Special School Board meeting
Wednesday, December 16th, 2020
School Lunchroom
Meeting called to order by President Bradfield at 4.15pm
Roll Call: Members in attendance: Ted Lone-Fight, Sherry Turner-Lone Fight, Brad Sage and Kelly Bradfield
Absent Members: Rose Ann Johnson
Others: Tara Thomas, Abiodun Obidinma, Roberta Baker and Rosie White Owl
Adoption of the agenda
Lone Fight moved to adopt the agenda and Sage seconded.
Vote: Lone Fight, Turner-Lone Fight, Sage and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Advertisement of open positions
Thomas recommended re-opening the School Nurse position.
Lone Fight moved to advertise the School Nurse Position from December 17th to February 21st. Sage seconded.
Discussion: Bradfield advised Thomas to also advertise at local Colleges and Nursing programs.
Vote: Lone Fight, Turner-Lone Fight, Sage and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Hiring
Thomas recommended Applicant #3 for hire as a Network System Specialist/Assistant IT Director.
Lone Fight moved to hire Applicant #3 as a Network System Specialist/Assistant IT Director and Sage seconded.
Discussion: Thomas stated that all necessary checks will be conducted, and the new hire will be placed on the Supervisory Salary Schedule.
Vote: Lone Fight, Turner-Lone Fight, Sage and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
New hire is Keith Fredericks.
Tuition waiver for student out-of-district
Thomas presented the tuition waiver agreement for an out of district student.
Lone Fight moved to approve the tuition waiver agreement for the out of district student attending Mandaree school. Sage seconded.
Vote: Lone Fight, Turner-Lone Fight, Sage and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Discussion on release of pay checks early
Bradfield asked if pay day can be moved to December 23rd since it falls on Christmas holiday. Obidinma explained that employees will typically be paid on the 24th.
It was discussed and agreed that pay day will be moved to December 23rd.
Resignation of an At-will employee
Thomas presented the resignation letter from the Human Resource Director, Arden Boxer.
Lone Fight moved to accept the resignation of the Human Resource Director, Arden Boxer. Sage seconded.
Discussion. Vote: Lone Fight, Turner-Lone Fight, Sage and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Restructuring plan for the Human Resource position
Thomas asked to re-absorb the Human Resource position under the Business office. She explained that the duties were moved out of the Business office in 2017 and since there were numerous findings on the last independent audit of the HR department which risks district funding of about $4million, she thinks the duties should be moved back.
Bradfield stated that the findings on the audit report need to be corrected. She also re-iterated that the restructuring plan is to approve eliminating the HR position, dividing the duties and keeping Bluestone as an Adjudicator and monitor.
Bradfield entertained a motion for the Board to approve the Superintendent’s restructuring plan for Human Resources, that will include that the duties be shared amongst Business Office Staff and Superintendent; and be monitored by a Consultant.
Lone Fight made the motion and Sage seconded.
Discussion: Bradfield asked if additional duties would need to be addressed. Thomas stated that the duties will be part of the business office and split amongst staff like it was in the past, so there will be no additional compensation. Obidinma said this has been discussed with the Business Office staff.
Vote: Lone Fight, Turner-Lone Fight, Sage and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Adjournment
Lone Fight moved to adjourn the meeting at 4.40pm and Sage seconded.
Vote: Lone Fight, Turner-Lone Fight, Sage and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Signed by
Kelly Bradfield, Board President
Abiodun Obidinma, Business Manager
Regular School Board Meeting
Via Zoom
Wednesday, December 9th, 2020
Meeting called to order by Ted Lone Fight at 4.00pm
Roll call: Members in Attendance: Ted Lone Fight, Sherry Turner Lone Fight and Brad Sage
Absent Members: Rose Ann Johnson and Kelly Bradfield
Others: Tara Thomas, Abiodun Obidinma, Alfred Taylor, Arden Boxer, Chandler Worley, Katherine Turner, Suzanne Hall, Donovan Abbey, Roberta Baker, Candace Sherwood, Kyle Grady and Tescha Bailly
Adoption of the agenda
Sage moved to adopt the agenda and Turner-Lone Fight seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight and Lone Fight voted yes. Motion passed.
Approval of minutes
Sage moved to approve the minutes of December 3rd and Turner-Lone Fight seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight and Lone Fight voted yes. Motion passed.
(Kelly Bradfield joined the meeting at 4.07pm)
(Meeting turned over to President Bradfield at 4.07pm)
Lone Fight moved to approve the minutes of November 23rd and Sage seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Lone Fight moved to approve the minutes of November 18th and Sage seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Lone Fight moved to approve the minutes of the Regular School Board meeting held on November 12th and Sage seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Lone Fight moved to approve the minutes of the Special School Board meeting held on November 12th and Sage seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Lone Fight moved to approve the minutes of November 10th and Sage seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Approval of bills
Lone Fight moved to approve the bills in the amount of $67,782.55 and Sage seconded.
