March 11, 2024 Business Board Meeting

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

The Board Business Meeting was held March 11, 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 6:30 pm, 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 Lauren Tinker.

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

• 1.4  Introductions and Communications
  Superintendent Brockett welcomed the Patton MS students, staff, and families.  She introduced Principal Allison Eitzen, Assistant Principal Lisa Jordan-Zornow and Teacher David Ludi.  Students Chris Stedman, Lauren Tinker, Emily Pacheco-Segovia, and Dayanara Navarro Uscanga.  She thanked and welcomed them for attending the meeting.

  1.5  Review of Agenda
  Changes to items:

  • 2.6 Superintendent Contract Renewal was changed to Superintendent Contract Extension
  • 5.1 Adoption of the 2024-25 Superintendent Evaluation Timeline, changed to Adoption of the 2023-24 Superintendent Evaluation Timeline
  • 10.0 Important Dates:

  March 14 7:00 a.m. Policy Subcommittee Meeting

  March 18 6:30 p.m. Joint Work Session

  March 21 7:00 a.m. Long Range Subcommittee Meeting

  Correct Important Dates:

  • March 14   7:00 a.m.  Instructional Subcommittee Meeting
  • March 18   6:30 p.m.  Joint Work Session
  • March 21   7:00 a.m.  Policy Subcommittee Meeting
  • March 28  7:00 a.m.  Long Range Subcommittee Meeting.

  2.0 Consent Agenda
  2.1 Gifts to the District: 

  The Board accepted with gratitude, gifts to the District: McKenzie Duncan Johns CPs, LLC donated $450.00 to MHS for the baseball fence sign, Laughlin Cartrell, Inc. donated $300.00 to MHS for the baseball team, Your Space Public Storage donated $2,000.00 to MHS for the wrestling team, Tramaine Payne donated a 32” Samsung TV worth $200.00 to Patton MS for the fitness center, B. Wade Noyes, DDS donated $250.00 to MHS for the equestrian club, Yamhill County Sheriff’s Posse donated $700.00 to MHS for the equestrian club, Farnham Electric Construction donated $450.00 to MHS for the baseball team, Davison Auto Parts, Inc. donated $250.00 to MHS for the equestrian club and Neal G. Anderson donated 9 socket sets worth $200.00 to MHS for the shop classes.

  2.2 Approval of minutes of the February 12, 2024 Business Board Meeting, February 26, 2024 Work Session Meeting approved.

  2.3 Personnel Actions approved.

  2.4 Staff Renewals approved

  2.5 Superintendent Contract Extension approved

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

  3.0 REPORTS
  The Board heard Monthly Reports.

  3.1 Student Report Patton MS
  Principal Allison Eitzen shared AVID school-wide information.  She shared that David Ludi selected the students speaking tonight.  She shared the AVID Mission:  Close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.  Lisa Jordan-Zornow shared what AVID looks like school-wide.  The students have planners and binders for organization in every class.  It is set aside by each teacher and they show them what they want to put in their planners. Each Friday in homeroom, they go back to the planners checking off any tasks that have been completed.   The students focus on writing, collaboration, organization and reading.  AVID students shared on some of the field trips they have taken, guest speakers/exploration, how to become an AVID student and AVID Olympics.  

  Field Trip:

  • Visited the University of Portland and George Fox University where they spent an hour learning more about college.  

  Becoming an AVID student:

  • Must maintain a C or above in all classes
  • Interview with the instructor

  Guest Speaker/Exploration

  • Helps them think about different careers they may take.  Student Lauren Tinker states she feels lucky to be an AVID student.

  AVID Olympics:

  • Students are assigned in groups of four to collaborate with each other.

  Students also shared that AVID students are graded on attendance and  behavior.  The points they receive push them to do better.

  The students with the Board members had three minutes to build the tallest tower with spaghetti noodles and marshmallows.  Once the towers were built it was discussed what it took to accomplish it.  What skill would you need later in college or career to be successful at it, and what skills do you need to use?

  The students shared what they like about AVID:

  • Getting to know people
  • Communication
  • Freedom

  Careers/Accomplishments students would like to attain:

  • Lawyer of social justice
  • Architect 
  • Full scholarship to a college in Oregon

  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.  See board packet for details of the presentation.

  3.3  McEA
  Beth Ann Pope shared positively from the rep report.  She gave a shout out to Patton MS for asking parents to volunteer during lunch hours, Wascher ES 5th grade is planning Outdoor School for the first time, and Duniway MS for the Ukulele class making it onto the front cover of the News Register.  McEA Munchie Mobile visits school and it is a great way to see members face-to-face and spread a little cheer.  Concerns in the special education department are being dealt with.  Bargaining initial dates have been set and the first meeting to exchange full proposals will be on April 1.  The meetings will be held during the day.

