October 28, 2024 Work Session Meeting Minutes

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

The Work Session was held October 28, 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 Chair Jason Bizon.  Roll call indicated the following:

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

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
None

ADMINISTRATION:
Debbie Brockett, Superintendent
Cherice Bowden, Board Secretary

AUDIENCE:
Brian Crain, Kourtney Ferrua, Jason Hall,  Kourtney Ferrua, Steffanie Frost, Hilary Brittan-Lack, Kim Price and Shelly Simonyi.  

• Board Members Remote Meeting Attendance
  Chair Jason Bizon read a statement regarding board members attending meetings remotely.   The topic was opened for discussion.  Director Bader suggested that we set parameters for remote meeting attendance.  

  Board members who will attend the meeting(s) virtually starting November 4, 2024 will:

  1. Inform the board secretary and board chair, via email, no later than 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.
  2. There must be a quorum of live participants at each meeting.
  3. The person leading the meeting must attend in person. If the board chair cannot attend the meeting the vice-chair will lead the meeting.  
  4. Executive Sessions will not have a virtual option. You must be in person to participate. 
  5. Every effort will be made to include you in the meeting online but if for some reason the technology fails, it will prevent you from participating in the meeting

  This topic will be placed on the February work session board agenda to discuss the process and allow the district to share if additional resources/staff were required for virtual participation. 

  Leadership Academy
  Principals Hilary Brittan Lack and Kim Price shared how the Leadership Academy will work.  The academy is open to anyone interested in becoming an administrator.   There will be four sessions plus shadowing.  The academy will start mid-January and will finish by spring break.

  New Principal Mentorship
  Superintendent Brockett gave an overview of the mentorship grant we wrote and received; it included new administrators. We have hired L & B Consulting.  The new principals will work with Jocelyn from L & B Consulting. She will come in and give 8 hours of one-on-one leadership guidance.  She works with them on where they believe they need the most support.  She will meet with Superintendent Brockett three times per year to debrief her.

  Historical Perspective on Dual Language Program
  Director Ferrua shared a presentation on the Historical Context for the Dual Language Program.  See the board packet for more details.  See presentation.

  Subcommittee Reports
  Subcommittee reports were given by the board:  

  • Fiscal Subcommittee: 

  Discussed financials, enrollment, the Construction Excise Tax, PERS increases and the slight decrease in the LGIB rates.  They also discussed projects that the Construction Excise Tax can be used for.

  • Instructional Improvement Subcommittee: 

  Did not meet

  • Policy Subcommittee: 

  Discussed graduation requirements and aligning our diplomas with the Oregon administrative rules, and Section 504, 

  • Long Range Planning Subcommittee: 

  Discussed boilers at Grandhaven and Memorial ES; repair vs. replacing them. What they could use the Construction Excise for, the water usage at the high school, custodial shortage, roofing problems at Duniway MS, JV locker rooms and reviewed the reunification plan.

  Directors Comments
  Director Partida thanked principals Hilary Brittan Lack and Kim Price for doing the Leadership Academy.

  Director Vollmer thanked Ms. A. at Memorial ES for her invitation to help with the 3rd grade students with Survival Swim.  This is the biggest group of 3rd graders he has seen.  K-8 is having the Halloween version of wiener wrap.

  Director Anderson stated that Lunch Week was cool at Patton MS.  She also stopped by the kitchen to tell the food service workers how much they are appreciated for their hard work.   She thanked Director Ferrua for her presentation on the Dual Language Program and she thanked principals Hilary Brittan Lack and Kim Price for stepping up and putting together the Leadership Academy.

  Director Towery thanked principals Hilary Brittan Lack and Kim Price for all of their hard work and inspiration.  She thanked Director Ferrua for her presentation on the Dual Language Program and for assuring all of the structures are there and the incredible work that is continued to support our students..  Lunch Week was a blast at Memorial ES. She sat with the kinders and first graders.    She had the opportunity to tour the high school with Shiloh.

  Director Bader echoed thanks to everyone who presented and participated.  She attended Lunch Week at Newby ES and had a really good discussion about the mountain rose apples.  She toured the kitchen and thanked everyone for their hard work.

  Meeting Video

    Upcoming dates:

  • Board Business meeting November 4, and December 9, 2024
  • Work Session meeting November 25, 2024 and January 27, 2025.

  The Session adjourned at 8:20 p.m.