June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Northland Board hires MSBA for superintendent search
Sandy Gundlach and Amy Fullenkamp-Taylor, representing MSBA, presented the board with information about MSBA's new search service. The "Basic" search includes their involvement in compiling candidate criteria, producing a brochure for marketing, facilitating three meetings in the district, and all travel and lodging expenses. Cost for the Basic package is $6,900.
The lone opponent in the vote was Rusty Lilyquist, who said he wanted to go on record saying he objected to hiring MSBA because the agency that performed the last superintendent search, McPherson-Jacobson, LLC, had committed to overseeing a second search, with no charge for the search except for an estimated $1,500 for travel and lodging expenses.
Gundlach outlined the service MSBA would provide, and how the search for candidates would be advertised through MSBA along with dozens of state school board associations in the United States, including the states that border Minnesota. The MSBA was founded in 1920 and is the eighth oldest school board organization in the United States. Gundlach said the association's 90 years of working with schools and school boards gives them an advantage, because they will deal only with searches for school administration, while private search firms primarily look for top administrators for the private and corporate sector. Gundlach said the search timeline will begin in November and should end in April.
The board discussed the possibility of searching for a half-time superintendent, plus a part-time business manager. The cost for both positions would be comparable to a full time superintendent. The board voted to search for a full time superintendent, and only consider the half-time superintendent option if a candidate without a strong financial background can't be found.
2009-2010 Audit
Brad Falteysek, with the district's new auditing firm, Abdo, Eick & Meyers, LLP (AEM), out of Edina, Minn., was at the Oct. 25 meeting to present the board with the 2009-2010 audit. Falteysek told the board at the end of the 2008-2009 school year, Northland had a total fund balance of nearly $1.4 million. The fund balance on June 30, 2010, for fiscal year 2009-2010 is $886,968, of which $162,364 is held in reserve for specific purposes, leaving $724,604 unreserved.[[In-content Ad]]
Revenues in the district for 2009-2010 were $6,486,338; expenditures of $6,993,846 exceeded revenues by $507,508.
When the 2009-2010 was originally drafted, it was proposed revenues would be $7,045,407, and later revised to $6,448,408. Total revenues came in $37,930 over budget.
Expenditures were budgeted at $7,044,544. The fiscal year closed with expenditures down $50,698 from what had been budgeted.
The breakdown of Northland's revenue sources show the district received; $718,195 in local property tax levies; interest income on investments was $45,784; other local and county sources, $187,773; $4,244,736 in revenue from state sources; $1,146,045 revenue from federal sources; and $143,805 in local sales and insurance recovery.
Expenditures for school year 2009-2010 for Northland breakdown to: $479,300 in administrative costs; $172,297 for district support services; $3,193,631 in elementary and secondary regular instruction; $62,889 vocational education instruction; $1,368,295 for special education instruction; instructional support services cost $395,593; sites and buildings accounted for $713,072 in expenses; pupil support services were $570,002; and fisacl and other fixed cost programs came in costing $38,767.
In 2010 Northland's Average Daily Membership (ADM) was 435, compared to 420 in 2009. Expenditure per pupil unit (calculating all funds) was $17,013, down from 2009's $18,314. Expenditures per pupil unit - calculating only general funds, was $16,078, compared to $17,302 in 2009.
The 2010-2011 budget update was proposed. Revenues of $6,067,000; and expenditures of $6,601,000 will spend down the fund balance $533,000. The 2009-2010 fiscal year's fund balance of $724,604, less the excess spending of $533,00 will leave the district with a total fund balance of $192,000 at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.
In other board business, the board discussed the future of the now vacant Longville School. The forming of a Joint Powers Board with Longville area townships and the City of Longville has been proposed, and has expressed interest in acquiring the property. Potential members of the joint powers have been actively seeking information from citizens regarding obtaining the school property, and using it as a community center and park. Heading the group are Kego Township Chairman, Fred Smith and Longville Mayor Jocko Kline. There is support for the proposed use and acquisition of the property, but nothing can be finalized until after townships hold their annual meetings in March.
Dave Kitchenhoff suggested the board look at other options, since the joint powers proposal will not progress until township meetings are held.
Rusty Lilyquist said he'd been in a discussion with Pat Tabaka, who would be willing to work out an offer for a land trade and removal of park facilities currently located on school property, and reconstruction on the property that lies between Woodland Bank and Patrick's Fine Dining in Longville. Tabaka would then take ownership of the school property in the trade.
Superintendent Doro said a trade agreement with one party could create problems when a flood of other trade offers could be thrown into the mix. Doro told the board he recommends giving the joint powers a chance to get approval from their constituents and work to obtain the community center for public use.
Kitchenhoff asked for a deadline for the joint powers to say it's a go or a no. The board voted to keep the proposal open to the joint powers until May 1, 2011. After that time, all other options and possibilities will be discussed.
Other board actions included:
•Approval of creating separate heat zones in the WPA building at a cost of $44,858. Climate Makers will perform the work during Christmas vacation. There is currently $75,000 left in reserve for capital improvements to update the district's heating systems, so no general funds will be used.
•Athletic Performance Solutions LLC has completed the new gym floor. the project cost the district only $4,200, the remainder was covered by insurance. During the re-installation of the bleachers, they were unable to get the bleachers aligned into place. Athletic Performance Solutions LLC had $19,000 of their pay withheld until the bleacher problem was resolved. They were able to get more of the bleachers adjusted with hopes they will further settle into place during the basketball season. The company that installed the bleachers said they could fix the problem for $2,000. The board voted to pay Athletic Performance Solutions LLC, $17,000 of the withheld payments, and keep $2,000 in the event the bleachers will need to be fixed by the original installers.
The board will meet at 6:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Remer to canvass results of the General Election.
The next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m., on Thursday, November 18, in the High School Cafeteria.
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