Roundup School Board Meeting 4/12/21

School Board Meeting

4/12/21

By Izabel Bowers Koval

School Board members are: Superintendent Chad Sealey, Tom Vandeberg, Duane Snook, Clay Bedford, Amy Angel, Chris Brewer, and High School Principal Ken Larsen. Principal Rick Griffin was absent.

Meeting started with the Pledge; approval of the minutes; review of budget. No public comment was presented.

Two students at the high school, Morgan Smith and Jerome Johnson, won awards for Speech and Debate; one will be going on to Nationals. Please see next week’s interviews of these eloquent, engaged youth, and the educator who coached them to their successes, Amy Jones.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Held hearing screening for new students grades 2-6; screening for all kindergarten and 1st graders.

Sealants for Smiles provided care for 137 students; this is a voluntary, parental approved resource to seal children’s teeth. A

Miss Montana came to the school on April 15 to talk to students during PE—Miss Montana is a karate instructor and incorporated that into her presentation.

Also this month at the school, FFA had a petting zoo for the children; and the Kindergarten Art show took place the afternoon of the 22nd. April 23 is the clean-up day for the elementary school. The campus, as well as areas around town are slated to be cleaned. Their reward is a virtual lip-sync for them to watch. April 30th is Arbor Day. Fourth graders will be doing tree planting by the Roundup stage.

May 7th is SEMI town…contact Alicia Godfrey to more information at the elementary school, 323-1512.

May 26 is the 8th grade promotional, essentially their graduation! Well done students!

HIGH SCHOOL

Discussion of opening the high school weight room led to decision of only staff and student use throughout the summer; further discussion will be in the fall.

Board discussed implementing a driver’s education program; details are currently being researched on how to implement this at the high school.

MSUB jazz group will present at the high school April 26, with the Drum Corp presenting the evening of the 27th.

Alternative school is going well.

Mr. Larsen reports there are 261 students at the junior and high schools. 2021 graduating class totals 37 students.

Graduation will be May 23 at 2:00; family and guests will be seated on the main floor in small groups, with masks being personal choice, and seating geared to current safety standards of three feet apart.

One student has requested early graduation; the student is interested in going forth to college and has parental and educational staff support to do so. Good luck to this energetic student!

POLICY

3130: Student of Legal Age

Students, even when reaching the age of 18, are still required to follow rules established by the District, continue their education, and submit to the authority of teachers and other staffs as required by state law. An addition to this policy was implemented, to allow administration to allow exceptions for students who face challenges or homelessness, emancipation or applicable court order.

3310: Student Discipline: section added to address disciplinary measures regarding cheating, unauthorized sharing of test results, assignment work, plagiarism, using electronics without consent to complete work, or any other act designed to give unfair academic advantage to the student.

5232: Abused and Neglected Child Reporting: section added to authorize District administration to provide access to educational resources for how to recognize and report child abuse, neglect, sex trafficking; how to recognize predatory behavior and how to coordinate with child protection agency, law enforcement, Department of Health and Social Services, and local organizations on these topics.

PERSONNEL

The superintendent will be making recommendations for renewal of contracts with School District 55 for the 2021-22 school year. It is well to note that there are 40 certified teachers between the two campuses, with a total of 293 years combined experience in the grade school and junior high alone.

Lindsey Harper has submitted her resignation to accept a position at the new Lockwood school, located near her home. She will be teaching plant agriculture and animal sciences. She expressed her thankfulness for her time at RHS, saying it “let her build the program, and set me off in my career”. Congratulations Lindsey, and best of wished in your new adventure!

Deb Mosdhal will retire as an elementary teacher. Congratulation Ms. Mosdahl.

Tom Cliff has been hired as athletic director; Mr. Cliff currently teaches social studies. His son, Jordan,

Lindsey Martin and Meghan Eiselein will be elementary volleyball coaches.

Andy Roberts and Bradley Armour will be junior high football coaches.

Sam Smith and Matt St. Pierre will be elementary football coaches.

Two new substitute applications have been received and are being processed for employment.

There may be opportunities for new positions to help students challenged by social-emotional issues that prevent them from fully achieving success in their education. Funding sources for these potential positions are currently being researched, as well as necessary qualifications.

Upgrades are being done to the technology in schools currently, and hopefully will remedy issues and challenges faced by students and staffs.

School board meetings are held the second Monday of every month except July. The public is welcomed to attend.