February 28, 2014 at 2:45 PM - Support Staff Monthly Meeting

Rationale:  Meeting Attendees:  Linda Knapp, Diane Brandl, Paula Mares, Jan Gall, Mary Eckstein, Julie Dirkschneider, Annette Votava, Gladys Kuzel, Denise Cech, Leslie Kohila, Mary DuPlanti, Gene Barr, Tim Grevson, Kim Volkmer, Mindy Perrin, Kim Powell, Michelle Shonka, Jen Bennett, Judie Scott, Julie Cerny, Ariana Alarcon, Dr. Hoesing

1.  Finance Report:  See Attached
2.  2014-15 School Calendar proposal.  We reviewed the input from staff members from each building and have a 2014-15 calendar draft for the planning committee of the board to consider.

3.  Health Care and Insurance Option (BC/BS):  Sue Warner from Blue Cross/Blue Shield met with Marlene and I to review the new requirements under the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care).  The implementation of the affordable care act has been postponed for one year.  Blue Cross/Blue Shield will be working with the Education Health Care Alliance (EHA) to make changes to their plans to esure they comply with the minimum care provisions of the law. 

4.  Staff Requisitions:  We are getting ready to open the new staff requisition and inventory programs.  This program will allow teachers to review their requests from the previous year, check current classroom inventory, and build their requests for the 2014-15 school year.  We will provide training for staff at each building prior to beginning this process.

5.  Strategic Plan:  The draft plan is complete and will go to the planning committee of the board for their recommendations prior to being released to district-wide staff.  We just received the final information from Cargill employees.

6.  After-School Grant:  The after-school grant has been submitted.  This is a five-year grant to support extended day/extended year programs for students at the elementary and middle school.  We should be notified in April if our grant has been funded.

7.  SIG Application:  The school improvement grant application for the middle school has been submitted.  We should hear by May if this grant has been approved.

8.  Summer School:  We are preparing summer school contracts for employees involved in summer school and food service programs.  Please see your supervisor if you are interested in working in either of these programs.  Contracts will be approved in April.

9.  2014-15 Contracts:  The board of education will begin consideration on support staff contracts for the 2014-15 school year.  The finance committee of the board will begin review of contracts and increases over the next two months.  The legislature is still debating on the increase of minimum wage, so if there is an increase, this will have to be considered as part of the boards recommendation.  We expect the contracts to be approved at the May school board meeting.