BEA staff member Brenda Smith gave an annual report on the Q-Comp performance at BEA Schools, during the School Board meeting on Monday, June 13.

Lately, bemoaning soaring fuel prices is a popular practice.

However, the sticker price on a single tank of gas pales in comparison to the cost of fueling a fleet of school buses.

Budgeting for rapidly inflating gas and diesel prices was a topic of discussion at a Blue Earth Area School Board meeting held on Monday, June 13.

Fiscal services coordinator Allan Wilhelmi noted rising gas and diesel prices have caused a 99 percent increase in those line items for the 2022-23 budget.

“The pain at the pump we all experience is much more dramatic for school districts because we buy a lot of gallons every year,”  Wilhelmi explained, adding the district’s fuel budget may need to increase even more if gas prices continue to rise.

He also noted the state of the general fund revenue, sharing it is down overall due to declining federal revenues. The fund currently sits at $14,501,992.

“As we look out into the future, we’ll be navigating through those federal revenues going away,” Wilhelmi concluded.

Following his presentation, the School Board voted to approve the original budget proposal for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The School Board also reviewed fuel bids from Kwik Trip and Shell for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Kwik Trip quoted $3.955 per gallon of gasoline and $4.855 per gallon of diesel, while Shell quoted $3.915 per gallon of gasoline and $4.975 per gallon of diesel.

“The district has been very happy with Kwik Trip,” superintendent Mandy Fletcher said, adding Kwik Trip’s pricing and customer service have been consistently satisfactory.

The board accepted Kwik Trip’s bid for fuel services for the 2022-23 school year.

In other business, the Blue Earth Area School Board: 

• Received the annual Q-Comp report from staff member Brenda Smith, who noted all district teachers, apart from two, were able to meet the performance components for achievement which are required of the Q-Comp process.

• Received an end-of-the-year report from Blue Earth Area High School principal Conan Shaffer, who said survey results show students feel high levels of safety and belonging at BEA schools. However, Shaffer added the district should continue to work on increasing levels of student achievement.

• Received a report from director of curriculum and instruction Allison Schmidt, who informed the board teacher training for the new math curriculum has been completed, and the curriculum is set to be implemented this fall.

• Received a report from workforce coordinator Emily Davis, who shared she plans to offer High Step Health Science Academy courses for students who wish to enter the healthcare field, small career exploration field trips and career shadowing next school year.

• Approved two new hires: ECFE teacher Julia Hanson and high school administrative assistant Crystal Smith.

• Approved the resignation of paraprofessional Stacy Cole.

• Approved the engagement of CliftonLarsonAllen, Certified Public Accountants, to perform audit services.

• Approved the valuation of other post-employment benefits under GASB 75 for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2022.

• Approved a resolution calling for the School District General Election to be held on Nov. 8, 2022 and establishing polling procedures.

• Approved a resolution establishing the dates for filing affidavits of candidacy for a School Board position.

• Approved the long-term facilities maintenance projections for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Projects will include the replacement of select doors and hardware, replacing the roof over the high school orchestra and choir rooms, replacing carpet in the high school’s east corridor and updating select fans.

• Approved a resolution reallocating general education revenue for the 2022-23 fiscal year from the building level to the district-wide level.

• Approved the district’s Crisis Management Plan, with the addition of a family-student reunification plan in the event of a crisis.

“The state of Minnesota saw a couple upticks in bomb threats,” Fletcher explained. “When events like that happen, it forces you to take a look at your own plan.” 

• Voted to retain ownership of a damaged 2004 Chevrolet pick-up instead of putting the vehicle up for sale. The district plans to repair the truck, which was damaged by an under-the-hood fire.

• Approved a $10,000 donation in ‘Milk Money’ from Kemps, which will go toward BEA’s athletic department. Fletcher suggested the funds could be used to update the scoreboard in the High School gymnasium.

• Approved an amount not to exceed $4,000 for fall and spring employee recognition events.

• Approved legal firms Kennedy Graven and Frundt, Lundquist & Gustafson as the district’s legal representation for the 2022-23 school year, and authorized the School Board Chair and Fletcher to contact legal counsel.

• Approved MSDLAF, Wells Fargo, First Bank Blue Earth and First Financial Bank, Winnebago as investment depositaries for the 2022-23 school year.

• Approved the School Board meeting dates for the 2022-23 school year, all of which will occur at the high school on the second Monday of the month, with the exception of a meeting scheduled on Oct. 3 this fall.

• Approved the district’s Minnesota State High School League membership for the 2022-23 school year.

• Approved the district’s Minnesota Rural Education Association membership for the 2022-23 school year.

• Authorized Wilhelmi and Karen Hougen for wire transfers and wire payments.

• Approved staff use of Walmart and HyVee charge cards for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

• Designated Fletcher as the identified official with the authority to authorize user access to the Minnesota Department of Education.