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The idea of a flexible learning year (FLY) calendar for YME was laid to rest by a majority vote of the YME School Board at Monday night’s meeting. Super-intendent Al Stoeckman introduced the idea of the FLY calendar late last year. The initial idea was to join with other schools that are part of the MNRVED District to petition the State Department of Education to begin classes about two weeks prior to Labor Day and end classes before Memorial Day. Stoeckman shared that the benefits of the FLY calendar would give teachers an additional two weeks of classes to help students better prepare for the state tests and that the semester break would take place at the same time as the winter break. However, after further discussions with other schools the draft FLY calendar that the MNRVED District came up with did not provide the benefits that YME was hoping for.
The draft calendar that Stoeckman shared with the board has classes starting on August 27, giving the students only four additional educational days at the beginning of the school year to prepare for tests with the second semester starting on January 22 rather than immediately after winter break. The one benefit of the calendar would be the four in-service days that all the districts would share.
Steve Rupp told the board that he had contacted several secondary teachers, elementary teachers and parents from both levels and shared, “Not one was in favor of the idea.” Jane Hagert responded that she had also conducted her own straw poll and that the teachers and parents she had talked to were in favor of the adapted calendar. When asked, Stoeckman told the board that he had shared the new calendar with the teachers last week, and did not get negative feedback. “I have not done a formal survey,” he said. Stoeckman then turned to BRE Principal Jodi Kennedy and she shared that many of the elementary staff felt that the revised calendar “would take away their vacation time.” She went on to explain that most elementary teachers come in on their own time at least two weeks before workshop to get their classrooms ready for the students so they can “get business done” during workshop days. “Even this calendar could bring the teachers in during July.”
In the ensuing discussion the board asked about the possibility of still being able to include the four common in-service days with MNRVED district schools and Stoeckman said that would be a consideration when adopting a calendar for the 2012 – 2013 school year.
The idea of a flexible learning year (FLY) calendar for YME was laid to rest by a majority vote of the YME School Board at Monday night’s meeting. Super-intendent Al Stoeckman introduced the idea of the FLY calendar late last year. The initial idea was to join with other schools that are part of the MNRVED District to petition the State Department of Education to begin classes about two weeks prior to Labor Day and end classes before Memorial Day. Stoeckman shared that the benefits of the FLY calendar would give teachers an additional two weeks of classes to help students better prepare for the state tests and that the semester break would take place at the same time as the winter break. However, after further discussions with other schools the draft FLY calendar that the MNRVED District came up with did not provide the benefits that YME was hoping for.
The draft calendar that Stoeckman shared with the board has classes starting on August 27, giving the students only four additional educational days at the beginning of the school year to prepare for tests with the second semester starting on January 22 rather than immediately after winter break. The one benefit of the calendar would be the four in-service days that all the districts would share.
Steve Rupp told the board that he had contacted several secondary teachers, elementary teachers and parents from both levels and shared, “Not one was in favor of the idea.” Jane Hagert responded that she had also conducted her own straw poll and that the teachers and parents she had talked to were in favor of the adapted calendar. When asked, Stoeckman told the board that he had shared the new calendar with the teachers last week, and did not get negative feedback. “I have not done a formal survey,” he said. Stoeckman then turned to BRE Principal Jodi Kennedy and she shared that many of the elementary staff felt that the revised calendar “would take away their vacation time.” She went on to explain that most elementary teachers come in on their own time at least two weeks before workshop to get their classrooms ready for the students so they can “get business done” during workshop days. “Even this calendar could bring the teachers in during July.”
In the ensuing discussion the board asked about the possibility of still being able to include the four common in-service days with MNRVED district schools and Stoeckman said that would be a consideration when adopting a calendar for the 2012 – 2013 school year.
Marching Band
The board accepted the resignation of Nicole Boelter as Co-Director of the 212 Regiment Marching Band. The position of director is shared jointly by Boelter from YME and Montevideo High School Band Director Tim Domka.
Stoeckman explained to the board that accepting Boelter’s resignation would only affect the marching band. He went on to tell the board that YME would still be a part of the 212 Regiment Band and that “[Boelter] will help find a replacement.” He shared that Boelter has requested the change for health reasons. In fact, a new co-director may not be the only change for the band. “RCW is looking at joining the marching band,” said Stoeckman. RCW is located on highway 212 and it makes sense for them to be a part of the combined marching band.
YME Officers
The board approved the following officers for the 2012 year: Board Chair – Grant Velde; Vice-Chair – Steve Rupp; Clerk – Dawn Odegard; and Treasurer – Shelly Weir. Board members also agreed to serve on the following committees: Negotiations Committees – Grant Velde, Jane Hagert, and Tim Opdahl; Finance Committee – Steve Rupp, Tim Opdahl and Jane Hagert; Policy Committee – Steve Zumhofe , Shelly Weir, and Dawn Odegard; Building and Grounds – Grant Velde and Steve Rupp, MVCC Board – Tim Opdahl, Dawn Odegard and Grant Velde; MRVED Board – Steve Zumhofe; MSHSL Representative – Steve Rupp; MSBA Liaison – Jane Hagert; UMVRDC Representative – Dawn Odegard.
Personnel Items
The board accepted the resignation of Heather Velde as Senior Advocate and issued a contract to Marit Rheinheimer as a math intervention specialist at BRE The contract for Rheinheimer is for the remainder of the year and will be funded with Jobs money that YME has received.
Discussion
There are two School Board work sessions scheduled for the month of January. The first open meeting work session is scheduled to be held at the Upper Sioux Community on January 23 at 11:00 am. The second open meeting work session is scheduled to be held in the YME Board room on January 30 at 7:00 pm. The work sessions are informational only and no action will be taken at either work session.