Discussion. Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
New School construction update
Bradfield requested that the Board President be given signature authority to sign change orders relating to the new school construction.
Turner-Lone Fight moved to allow the Board President have signature authority for change orders and Sage seconded.
Discussion. Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
(Breann Henderson joined the meeting at 4.20pm)
Henderson explained that there was discussion with the Athletic Director and Superintendent about having time clocks in the locker room. The cost to install it will be $15,500. The two options are to install the rough-ins which includes the electrical and conduits and purchase the time clock later; or use the $21,000 credit to get the time clock and rough-ins.
Lone Fight made a motion to go ahead and put the conduit and wiring in, and the actual time clocks to be purchased later. Sage seconded.
Discussion: The estimated cost is $8,200.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Henderson presented the two options for the Mandaree logo to be used on the gym floors.
Option 1: The Warrior’s face is white, and the flooring has a different color.
Option 2: The Warrior’s face has the same color as the floor.
Lone Fight moved to approve Option 1 as the Mandaree logo to be used on the gym floors and Turner-Lone Fight seconded.
Discussion: Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
It was discussed that John Mahoney will take the change order to the Tribal Council to get it approved.
(Breann Henderson left the meeting at 4.35pm.)
Thomas gave a presentation on the space analysis. She explained that the BIE did a space analysis, and they came up with about 69,000 sq. ft. but the whole project is close to 80,000 sq ft.
She went through the approved spaces and pointed out the classrooms and office spaces that have not been approved. She further explained that the BIE said if we can get additional CTE programs approved by the State, they will give us more square feet. So, she is trying to address the 10,000 sq. ft. discrepancy.
Attendance Drop Procedures-Informational
Thomas presented the updated Attendance Drop procedures.
The Board reviewed it.
No comments
Attendance make-up waiver
Thomas presented the Attendance make-up waiver due to COVID-19.
She explained that our handbook restricts how many days’ students can make up, so the waiver will give students an opportunity to make up some of their lost attendance. The waiver is a deviation from the school’s policy, so it needs Board approval.
The Board reviewed the waiver and corrections were suggested.
Sage moved to approve the Attendance make-up waiver due to COVID-19 with the corrections and Turner-Lone Fight seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Amendment of the Health and Safety Smart Restart plan.
Thomas presented the Addendum to the Health and Safety Smart Restart Plan. She pointed out the changes. She explained that the Committee reviewed the State guidelines and decided to stay with the 14-day quarantine.
Lone Fight moved to approve the Addendum to the Health and Safety Smart Restart plan and Sage seconded.
Discussion: Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Written Department Head Reports
High School-Alfred Taylor
Update on student seat time
Taylor presented the data on Instructional minutes sent to the BIE. He explained that the Elementary, Middle and High school will have enough seat time.
Elementary School-Gregory Sherwood
Title I- Tescha Bailly
Special Ed- Candace Sherwood
Information Technology- Roberta Baker
Human Resources-Arden Boxer
Turner-Lone Fight moved to advertise the Paraprofessional position starting on December 10th and closing on January 5th. Sage seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Boxer presented the revised Network System Specialist job description for approval. Baker pointed out the changes. The title, duties and experience requirements were changed.
Lone Fight moved to accept the revised Network System Specialist job description and Sage seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Sage moved to advertise the Music and Special Ed Teacher positions, opening on December 10th and closing on February 15th. Bradfield seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Kitchen- Chandler Worley
Facilities-Kyle Grady
Transportation-Johnny Bullard
Athletic Director-Donovan Abbey
Business Manager-Abiodun Obidinma
Superintendent-Tara Thomas
Thomas explained that she will be applying for CTE programs in order to get more square footage from the BIE for the new school. The CTE classes include: Information Technology, Facilities management, Culinary Arts, Business education, Building Trades, Welding tech 1&2, Agriculture and Auto tech 1&2. She will also be working on Perkins, which is the Federal program that funds CTE.
She further explained that Mr. Grady did a tour of United Tribe’s CTE programs and brought back good ideas including pictures and curriculum. There will also be a tour of New Town, Williston and Turtle Mountain.
Update on School Secretary position
Thomas explained that she is in discussion about the possibility of combining the Records Manager and School Secretary position. By not filling the School Secretary position, it will be a $24,000 cost savings this year.
Update on School Nurse position
Bradfield asked about applicants for the School Nurse position. Boxer said there have been no applicants.
Thomas asked where the jobs were posted. Boxer stated that she posted the jobs on the school’s website and NDCEL.
There was discussion about making sure jobs are being advertised on all the necessary platforms.
Adjournment
Lone Fight moved to adjourn the meeting at 6.28pm and Sage seconded.
Vote: Sage, Turner-Lone Fight, Lone Fight and Bradfield voted yes. Motion passed.
Signed by
Kelly Bradfield, Board President
Abiodun Obidinma, Business Manager
