ISD 2142 News: Nov. 25, 2010 : Q-Comp a reality for ISD 2142 and its teachers

Q-Comp a reality for ISD 2142 and its teachers
Article from the Cook News Herald:

Full Article Links Below:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=106326302567&topic=14622
http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html

Summary Highlights: 

Q-Comp, the process where teachers are rewarded for their accomplishments, became a reality for St. Louis County, ISD 2142 Schools after the regular board meeting Monday at 5 p.m. in the District Office in Virginia.Evaluation is a big part of this program. So far, only the International Falls and Proctor school districts in northeastern Minnesota use this program. It appears to be the wave of the future.

Study session coming up on Babbitt-Embarrass and Tower-Soudan remodels, Nov. 30, 2010 at 3:15 p.m.

Construction Manager John Henry gave his regular report on the new construction. Everything is under control, with walls going up for the new South School.

A long discussion came up next when it came to naming the Cherry School. The residents and students had voted 452 to 26 to keep it the Cherry Tigers. Apparently, the new South School has been voting on names and the name South Panthers was the big winner. There was talk of the new Babbitt-Embarrass-Tower-Soudan School changing their name to the Golden Knights. Finally, the vote was called for and the name change failed 4-2, so they will remain the Cherry Tigers.

Vermilion Country Charter School Application Denied

Article from the Cook News Herald, Nov. 18th, 2010 Link:  http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html____________________________________________________

Babbitt Blog Editor's Note: A copy of the Nov. 9th, 2010 letter and deficiencies sent is provided at the link below for review.

Vermilion Country School Affidavit Denial (PDF File)
Tower Charter School application shot down

Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Alice Seagren notified the Vermilion Country School proponents in a copy of a letter dated Nov. 9, 2010, that their affidavit for a Charter School was disapproved.

The letter was sent to Novation Education Opportunities (NEO), Bryan Rossi - Executive Director, Golden Valley, Minn. NEO would have chartered the new school. The letter is reprinted as follows:

Dear Mr. Rossi:

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) received documentation from Novation Education Opportunities (NEO) on October 25, 2010, in response to MDE's letter dated October 11, 2010, disapproving the New Charter School Affidavit (affidavit) for Vermilion Country School. As provided under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.10, subdivision 4(b), documentation submitted by NEO was reviewed. We regret to inform you that the affidavit for Vermilion Country School is not approved.

The documentation submitted by NEO provides a point-by-point response to the deficiencies identified in MDE's October 11, 2010, letter disapproving Vermilion Country School's affidavit. However, the information submitted falls short of evidencing that NEO followed the new school review and approval process presented in NEO's approved authorizer application.

Please see the attached document for MDE's final analysis of information submitted by NEO regarding Vermilion Country School's affidavit. The document is organized by deficiency, followed by an analysis of NEO's response to each deficiency and when applicable, suggestions for improvement are offered. NEO is encouraged to implement suggestions for improvement when facilitating future new school application review processes and submitting New Charter School Affidavits to MDE.

If you have questions regarding this letter, please contact Cindy Murphy at (651) 582-8217 or cindy.murphy@state.mn.us.

Sincerely,
Alice Seagren, Commissioner

Included with the letter were six deficiencies that NEO was to address. They sufficiently addressed two, but not the remaining three.

ISD #2142 District News - (HAK) Coalition receives another orderly dismissal.

STATE OF MINNESOTA OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

Steve Abrahamson and Tim Kotzian,Complainants,

vs.

The St. Louis County School District, Independent School District No. 2142,Bob Larson, Tom Beaudry, Darrell Bjerklie, Gary Rantala, Andrew Larson, Chet Larson, and Zelda Bruns, in theircapacity as School Board Members,
Respondents.

ORDER OF DISMISSAL: If you would like to read through the entire Order of Dismissal see the link below:

http://www.oah.state.mn.us/aljBase/032521677.primafacie.htm

Summary:
For all of these reasons, the Administrative Law Judge finds that the Complainants have failed to allege prima facie violations of Minn. Stat. §§ 211A.02, 211A.03, 211A.05, 211A.06, 211B.06 and 211B.15 on the part of the St. Louis County School District and/or its Board members.

The Complaint is dismissed in its entirety.

