Mounds View Public Schools

School Board meeting summary, August 12, 2008

Actuary report
Jill Urdahl from Hildi Inc. presented a report on the District’s actuarial valuations of the other post-employment benefits (OPEB). To see the presentation, visit http://www.moundsviewschools.org/pdf07/Aug12BoardMtgOPEB.pdf.

Student system and phone upgrade report
Director of technology Nick Temali reported on the recent student information system conversion and the phone system upgrade. This fall, the District will phase in an improved parent portal that will give parents secure, electronic access to their students’ records, including attendance reports, assignments, grades and a host of other important information. All families will be asked to verify their students’ information before the District can begin a phased-in approach to activating more and more features. In addition, all District 621 schools and offices now have new “621” phone numbers (651-621-xxxx) following a phone system upgrade that includes new safety features and direct-dial numbers for each classroom. New phone directories for each school are available online at http://www.moundsviewschools.org. The district’s new main phone number is 651-621-6000.

Health and safety levy
The Northeast Metropolitan Intermediate School District No. 916 has approved a health and safety program budget for its facilities for the 2009-10 school year in the amount of $77,159 to be shared between 10 member school districts. Mounds View Public Schools will contribute $8,420.97 for the health and safety program. Components of the program include physical hazard control, hazardous substance, H&S management, asbestos, fire and life safety and indoor air quality.

Enrollment update
Carole Nielsen, director of finance and Cindy Bruce, student information and reporting specialist presented the August enrollment update for the 2008-09 school year. Enrollment is still projected to decline, but at this point it appears to be less than originally projected. The data will be monitored up until the start of the school year.

MCA Results
A report was presented on 2007-08 student achievement and included assessment results and data from MCA-II and GRAD Minnesota Assessment tests. Results show District students continue to out-perform grade-level peers in the state, and student proficiency is up for almost all grade levels. Adequate Yearly Progress results for 2008 were summarized, and District Achievement Goals for 2009 were discussed. For a full report, please visit http://www.moundsviewschools.org/pdf07/MCAAYPAug1208.pdf .

Integration collaboration update
Director of curriculum and instruction RoAnne Elliott provided an update on District planning efforts to develop an integration collaboration proposal with the North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale and Mahtomedi school districts. Participation would help Mounds View provide increased voluntary opportunities for cross-cultural educational experiences without requiring Mounds View students to attend other schools outside their current attendance areas. Official activities would start no sooner than the 2009-10 school year.

World Language Program report
Director of curriculum and instruction RoAnne Elliott presented the charge statement developed by the World Language Program Development Task Force which indicates plans to extend language study to the elementary and middle schools, and to add a language to the high school world language offerings. To read the charge statement, visit http://www.moundsviewschools.org.

District Operational Plan approved
Each year, the Superintendent and Cabinet develop the District Operational Plan (DOP), an annual work plan of the administrative team. The Board approved the DOP for the 2008-2009 school year. To read the plan, visit http://www.moundsviewschools.org.

Special legislation
Special legislation for the City of New Brighton was approved by the Minnesota Legislature in the Omnibus Tax Bill adopted at the end of the regular session. New Brighton is required to have the District and Ramsey County adopt a resolution approving the Special Law that relates to special rules governing the use of tax increment financing by the City. The Board tabled approving this resolution in order to get more information from New Brighton City Manager Dean Lotter.

Thank you
The Board accepted, with appreciation, gifts from Mounds View Lions Club, Cub Foods New Brighton, Valentine Hills Elementary, St. Katherine Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Cub Foods Arden Hills, Dial Corporation and Mounds View Senior Party.

A look ahead
August 13, 6 p.m. work session
August 26, 7 p.m. regular meeting
September 4, 6 p.m. work session
September 8 (Monday), 7 p.m. regular meeting