JWP prepares for school year

The Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton School Board continued its preparation for the upcoming school year at its July 17 meeting. All school board members were in attendance with the exception of Tim Burke.

Superintendent Jeremy Erler said that he’s been dealing with several resignations and job postings in the district lately, mentioning that an interviewee for the district operations coordinator position was offered the job, but declined. Because of this, applications continue to be accepted. Also not yet filled are the activities director, community education director, high school counselor and behavior interventionist positions.

Erler told board members interviews for the activities director position were scheduled over the next few days, and shared that four applications had been submitted for the community education director role, with others in progress. Erler said he hoped that interviews for the position could take place early the following week. He said that two completed applications had been received for the behavior interventionist position, while none have been received for the role of high school counselor. 

Among the staffing changes that have occurred over the summer is the resignation of Dale Compton, the high school’s art teacher, effective June 29. High School Counselor Anna Braam resigned effective July 1. Also resigning was Activity Director and Dean of Students Paul Brunner, effective July 14. Finally, Andrea Kronbach, who worked as community education director and as a grant writer for the district, resigned effective July 21. Tori Doohey, a teacher at the elementary school’s Bulldog Academy, is taking a leave of absence effective November 28. Two hires were made effective August 21: Aylajean Seibert taking Compton’s place as high school art teacher and Liz Kvebak in the newly created elementary art teacher position. 

Erler showed school board members the September lunch menu. He also discussed the ongoing wall construction in the media center and the creation of an extra emergency exit needed to meet fire codes. 

Erler said that his annual evaluation is coming up. School Board Chair Laura Seys is expected to distribute a form to all board members, with the results to be shared in a closed session in August. After that conversation, Erler hopes to start negotiations with various staff groups, including teachers, in early August, to prepare for the 2023-2024 school year. 

The district’s June 2023 bank balances were as follows: General Checking- $2,909,669, Project Checking- $998,587, General CDs- $2,000,000, and Project CD- $1,250,000.

The school board approved a general work agreement for Rachel Kluver, the district’s occupational therapist, for the upcoming year. 

A resolution to accept the ballot wording and call for an election for the changed authorized use of bond proceeds was accepted unanimously by the board. The special election, slated for November 7, will determine whether the district is authorized to use $1,900,000 it has remaining in General Obligation Facilities Maintenance Bonds toward new acquisitions and betterment of school facilities. One such improvement could be new roof construction. The bonds as a whole were initially distributed for a ten-year plan of facility improvements that have since been completed. The ballot contains a notice that voting “yes,” on the question of changing the authorized use of those bonds includes a property tax increase.

Other action during the school board meeting authorized a three-year contract with SMS School Services for payroll and human resources services, pending approval by the district’s lawyer. It was noted that while it is a three-year contract, the school would have the option to exit after one year by paying 20% of the rest of it. The contract amounts to $50,000, paid in two halves, for the first year and with a rate increase of 3% per year for the second and third years. One item of concern was that the contract would make SMS the exclusive accounting firm for the school district, which board members suggested be reworded in negotiation. The motion was approved in a 5-1 vote; board member Tim Boelke dissented. 

A motion to approve Erler for designation of identified official with authority for the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) external user access recertification system was passed unanimously. Erler said this authorization must be renewed every July to allow him continued access to secure MDE websites and systems.

A number of proposed new school policies received their first reading during the meeting. Policies regard topics including equal educational opportunity, drug-free workplace/drug-free school, corporal punishment and prone restraint, enrollment of nonresident students, and student directory information.

As a last item of business, the board unanimously passed a resolution accepting donations. Among these were seven Waseca Water Park punch cards donated by Immanuel Miller for a JWP school aged care (SAC) field trip; also donated to SAC were food-serving supplies provided by the Casteel family. Michael and Kay Carda donated $50 for welding supplies in memory of Richard Carda. The Lake Elysian Watershed Association donated $500 toward a scholarship. The JWP Education Association donated $1,500 toward a scholarship as well. The Janesville Area Chamber of Commerce donated $500 for 2024 JWP band shirts. The Janesville Memorial Day Association gave $50 each for JWP’s general fund and speech and band programs. The Hay Daze Fun Run donated $3,200 of its event proceeds towards JWP’s track program. The Bulldog Baseball Club donated $1,000 for a “turtle shell” net for the baseball field. A $12.60 loyalty card donation was made by Casey’s General Store.