ISD #2142 School News - Conditional Use Permit Meeting Testimony Nov. 10th, 2010

Video Testimony Clips From The Meeting:

ISD #2142 School District News – Nov. 11th, 2010

ISD #2142 News – Nov. 11th, 2010

Conditional Use Permit Approved: (See News Release Below This Post)

Articles from the Cook News Herald
Link: http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html

Summary Highlights:
_____________________________________________________________

Regular board meeting Monday at 5 p.m. in the District Office in Virginia

Pre-Design meetings were held in Tower and Babbitt.
Board approved the canvassing of the school board election votes.
Grievance by Principal Kevin Abrahamson was up next. The board moved to deny it and it will now go to the attorney and possible arbitration.
Received a complaint from Tower Mayor Steve Abrahamson and Tower City Clerk Tim Kotzian over the Dec. 8, 2009, bond referendum.
____________________________________________________________
Summary Highlights:

Opposition to the new North School falling apart.

The "No" group, which seems to be led by the HAK Group (triad) in Tower is seeing its support falling apart.

The Orr City Council voted to drop out of supporting it and that leaves Tower on its own, plus some townships.

Group of Cook teachers and residents, led by Terry Kantola, hosted a meeting last Thursday at the Cook VFW for area business owners to get the facts from ISD 2142 Supt. Charles Rick and Business Manager Kim Johnson.
____________________________________________________________
Summary Highlights:

Discussion on JPB and CCS at Orr council meeting.

Keith Aho, chairman of the Joint Powers Board. He came to clarify a couple of issues discussed at the Oct. 26 special Orr council meeting.

Questions were answered and concerns resolved, the council chose to table until January any change of status.

News Release - ISD 2142 receives Conditional Use Permit from St. Louis County Planning Commission regarding the New North School

News Release

For additional information, contact Superintendent Charles Rick at 218/749-8130, ext. 1104

ISD 2142 receives Conditional Use Permit from St. Louis County

Planning Commission regarding the New North School

Virginia, Minn. (November 10, 2010) – Independent School District 2142 has received another important approval in the process of building a New North School in Field Township. The St. Louis County Planning Commission today voted 7-1 to grant a Conditional Use Permit. In October, the Planning Commission had also voted 7-1 to not require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the project.

“Today’s vote brings us one step closer to providing the students and families of the St. Louis County School District with the modern benefits of a new school on Olson Road,” said Charles Rick, superintendent of ISD 2142. “We thank the Planning Commission for its continued diligence in ensuring the school will not only be great for education, but for the environment as well.”

Rick said the district will in the near future request a variance from the St. Louis County Board of Adjustment regarding lot coverage. The date for that action is yet to be determined.

Additional information about ISD #2142, including site plans for the new schools, can be found at the district’s new website related to its strategic facilities plan:www.choose2142schools.com.

###

Independent School District 2142 is Minnesota’s largest school district geographically, encompassing just over 4,000 square miles of the St. Louis County. It currently serves more than 1,900 students at seven K-12 school buildings located at Orr, Cook, Tower-Soudan, Babbitt-Embarrass, Cherry, Cotton, and AlBrook. ISD 2142 employs nearly 400 teachers and support staff who make it their mission to offer every child the personal attention they need to realize their individual goals.

St. Louis County School North Parents agree, it is time to build our school and stop playing politics.

Audio Messages Below from the North school PTO.

St. Louis County North PTO - Message from Gretchen Janssen
http://www.frontiernet.net/~babbittcs/School%20District%202142%20%20Leader%20In%20Education/Cook%20Orr%20PTO%20Number%201%20Gretchen.mp3

St. Louis County North PTO - Message from Beth Hartway
http://www.frontiernet.net/~babbittcs/School%20District%202142%20%20Leader%20In%20Education/Cook%20Orr%20PTO%20Number%202%20Beth.mp3

ISD #2142 News: Nov. 4th, 2010 - Tower Led Community "Coalition" Faces Another Loss... Orr City Council Moves Forward

ISD #2142 News: November 4th, 2010 
Orr council votes to drop out of Joint Powers Board


Orr Mayor Dale Long:  "Individuals who feel a strong desire to pursue this legal action should seek a petition with their signatures on it and do what they feel is necessary without expecting the City of Orr to deal with the litigation that may follow."

Lack of Joint Powers Liability Insurance Cited For Liability Issues.
Article from the Cook News Herald: November 4, 2010.
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=27705&uid=68030627294http://www.cooknewsherald.com/page1.html

November 2, 2010 General Election Results

Minnesota Secretary Of State Website:
http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/