By MaryHelen Swanson

There were new faces at the table as the Rush City School board opened for the 2008 year. Taking the oath of office were Scott Tryon, who  was  re-elected last November, and Stefanie Folkema and Brian Anderson.

 Folkema was elected on a write-in vote,  Anderson was appointed by the board when former board member Mark Moulton declined the position having also received write-in votes. He had elected not to run. Anderson had received a number of write-in votes, also, but was appointed to the position only after applications were accepted by the board in December.

Following an oath where each new member vowed to uphold the constitution of the country, the state and to “discharge faithfully the duties of the office of school board member” the board settled in to electing officers and assigning committees.

Tryon was returned to the chairmanship, Carol Cook was elected vice chairman, Gwen Goretsas clerk, Scott Friday, treasurer, and Anderson and Folkema  directors.

The new members were introduced to the policy review procedure.

At each meeting, several policies are reviewed (the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) model and the district’s version) and changes, if any, are discussed. At the following meeting those policies are adopted and a few more are reviewed.

Last week one of the policies reviewed was #514, Bullying Prohibition. School districts are required by statute to have a policy addressing bullying.

Superintendent Vern Koepp pointed out that there was certain changes in the general statement of the policy in the MSBA model.

It reads: “An act of bullying by either an individual student or a group of students is expressly prohibited on school district property or at school-related function.

“This policy applies not only to students who directly engage in an act of bullying by also to students who, by their indirect behavior, condone or support another student’s act of bullying.

“This policy also applies to any student whose conduct at any time or in any place constitutes bullying that interferes with or obstructs the mission or operations of the school district of the safety or welfare of the student, other students, or employees.”

Added to this on the MSBA policy was the following:

“The misuse of technology including, but not limited to, teasing, intimidating, defaming, threatening, or terrorizing another student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other employee of the school district by sending or posting e-mail messages, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or Web  site postings, including blogs, also may constitute an act of bullying regardless of whether such acts are committed on or off school district property and/or with or without the use of school district resources.”

This concerned high school principal Mark Saari, who was not so sure about the “any time, any place” phrase.

He said he gets calls from parents about fights off school property. His position is to call law enforcement officials, if parents cannot work it out among themselves.

Chairman Tryon asked what if it happens a mile away from school, can the district be involved?

“It boils down to what people expect,” said Supt. Koepp.

Elementary principal Melody Tenhoff said she would be happy to talk to parents and lead them to where they can get answers.

Neither the board members nor the principals were comfortable adding the above mentioned wording, nor the sentence  that came later in the policy  that said “school district property may also mean a student’s walking route to or from school for purposes of attending school or school-related functions, activities or events.”

In regard to training on bullying, Saari said the students are talked to in the fall, and Tenhoff felt that by using “character” words each week, students are learning not to be bullies.

Again the board asked the question “is the school district responsible for behavior to and from school. Koepp said no, if walking, yes if on school bus, which is school property.

However, Saari said it something is happening outside of school, it usually carries over to school and then the school can deal with it.

In other business, the school board:

• Acknowledged notes of thanks from several staff members who appreciated the pullover jackets given to them at the beginning of the year. One even thanked the board for the wage increase.

• Learned that the district received a School Finance Award from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Division on Program Finance. The award, noted Commissioner Alice Seagren in a letter of congratulations, reflects a compliance with Minnesota Statutes on selected finance issues. It a also reflects a proactive stance by the district on positive fund balances, sound fiscal policies and practices, training initiatives and accountability.”

Rush City was one of only 53 districts out of 338 to receive this award. Accolades were given by board members to Laureen Frost, business manager and to administration for this fine work.

• The board approved changes in substitute pay as follows: sub teacher pay remained the same at $110/day, bus driver increased from $27 per route to $29, custodians from $10.50/hour to $11, food service from $12.50/hour to $13, and Community Ed instructor  from $14/hour to $15.

• Learned that district employees flexed $14,387 in this plan year and that the district saved approximately $10,280 in FICA costs. Also the savings to the employees was approximately $37,628 in tax costs.

• Learned that the high school employees contributed $355 during the holiday season to two families who had fathers serving in the armed forces.

• Adopted a  resolution related to accepting and using funds donated to the Rush City Aquatic Center trust fund. It allows the district to accept donations to offset pool operating expenses, but the district may use only the earned interest on the principal balance of all monies donated for operating expenses.

It says the district will also accept donations to offset capital expenditures for the center. In this case, the district may use both principal and interest for capital expenditures.

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