New Athletic Facilities Highlighted at MACCRAY School Board Meeting

At the recent MACCRAY School Board meeting, the spotlight was on the completion and upcoming grand opening of the new athletic facilities, alongside discussions on summer activities, community involvement, and updates on various school programs.

The board members discussed the certificate of completion for the field turf installation, which allows the field to be used for activities despite ongoing track striping and dirt finishing work. Plans to engage local media for the grand opening event were also announced.

Additionally, the meeting covered a report on the summer activities program, which, despite weather-related challenges, was deemed successful. With nearly 900 experiences reported for children, the program included night baseball for grades three through eight, featuring seven teams, 15 coaches, and 87 players. A shortage of fields required sharing among teams, with notable difficulties at the JB field due to weeds. Tyler Reed received recognition for his volunteer work in preparing the fields, along with staff members who maintained the grounds for games.

The fall 2024 booklet was distributed, outlining programming from September through November. A youth football night is scheduled for September 20th, and first and second-grade flight football will be offered on Wednesdays after school. Other activities on the calendar include preschool screening on October 1 and community events such as a pumpkin patch party on October 26.

The community garden was another topic of interest, with ten gardeners participating this season. Issues with weeds and incidents of theft, including stolen cabbages, led to discussions about increased security measures. Potential solutions such as cameras and signage to deter trespassing were considered.

An upcoming performance by Looney Lutheran on October 5 was mentioned, with ticket sales benefiting the M Pack program. Other community events planned include a craft sale by Briggs Motley on November 2. The communications report highlighted a successful open house event on August 28, with most classrooms achieving 100% attendance. The building received positive feedback following summer maintenance, and enrollment figures showed a slight increase.

Homecoming events were anticipated, with coordination activities planned for the week. A new parade format, described as an Olympic-style event around the track, aimed to foster school spirit among students. The overarching theme emphasized student involvement and community building.

In a separate discussion, the board reviewed the insurance provider, the Minnesota Insurance Scholastic Trust, which evaluates school facilities for safety and code compliance. An example given was the identification of uncovered outlets in preschool and kindergarten classrooms that needed attention for safety reasons.

The back-to-school workshop featured speakers, including Kevin Honeycut and representatives from the Institute for Environmental Assessment, who addressed safety protocols and bloodborne pathogens. Sheriff D. Watson and deputies contributed to discussions on enhancing school safety, especially in light of recent incidents elsewhere. The board is encouraging staff members to wear identification badges to foster trust and recognition among students.

An update on teacher licensing within the district revealed classifications based on experience and educational background, with one tier one teacher, zero tier two teachers, 16 tier three teachers, and 52 tier four teachers. The classification system includes pathways for individuals who have not completed traditional student teaching. Discussions also touched on staff out-of-field teaching and recent legislative changes affecting education.

Concrete work has been completed at various locations, including the main entrance and the industrial arts area. The construction of an outdoor classroom is in progress, with a target completion date set for December.

The board moved on to business items, including a motion to certify the 2024 payable 2025 levy. Concerns were raised regarding the verification website, which had not launched yet, but clarification was given that the district typically opts for the maximum levy amount.

A resolution for an AED grant from the Minnesota State High School League Foundation was introduced, aimed at enhancing safety through the provision of automated external defibrillators. The grant application was outlined, including its purpose to support extracurricular activities and training opportunities. The board engaged in a roll call vote to express support for the application, noting that most teams already have access to AEDs, with cross country potentially benefiting from an additional unit for practices.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
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School Board Officials:
Julie Alsum, Deb Brandt, John Hagemeyer, Mark Kasella, Scott Ruiter, Carmel Thein

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