districts. The bargaining cost comparison data was also shared.  See the work session packet for details.  See presentation.

  After-School Care Update
  Superintendent Brockett discussed the summary providing a time and the historical context of where we started with Kids On The Block, the Mayor’s Ball and how it progressed to where it is now.  Conversations to give both boards a full picture of where we were at and where we need to start having discussion on where we will go.  She stated that there weren’t really questions left on the table. What was left on the table was everybody having a better understanding of what started as Kids On The Block and turned into Campfire so that we make future decisions on how we continue after school care.  At the June Work Session, we will come back together and say what our next steps will be. 

• Subcommittee Reports
  Subcommittee reports were given by the board:  

  • Fiscal Subcommittee:
    Did not meet.
  • Instructional Improvement Subcommittee:
    Did not meet.  Director Anderson gave an overview of the email received from Director Ferrua.  PreK and Kindergarten registration is going well. Right now PreK is at 77  and kindergarten is at 285. In years past, we were at 183.  All elementary schools offer PreK except Memorial ES. Continuing to work with Stanford Children to implement the science of reading; they had a presentation around the science adoption.  It looks like we are going to work with Stanford Children in the implementation of Science Of Reading.  The committee has decided on a Character Strong for their Tier I social, emotional learning resources.  Kindergarten camp will take place in August.
  • Policy Subcommittee:
    Discussed policy AC, EBCA and EBBB.  They will continue to work on these policies.
  • Long Range Planning Subcommittee:
    Did not meet.

  Directors Comments
  Director Vollmer thanked Duniway MS for inviting him.  They were having transition activities for fifth grade students coming into middle school.  They had the red carpet setup and the kids there to welcome the new students into the building to do some of the transition from fifth to sixth grade activities.  It was very nicely done.

  Director Benner stated that he loves watching the Marching Band at the UFO Festival.  He is so proud of the kids.

  Director Warmbier gave some appreciation to principals because this time of year there are so many promotions, carnivals and a million other things going on that they have to coordinate to celebrate students, and also retirements to celebrate staff.  I just wanted to recognize all the hard work that all of our principals, vice principals, and admin team are doing this time of the year. 

  Director Towery echoed that the UFO Festival middle school band was spectacular.  We had a whole bunch of students volunteer including a senior who helped man our MDA booth.  It was great seeing all of the kids, all kinds of entries and all of our families have a fun time.

  Director Anderson thanked the Nutrition Services Department.  She stated that she had no idea of all the different things. She knew about gardens and things, but not about all those other things.  They are major and their passion for providing nutrition and all that for all of our students is really heartwarming and appreciated.  She is looking forward to judging at the Engineering Fair.

  Director Partida thanked Shiloh Ficek and his team for their excellence.  He is excited for the June 7th graduation.  

  Chair Jason Bizon apologized for being late and thanked Vice Chair Warmbier for starting the meeting.  He thanked everyone online and those in attendance.

    Upcoming dates:

  • Board Business meeting June 10, 2024 
  • Joint Work Session meeting June 17, 2024

  The Session adjourned at 7:54 p.m.