Minutes
Sleepy Eye ISD #84
Board of Education
June 13, 2024, 5:30PM
Call to order: Attendance: Sandy Gonzalez, Joleen Dittbenner, Brian Nelson, Darla Remus, Casey
Coulson, Adam Barka, Sheila Wurtzberger
Good News Items: The golf teams and trapshooting teams are doing well in state competitions. Track
team did well in state.
Recognition of visitors: Staff and press
Approve Agenda M Casey Coulson 2nd Joleen Dittbenner M/C
Approve minutes of May 8, 2024 M Casey Coulson 2nd Sandy Gonzalez M/C
Approve financial transactions and reports M Brian Nelson 2nd Casey Coulson M/C
Presentation: A: 2024-25 budget presentation: Amanda Boomgarden (virtual) we have a deficit and am
using some of our fund balance and John is making some simple cuts, but is not cutting programs
because it will hurt the students. Brian says it is a bigger problem because we need to look at the
businesses that bring in the people and the students and then we need the housing and such.
B: LTFM review – Tim Harbo: LTFM Expenditures and Revenue FY 2025-FY2034
Reports
Board: BCPH met and vaccinations are at an all time low and they are looking at ways to combat that
with herd immunity becoming an issue. Staff development met and looked at the budget and teachers
are attending conferences and curriculum training. Negotiations met with the office staff and came up
with a contract. Policy met and went through red line policies mainly about the bullying and went with
what MSBA had in the books.
Principal: Commencement completed on May 17th. We graduated 42. Hired a special
education teacher. Summer School starts next Monday, June 17th. We have 36 students.
About half junior high level and half high school level. Summer school will conclude on July
18th.
Superintendent: Met with Kristina Marti to provide mentoring to the new music department. Trying to
finalize staff hiring. Staff is completing CORE training this summer (paid by grant)
Mascot transition postponed until September 1 st of 2026 (see later in legislative update)
Summer school starts next week. 90 students are enrolled. 6 of us are attending the Hormel Gifted and
Talented Symposium June 11-13 funded by the MDE gifted and Talented program, Sam and team did an
excellent job presenting. Legislative update.
Action items:
Approve LTFM School Board Resolution M Adam Barka 2nd Joleen Dittbenner
Roll call all for none against Motion passed.
Approve termination of Kayla Jacobsen as of May 17 2024
Approve 2024-25 budget
Approve School Nursing Service Agreement between Brown County Public Health and Sleepy Eye Public
School for the 2024-25 school year
Approve Family Facilitator contract with Brown County Human Services for the 2024-2025 school year
Approve Matthew Sellner as 3rd grade instructor for the 2024-25 school year @$49,000
Approve Matthew Sellner as JH boy’s basketball coach at $2,498 for the 2024-25 school year
Approve Memorandum of Understanding between Minnesota Valley Action Council, Inc.’s Head Start
Program and Sleepy Eye Public School/ECSE
Approve FY 2025 Membership to the Minnesota School Board Association
Approve resignation of Amaya Ochs as Tier 1 Special Education instructor effective immediately
Approve hiring Alyssa Stevensen as an Art Instructor for the 2024-25 school year @ $39,527.10 plus
Senior Class Asst. Advisor at $50 for a total of $39,577.10.
Approve Idalia Martinez as School Food Service Authority for the 2024-25 school year
Approve the following donations: $487.17 to the Sleepy Eye School Patrol Group for the Twins game
bussing cost by the Sleepy Eye American Legion Post #7 Thank you for your donation, they are greatly
appreciated.
Approve updated Dashir contract.
Approve Brea Sittig’s resignation from JH Volleyball coach
Approve Brea Sittig as JV Volleyball coach at $3,185 for the 2024-25 school year
Approve SECE Contract as presented.
M Joleen Dittbenner 2nd Casey Coulson M/C
Next meetings: Next board meeting tentative dates: July 18 at 5:30PM; Board retreat will be on July 15,
2024 at 5:30 pm at Mark Thomas.
Minutes
Sleepy Eye ISD #84
Board of Education
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
5:30PM
Conference Room
Call to order: Attendance: Sandy Gonzalez, Joleen Dittbenner, Brian Nelson, Darla Remus, Casey Coulson, Adam Barka, Sheila Wurtzberger
Good News Items: The Girls Basketball team are continuing their winning ways and playoffs start next week for them. They are co-champions. Boys Hockey playoffs start tomorrow night and Austin Uecker was the high scorer for Hockey. Congrats Austin!! Board recognition week.
Recognition of visitors: Press and Staff. Mike Hardin and Bob Elston for the city piece.
Approve Agenda M Casey Coulson 2nd Joleen Dittbenner M/C
Approve minutes of January 09, 2024 M Casey Coulson 2nd Sandy Gonzalez M/C
Approve financial transactions and reports M Joleen Dittbenner 2nd Casey Coulson M/C
Reports
Board: Mascot committee met 4 times, the committee was made up of board members, community members, administrative and staff members and 2 students. We began with 55 names that were submitted to us by community members. From there we narrowed it down to 16 names and then voted on the order of those names. From there we went to 8 names, voted again and then took the 4 final names to the staff and students to have them vote, the 4 names were Bison, Bearcats, Phoenix and Storm. The students overwhelmingly voted for the Bearcats while the staff were equally divided by all 4 names, from there it was recommended to only bring the Bearcats to the Board for consideration. Staff Development met and went over Read Act and some of the training coming up. Community Ed met and discussed Drivers Ed and Community Spring offerings. Facilities met and roofing issues are being addressed.