  3.4 Superintendent’s Report
  Superintendent Brockett highlighted the amazing work the staff and counselors have done with the issues involving our students.  

  She shared updates on the following:

  • Attendance Mediation:  Parents have made verbal commitments that their child will attend school.  She stated that what schools are doing for attendance having an  impact.
  • Legislative Shore Session:  $22 million for Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) Program passed and $30 million for Summer Learning Opportunities (HB 4082) passed.  HB 4082 did pass but was reduced by $20 million.
  • Removal of the following ARs:
  1. IGDF-AR: Request for Approval of Fundraiser
  2. IIABA-AR: Request to Show Commercial Feature Film or Video
  3. IICA-AR: Field Trip Request
  4. JECBB-AR: District Intra-School Transfer Request Form
  5. JHFE-AR: Child Abuse Report Form
  6. EFA-AR: Local Wellness Program Recommended Delete

  It was concluded that it is prudent to eliminate the above identified ARs for greater policy clarity and alignment with current practices.  These forms are available in our Frontline system.  

  • Safety Summit:  We had a much larger turnout this year.  She gave a special thank you to our community partners who worked alongside us to provide valuable sessions and resources.  She stated that Director Brian Crain and Safety Manager Martha Biggs did a great job.  She gave a special thank you and a shout out to all of the Directors who handed out the forms and pushed them, especially Director Anderson. 

  3.5  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.  Jason also shared the forecast summary and enrollment data from 2018-19 through 2027-28.  See board packet for details of the presentation.

  3.6 HB 2939
  Steffanie Frost shared a memo with the board an update on the changes for substitute pay.  There was a clerical error made.  The memo states: Substitutes who work for less than a half day shall be paid half of the daily salary.  Substitutes who work a half day or more shall be paid the full daily salary.  Previous language was full day pay if working more than a half day.    There is a correction anticipated at the beginning of July 2024.  The impact to McMinnville School District for the 2023-24 budget due to retro pay for substitutes that worked a half day assignment is $45,000.00.

• 4.0 Unfinished Business:
  4.1 Karina Smith  presented the following policy for first reading.

  • BD/BDA – Board Meetings 

  House Bill 2805 (2023)  added new provisions to the Public Meetings Law, including the requirement that board members receive mandatory public meetings training. 

  In addition, House Bill 2806 (2023) added new public meetings law provisions for executive sessions, including considering matters relating to the safety of the board, district staff, and volunteers and the security of district facilities and meeting spaces, all of which are related to cyber security infrastructure.

   This policy will return for second reading at the next Board Business meeting. 

  5.0  New Business
  5.1  Adoption of the  2023-24 Superintendent Evaluation Timeline

  A timeline to evaluate the Superintendent was shared with the board.  

  On motion by Director Carson Benner, seconded by Director Larry Vollmer, the motion passed unanimously to approve the Adoption of the 2023-24 Superintendent Evaluation Timeline.  

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

  7.0  Board Directors Comments
  Director Vollmer gave a heartfelt thank you to the businesses or community members that have provided cash or some kind of donation to our district.  They are always appreciated.  This helps to support our programs, our students and their activities to continue to grow.  

  Director Partida thanked Director Brian Crain and Safety Manager Martha Biggs and congratulated them on the Safety Summit attendance.  It was great.  

  Director Anderson echoed what Director Partida said about the Safety Summit. It was very well done.  She gave a shout out to the staff at the aquatic center.  They are phenomenal over there.  She did survival swim again last week.  They so diligently and genuinely watch for the children to be able to be successful and they train us volunteers to really know how to do what we’re doing. 

  Director Towery gave a thank you for the donations. She states that she knows how hard it is to support the programs, so it is very  awesome that we have such generous folks in our community.  She saw an article about the podcast lab opening up and said “congratulations on that, it looked like a very fun launch off of the lab”.  She also gave a shout out to the work around attendance.

  Vice-Chair Warmbier stated that she was able to attend the Safety Summit and it was great.  She thanked Brian Crain and Martha Biggs for hosting.  She mentioned that the parent teacher conferences  being a couple of weeks earlier this year gives students time to make improvements to their grades or attendance for the rest of the year moving forward.

  Chair Bizon wished the robotics team good luck at state.  He said for everyone to have a great spring break.  Get some rest and relax.  We are continuing to mold and build the Joint Session with the City. We look forward to having the agenda out shortly.

   9.0  ANNOUNCEMENTS
  There were no announcements.

  The meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.