Superintendent Howard Caldwell informed the board the district has a policy of no charging for meals that is not being strictly enforced at the present.
Money is placed into a family's account and is drawn out as students from that family eat meals. Occasionally, more meals are eaten than there is money in the account, and the account is overdrawn.
"Everybody in the food service staff is going to try to work together to see if we can eliminate charging," Caldwell said of the effort being made to enforce the current policy. The food service staff will try to remind students when their account is low.
Patrick Flanders, school board chairman, had concerns with the strict policy. "I have trouble with us refusing a meal to an elementary student," he added.
A letter is being sent from the district to all families of elementary students informing them of the policy and asking cooperation. The free and reduced meal program will also be offered in the letter.
The board approved a rental agreement between the district and Lake Koronis Assembly Grounds for the use of their recreation building for the high school gymnastics program. The total cost for the 80-day agreement is $2,000, with $1,000 coming from district funds, and the other $1,000 coming from the gymnastics group and the Booster Club. The Assembly Grounds will be installing a new spring floor in the facility, with labor supplied by the gymnastics group.
The winter season athletic assignments were approved by the board. Coaches for girls basketball are: head coach, Ric Koehn; assistant, Dave Randgaard; grade 9, Laurie Nepsund; grade 8, Darrin Carstens; and grade 7, Brad Skoglund.
Coaches for boys basketball are: head coach, Steven Little; assistant, Mark Kleinbaum; grade 9, Tony Bylander; grade 8, Todd Knudsvig; and grade 7, Murry Rafferty.
Wrestling coaches include: head coach, Virg Vagle; assistant, Steven R. Fuchs; grades 7-9, Scott George and Tim Woehler.
Gymnastics coaches include: head coach, Deb Nehowig; and assistant, Beth Voss.
Cheerleading will be coached by: wrestling, Cindy Fuchs; and basketball, Sheri Wegner.
The head coach for danceline is yet to be determined.
Approval by the board was granted for two staff development projects.
The first will provide technology training for elementary teaching staff that will utilize an outside resource group. The total cost is $2,500.
The second will provide secretarial support and teaching staff with the technology tools required to deal with the increased record keeping needed for graduation standards. The $1,700 grant will provide software and training to ultimately get the entire staff ready to record the standards for the school year 2000-2001. Reports then can be printed for parents, staff, and transfering students.
Chairman Flanders reported the West Central Education District, which is comprised of the districts of Albany, Melrose, Sauk Centre, and Paynesville, needs to think about the facilities that are currently being used for the Area Learning Center.
The building currently being rented by the education district is owned by the Melrose district and is in need of major renovation. The question of the education district purchasing the 50-year-old building or moving the Area Learning Center to other quarters was discussed. No decision was made.
Other business:
• The board heard more reports from curriculum chairs regarding their 2000-2001 school year plans.
• Superintendent Caldwell gave recognition to Karlin Jacoby and Rebecca Hoey for developing and initiating the district's new teacher mentor program. He also recognized Tammy Botten and Michelle Anderson for their work in developing the ninth grade orientation program. These four staff members will be honored at a banquet at the St. Cloud Civic Center in November for their accomplishments.
• The board set Nov. 13, 7 p.m. at the elementary media center as a special board meeting to meet with the facility study committee for the purpose of reviewing the progress on the auditorium and fitness center.
• The board also set Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m. at the elementary media center for a special board meeting to discuss and develop plans for a budget adjustment process that would impact the 2001-2002 school year.