The Garretson School Board meeting met at their regularly scheduled time of April 13 at 5:45 p.m., but the meeting was unusual in other ways. Using the internet and the Zoom program, the school board convened digitally. To allow the public access to the meeting it was broadcast live on the school’s dedicated public access channel from Alliance Communications. They also allowed a small number of people access to the school commons to watch the proceedings through the large screen television in the commons that is regularly set to the school’s Alliance channel during ballgames. Only the Gazette reporter took advantage of this.
School board member Tony Martens used an empty classroom in the school, whereas Shannon Nordstrom called in from his offices at Nordstrom’s Automotive, and Ruth Sarar, Kari Flanagan, and Rachel Hanisch called in from home. Each administrator joined the meeting from their respective offices, rather than gathering together in one place.
“I’ve done a lot of calls like this before, and especially in this last month,” said Supt. Guy Johnson. “We’ll all be in little boxes just like the Brady Bunch. Just remember, if you put yourself on mute to unmute before you start talking again.”
Despite his warning, he himself and others in the meeting did this a few times. The live broadcast was not without a few technical hiccups and was far from ideal, but it functioned and everyone could be heard.
Board president Shannon Nordstrom held up a small portrait of the flag to the screen and everyone said the Pledge of Allegiance to start the meeting.
First, they talked through, amended, and then approved the agenda. Revision of employee communicable disease policy guidelines was tabled until regular school resumed and the school nurse returned. Nordstrom requested that item F on the agenda, a discussion on Teaching Staff Contract Recommendations, be added until after the executive session and so they would also amend the executive session listed to be for both personnel and contract negotiations. The board approved.
Matt Schrank Named District Teacher of the Year
Matt has been teaching not only our students, but many adults as well this year."
Superintendent Guy Johnson
The board then recognized Matt Schrank as the Garretson School District teacher of the year.
“Matt has been teaching not only our students, but many adults as well this year,” said Supt. Johnson. “The nominations came in and Matt was simply the clear winner. Not only is he doing fun and exciting things in his classes, with thoughtful engagement with his students, and he and his students doing regular broadcasts on our school’s Alliance channel, but he has taught all of our staff how to use technology in new ways. And if you have a question, Mr. Schrank will answer it, in a timely manner too. I know he’s gotten midnight questions from students and staff and he’s responded. This E-learning transition we’re doing in the midst of this crisis would simply not have been possible without him.”
Next, Jacob Schweitzer, Business Manager gave reports on the 2019 Audit of the school and the food service RFP. The audit went well, the only notation is the “lack of controls” clause which is the same complaint small districts (i.e. the majority of SD Schools) with limited personnel get annually from their auditor. Schweitzer recommended that Quam, Berglin & Post, P.C. be rehired for the next fiscal year for this service and the board did so.
He then spoke about the RFP. Thrive Nutrition Service was closing its school lunch operations as of the end of this school year. After retooling the RFP that the previous school business manager, Emily Bucher, had prepared last year, it was ready for board approval and posting. Obviously, no one was happy that this had come to pass in the way it did, but Schweitzer and Johnson were hopeful the district would get at least three potential bidders for this RFP.
