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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.22.13 Special Council Minutes Joint City Council/School Board Meeting July 22,2013 Chair Lee called the School Board meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Larson called the City Council meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. School Board Present: Lee, Cordes, Sauser, Singewald, Treakle Absent: Beem City Council Present: Larson, Bartholomay, Bonar, Donnelly, Fogarty(arrived 5:51 p.m.) Absent: None Also Present: Jay Haugen, Superintendent;Carl Colmark, Director of Finance, Charles Duarte, Head of Instructional Technology;Julian Buss, Teacher, Kim Briske, Teacher;Lori Jensen, Executive Assistant David McKnight, City Administrator;Kevin Schorzman, City Engineer;Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant MOTION by Sauser, second by Cordes to approve the School Board meeting agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Mayor Larson added item 9f)Other,to allow for any additional comments at the end of the meeting. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Donnelly to approve the City Council meeting agenda. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Cordes, second by Treakle to approve the School Board consent agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) Construction Project Updates Mr. Colmark gave an update on the Farmington Elementary remodeling project. The project is being financed by$5.9 million from the bond construction fund and $1.4 million from the safety and health funding. Work is also being done at Akin Road Elementary at a cost of$1.6 million. Half is paid through bond construction funds and half from safety and health funds. There is a$225,000 project at the Farmington High School for exhaust venting and insulation blankets for the chiller. The District Service Center will be moving to the Farmington High School in August. City Engineer Schorzman stated a project will be performed on Flagstaff Avenue and 200th Street to address settlement issues. In 2014 the City will be cleaning the storm water pond north of Akin Road Elementary. In 2015 work will begin on Flagstaff and 195th Street. There will be a three-lane section to allow for turning lanes between Meadowview Elementary and Akin Road Elementary. Staff is looking at options for the intersection of Pilot Knob and 195th Street. Trails will be installed on both sides of 195th Street and it is possible there will be an underpass for 195th Street to Meadowview Elementary. 10 Joint Council/School Board Meeting July 22,2013 Page 2 b) Safe Pathways to School City Engineer Schorzman explained this program is for grades K—8th grade. There are three types of funds, infrastructure(for trails) amounting to $100,000-$300,000,non- infrastructure(to be used for education programs) for$12,000- $100,000,and planning grants. There was a discussion about the Spruce Street corridor to Vermillion River Crossing and if there would be a sidewalk along Spruce Street to the middle school. City staff agreed there is a gap in the trail system along Spruce Street. Options suggested were a bituminous trail, or no parking on one side of Spruce Street with striping for pedestrians. A question was raised if there would be a trail from the Spyglass development in Lakeville to the Farmington High school as students have created a natural path. Because of having to obtain the correct grade for ADA compliance, a trail would be very expensive. c) ISD 192 Farmington Forward Mr. Duarte stated Ipads have been given to all students. There have only been 50 insurance claims on Ipads out of thousands that were distributed. Surveys were done on student focus groups and staff on use of the Ipads. Students felt they were more organized and liked having a choice on how to demonstrate what they learn. They have more time flexibility to get their work done. The Ipads provide customized learning for students. Funds to purchase Ipads could not have been used to hire teachers. Many teachers are moving away from paper textbooks and creating their own Ibooks. This project started in March and district staff is working on a score card to prove the numbers. Costs for printing and textbooks have been reduced dramatically and those funds have been put into funds to purchase Ipads. Survey results will be used to allocate resources and for district planning. Ms. Briske, a Spanish teacher, stated she noticed a dramatic change from the start. Ipads allow her to get information to students even when they are not in school. Students are enriched through the customized learning. They use schoolology which is a learning management software for organizing. It allows students to have contact with teachers and access to homework. Students can also answer questions among each other. A large number of students have been doing extra activities as teachers have more time to answer questions rather than handing out papers. Ms. Briske does not use textbooks. Each student is guaranteed a curriculum that is packed with learning. Mr. Buss, a science teacher,noted students do not have to work in the classroom. They can make up their lab on an off day. He has created his own Ibooks and demonstrated how the books interact with students. He created his Ibooks during the summer in his off time. d) City Council Strategies City Administrator McKnight explained the five priorities Council has set for the next five years. -Ensure the long term financial health of the City -Position the City for future economic development -Review the use and efficiency of City facilities 11 Joint Council/School Board Meeting July 22,2013 Page 3 -Maintain the long term viability of City liquor operations - Continue communication with residents and partnerships with other local governments e) Partnerships City Administrator McKnight prepared a list of events where the City and school work together. Some include the School Resource Officer, elections, community expo, pollution prevention day, sharing of facilities, patriotic day, etc. Blue in the schools is a program that will begin this fall. It pairs police officers with specific school buildings to develop relationships, increase police presence, and open communication. City and school staff have been discussing long term facility needs and will be getting all six areas within the school district together. Superintendent Haugen noted he has participated on the Business Attraction Team, on GROW Farmington with the City and the business association, and City and school staff will be working together on safe pathways to schools. 1) Other It was suggested the Council and School Board meet on a regular basis as policy makers. A committee could be formed that would meet quarterly on how the two groups can work together and find a collective vision. MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to adjourn the Council meeting at 7:15 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Treakle, second by Sauser to adjourn the School Board meeting at 7:15 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant 12