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The Murray County Central School Board began with the 2025 re-organizational meeting. All board members read the oath of office for school board members. Katie Hoffmann is the new addition to the Board this term.
They approved the agenda with no additions and went on to elect officers. Tony Clarke was nominated and voted in as Chairperson, Lauren Biegler as Clerk, Robin Gilbertson as Treasurer, and Brent Miller as Vice Chairman. Next they established meeting times - 2nd Monday, 6:00pm, salaries - remain the same - $70/meeting, Chair add’l $500, Clerk add’l $250, Mileage - IRS rate $.70/ mile in 2025. Katie Will and Deb Bleyenberg were designated to perform treasurer and clerk duties, Squires, Waldspurger & Mace P.A were kept as legal counsel. Superintendent and Board Chair are authorized to contact the attorney. The committee assignments were established next. The reorganizational meeting being complete, it was adjourned and the regular meeting began. The agenda was approved with no additions along with the consent agenda items. Two personnel items were approved. Scott Mansch was hired as a long-term substitute for the English Dept. and Skylar Brown was hired as a Paraprofessional.
Sherri Broderius, retired Superintendent/Consultant was present to share information on a 4 day school week. She shared much information on schools that have used the 4-day school week and was able to answer many of the questions asked by the board members including creative ways some parents and students have dealt with having that extra day at home. Ms. Broderius will be on hand on January 22 for the public meeting at 6:30pm in the auditorium. There is also an information page on the MCC website where you can find much more information prior to this meeting. Community members are encouraged to attend and ask about all of the concerns you might have.
No one was present for the public forum. The board continued with Elementary Principal Patrick Freeman’s report. Enrollment is up 6 from last month. Fast-bridge Winter Screenings will take place in January to see how kids have grown or where they need to improve since the fall assessment. PBIS update: the elementary students are close to their goal of filling the Rebel Bin with Rebel Bucks. Last year the reward was sledding. This year they will be attending a movie at the New Grand Theatre in Worthington. The students will receive a tour and watch a movie chosen by each grade level. The Winter Staff Event - Duelling Pianos has roughly 50 staff members and guests signed up for January 18th in Hadley.
The current Math Curriculum, My Math will not be available in 2026. The teachers are reviewing different Math Curricula. The Literacy Committee will be reviewing their visit at St. James and continue to discuss the ELA Plot of Wit and Wisdom at the 3rd and 4th grades. Mr. Freeman will be attending the MN Elementary School Principal’s Assoc. Conference in February to collaborate with other principals as they work through the Read Act and other school issues. Upcoming dates include: Jan. 20th - Teacher In-Service, Jan. 30th - District Spelling Bee and Jan 31st PBIS Assembly with the focus on Citizenship.
Secondary Principal Jake Scandrett gave his report next. Enrollment is up one with the addition of a foreign exchange student arriving for Semester 2. A second foreign exchange student is expected soon.
The high school staff is preparing for MCAs in March with Test Security Training. Mr. Lucas Freeman has attended trainings. Mrs. Walker is back this week. Mr. Scandrett thanked Mr. Freeman for “keeping our Career and Academic Counselling going during Mrs. Walker’s leave” Fall registration will likely be delayed as we acquire more information on the 4-day week. Principal Scandrett has been meeting with Department Chairs to review potential course offerings for next year. Offerings could be impacted by whatever schedule we adopt. Even if we change to the 4-day week, there may still need to be some reductions if the budget requires it.
Paraprofessional Week is the last week in January. Staff will be providing a potluck meal in honor of the paras on Wed. Jan. 29th.”We are grateful for our paras and all the work they do to keep instruction moving forward for our students and teachers.”
“In a continued effort to build unity among our student body, and an understanding for individuals who maybe have a different story than us, we are going to have a panel of teachers share on empathy. Mr. Scheitel will facilitate this panel to help raise awareness and understanding of what it may be like to walk in someone else’s shoes. This event came from our PBIS committee meetings as an idea to help create unity and acceptance for all students here at MCC.”
January 20th will be a day for high school teachers to wrap up Semester 1 and prepare for Semester 2. Mr. Scandrett has submitted a grant this month to Apex Clean Energy for a new mini-split for the Grow Shed to add AC and additional heat to extend the growing period and maintain more consistent production for our school. Snow Week begins Jan. 27 with the Winter Formal Dance on Sat. Feb. 1st from 8-11pm for grades 9-12. Principal Scandrett will be attending the winter Minnesota Association for Secondary School Principal’s conference in Mpls. at the end of the month.
Superintendent Joe Meyer will be attending the Minnesota School Board Association’s Annual Leadership Conference this week. He and new school board member Katie Hoffmann will also be attending Phases 1 and 2 of School Board training.
The start of the 2025 Minnesota Legislative session is set for January 14th, although due to the make-up of both the House and the Senate, there are rumblings that things will not begin as planned.
Although we usually approve the school calendar at this time, due to the possibility of a 4-day week, the Meet and Confer with the Education Association will happen at a later date. Bids for health insurance should be in by March 14th with enrollment taking place the end of April or beginning of May. Our district wide Climate/Culture committee will meet again in a few weeks.
Mental Health/Social Worker (Greg Scheitel) supported 280 students in group settings, such as Emily’s Hope and T.E.A.M., 44 individual sessions, 13 teacher consults and 5 as part of an IEP.
Activities Director James Wajer reported that the winter sports are in full swing. Boys Basketball is 8-3 w/ 3-1 in the conference. Girls basketball is 5-8 w/ 4-5 in the conference. Wrestling is 9-3 in dual meets. Junior High Knowledge Bowl just finished their season. They had one team go to regionals, placing 14th out of 33. The team included Gary Plotz, Chant Muecke, Evan Johns, Brielle Plotz, Hudson Carlson and Addison Winters. He thanked Coach Davina Ethridge for coaching both teams. Senior High Knowledge Bowl will have their first meet on January 20th in Edgerton and Speech will start competing on February 1st in Worthington. The One-Act play will have a community performance on Jan. 30th at 7:00pm.
As is typical, the school board approved the resolution directing the administration to make recommendations for reductions in programs and positions should they be needed.
Finally, the board gratefully accepted the following donations: Dad’s Games, 30.00, Drama; Hadley Lions, 300.00, Color Guard; Iona Presbyterian Church, 300.00, Winter Clothing; Kiwanis Club of Slayton, 175.00, Winter Clothing; Kiwanis Club of Slayton, 100.00, Backpack Program; MCC Ag Boosters, 750.00, Scholarships; Minnwest Bank, 50.00, Elementary Activity (5/6 choir); Minnwest Bank 50.00, HS Choir; Nobles Coop Electric, 480.00, Drama; Nobles Coop Electric, 580.00, Kindergarten; Slayton Building Materials, 1000.00, Scholarship; Slayton Fireman’s Relief, 500.00, Winter Staff Event; Slayton First Presbyterian Church, 520.00, MCC Children’s Fund.
The next meeting will be Feb. 10, 2025 @6:00pm in the HS Library.