Principal: Finished up teacher evaluations, offerings were made for classes and is working on the master schedule, parent teacher conferences are lacking participants and had presentations on AI and how to use it for staff and students.
Superintendent: February is school board appreciation month: Thank you for all you do for students, staff and the community of Sleepy Eye. Read Act Update . Building and grounds update Andrew Pettit; Personnel Information We are fully staffed Kevin and Amaris are doing a great job on the second floor and science/band wing. Training Conducted February Training is Asbestos refresher. Inspections Monthly fire extinguisher and exit light inspections. Employee monthly audits are completed. Progress on Projects John, Amanda, Tim and I are still working on the Cafeteria roof to figure out the best course of action to get the roof redone and keep the budget in check. Contacted UHL last Friday they are waiting on one piece of equipment for the control update for the Ag wing. Everything is moving along, it seems like we got the boilers working without issues finally. Been working on trying to clean and organize custodial areas as time permits. Legislative update: The 2024 legislative session convened on Monday, February 12. Legislators have until Monday, May 20, 2024, to finish their work. Because the legislature passed, and the Governor signed, a two-year budget during the 2023 legislative session, the focus will be on a capital investment bill, policy issues, technical fixes to last year’s budget bills, and potentially a supplemental budget bill. Note: Minnesota does not have to pass a supplemental budget. Kindergarten Round Up March 5th 3:00PM-6:00PM. Elementary round two goal setting 95% completed. Third round of observations in progress
Presentation
FY 2024 revised budget by Amanda Boomgarden she went over the revised budget due to the amount of students that we have.
Discussion Items
Christensen grant supported positions they will fund the 3rd Ag teacher for us, because due to need we need 3. Thank you!!
Facility addition: The city is requesting a recreation center that would benefit the community and school needs. Looking for additional funding and it is nothing that would happen right now. The Rec Center will be connected to the school by a separate entrance and would not impact school security. We decided that along with the city we would bring this in for a community interest survey to see if there is even a need or support for this venture. Obviously, this is a big funding opportunity and would provide needed space that the school and the community would benefit from. The school could possibly see a new Arts & Entertainment center along with locker rooms for the new United Football team and some classrooms for a possible middle school.
Mascot: Board members had a spirited discussion that saw that not all board members were happy with the process that took place. Some members would like input from MDE or other entities to correct us on the names that we are able to use. We are not voting on this tonight. We made a motion to submit all 4 names to local tribes and MDE for their recommendation to proceed. Some members were not happy that the students were allowed to see and vote on the names before the rest of the board saw the names.
Action items
Approve resignation of Sarah Lendt as 4-8 grade school counselor at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Thank you Sarah!!
Approve FY 2024 revised budget
Approve resignation of Justina Andree as High School media paraprofessional as of 2/5/24
Approve resignation of Riley Huppert as Instrumental Music teacher at the end of the 2023-24 school year
Approve hiring of Deanna Nelson as High School media paraprofessional 6.5hrs a day @$17.10/hr
Approve hiring of Mayda Meyer as Bilingual paraprofessional at 6.5hrs a day @$15.52/hr
Approve hiring of Ramiro Briones as Elementary SPED paraprofessional at 6.75hrs a day @$15.52/hr
Approve hiring of Dawn Gregor as High School paraprofessional 6.5hrs a day @$15.52/hr
Approve resignation of Troy Vangsness as Assistant Varsity Football coach at the end of the 2023-24 school year
Approve hiring of Kaleb Walter as Assistant Golf coach for the 2023-24 golf season @$3,185
Approve hiring of Crystal Dauer as Track Assistant coach for the 2023-24 track season @ $3,185
Approve the 2023-24 spring coaching assignments as presented
M: Approve hiring of Kathy Haala as Concession Stand Coordinator for the 2024-25 school year @ $3,109
Approve fundraising request for the softball program as presented
Approve the following open enrollment request: 1 in from New Ulm
Approve resolution directing administration to make recommendations for reductions in program for 2024-25 and positions and reasons therefore.
Approve the following donations: $250 by Paul and Julie Andersen charitable fund to the SEU football program; $500 anonymous donation to the River Valley Wildcat track program; $1001 by Kim Patel (JANU-4 LLC) to the Elementary Fundraiser account; $1000 by the Leavenworth Baseball Association to the SEPS Athletic Department Thank you for all your donations they are greatly appreciated.
Addendum
Sleepy Eye, ISD #84
Board of Education
February 21, 2024
Action Items continued
Approve hire of Brianna Peitso for Instrumental Music for the 2024-2025 school year at
$45,488 plus her band stipend at $4,160. Total of $49,648.
M Joleen Dittbenner 2nd Brian Nelson M/C
Next meeting is Wednesday, March 13, 5:30PM
Adjourn. Time 7:23 p.m. M Adam Barka 2nd Sandy Gonzalez M/C
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila Wurtzberger/clerk
