BEA Community Ed director Shannon Swanson tells the BEA board members about the changes in the new facilities rental and usage policy.

The Blue Earth Area School Board had a special guest at their meeting on Monday, Sept. 9. State representative Bjorn Olson was there to give the board members an update on the recent legislation, as well as an explanation of the Ag2School tax credit.

That credit, Olson pointed out, will kick in if the School District’s referendum, to pay for a new K-6 school building, passes on Nov. 5.

“This will cover 70 percent of the farmers property tax portion of the cost of the new school building,” Olson said. “That translates into covering about half the total cost of the new building.”

Olson explained that there are no guarantees the 70 percent level will continue through the life of the bond, he has heard no reason why it would not.

Olson was asked if the amount of the credit, now at 70 percent, was reduced, would BEA be grandfathered in and able to keep it at 70 percent.

Olson said that would need to be written into any new changes to the current rules.

Also at the meeting, the School Board heard an enrollment report from superintendent Mandy Fletcher that had good news and which led to the decision to hire an additional teacher.

Fletcher said the projected enrollment numbers for this time of year had been 1,008. However, as of Monday, the number was 1,029.

“Most of the time these increases or decreases affect one grade more than others,” Fletcher told the board. “This time it is the kindergarten class that is most affected.”

Fletcher recommended to the board that the district look for an additional kindergarten teacher, and the board agreed.

“It will probably be difficult to find a teacher at this late date,” she said. “But we will try.”

In other business at the meeting, the BEA Board:

• Heard a report on scheduling use of the school facilities.

Community Ed director Shannon Swanson gave the board a report and update on a new Facility Rental and Usage Policy.

“More and more groups are renting the school’s facilities,” Swanson said. “They rent the gym, the PAC, the Commons and even the Media Center.”

She explained how the school’s regular activities take precedence and then other groups can rent the facilities.

“Our rental costs are quite low,” Swanson said. “Especially when compared to other districts.”

She went through the new policy and the rental costs with the board. Later in the meeting the board approved the new policy.

• Set the proposed preliminary levy at the maximum amount that will be allowed by the state. The board approved the maximum amount after hearing a preliminary budget report from Fiscal Services coordinator Alan Wilhelmi.

Wilhelmi explained that the numbers they received from the state do not cover everything that the district has planned.

“Last year our levy was around $3.4 million, and the state’s estimate for this year is $3.1 million,” Wilhelmi explained. “But there is $300,000 not in the state’s numbers that could be added in later.”

The actual budget and tax levy amount will be set in December.

• During a work session held before the regular meeting the board went over three areas which will be used to do the semi-annual and annual evaluation of superintendent Fletcher.

Those three areas are student engagement and feedback, facilities, and culture of cooperation.

The board plans to do an evaluation of the superintendent somewhere around November, then another full evaluation around the end of the school year.

• Approved the 2024 Literacy Plan, the 2024-2026 Master Agreement with the non-certified school employees, including bus drivers, paras, etc., and the LETRS PD Calendar.

• Approved many personnel changes, including a contract for Gary Gack as shop supervisor, resignations of paraprofessionals Nicole Wright and Lizette Leal, new hires of paraprofessionals Tyesha Harvey, Angelina Vega, Elizabeth Hoefs, Landon Lyons, Alexandria Lyons and Jasmyn Rosales, bus drivers Gary Gack and Dexter Preschel, van drivers Tim Anderson and Robin Stenzel, middle school science teacher Christine Hodges, and a leave of absence maternity leave for Kali Erichsrud.

• Heard information on BEA Homecoming coming up with coronation on Sept. 30 and parade and game on Oct. 4.