Cedar Mountain School Board considers football pairing with Sleepy Eye

By Johanna Jutz

The January Cedar Mountain School Board Meeting began with the annual organizational meeting where board member Sullivan was named as Chairman,  Mathiowetz as Vice Chairman, and Jemmings as Treasurer. 

Sullivan called the regular meeting to order. The board approved the consent agenda, including a  donation of flooring valued at $2,570 for the weight room from Fitness Revolution. 

Next on the agenda was a presentation from Knowledge Bowl Coach Doreen Tyler and a few student participants. This is the third year of Knowledge Bowl at Cedar Mountain and the program has really grown. There are currently three teams participating.  The teams have done well and the students have really enjoyed the competition and working as a team. 

Elementary Principal Patti Machart gave her report. Several exciting events are approaching in February, including “I Love to Read Month.” Machart reported that twelve students from Cedar Mountain in grades three through five attended the Young Author’s Conference at SMSU. Students attended writing sessions and heard from the lead speaker, famous songwriter Phil Baker. 

Finally, Machart reported on a series of presentations for parents, teachers, and students by the Children’s Advocacy Center called Safe and Strong which will focus on personal body safety. 

Middle/High School Principal Tammy Yackley reported that she and Ag teacher, Kelly Susa, visited Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted school to tour their Ag Department and sit in on a few classes Yackley said they had a lot of really great conversations about what Cedar Mountain’s Career and Technical (CTE) program could look like. Yackley and Susa are excited to expand the CTE classes at Cedar Mountain. 

On January 15, the sixth through eighth graders participated in the school’s first annual Spelling Bee. The winner of this event will advance to the Regional Spelling Bee in Redwood in February. There is also a Geography Bee coming up soon. These events were started in an effort to celebrate academics and provide more opportunities for students. 

In his report, Activities Director Jeremy Robinson noted that Sleepy Eye Public has expressed interest in discussing a possible football pairing with Cedar Mountain.  He also requested the approval to apply for the MSHSL Foundation Grant B in the areas of leadership, health/safety, and/or unique transportation needs.  

Administrative reports concluded with Superintendent Rob Brandl and a discussion about a plan to change procedure, starting in the 2020-2021 school year, regarding how seconds during lunch are served at the middle/high school. Currently, students are allowed to charge seconds to their account, regardless of their account balance. These charges have significantly contributed to the unpaid lunch balances at the end of the year. In an effort to reduce these negative balances that fall on the school, students will need to purchase second servings with cash. 

Brandl also reported on  potential advertising for area businesses and groups in the high school gym, which hosts dozens of public events every year. The proposed ads would be two-foot by two-foot custom made signs for $500 that would be displayed on the gymnasium wall. Final decisions on the fundraising plan and any changes can be approved when all of the fundraisers are approved for the 2020-21 school year. 

Next the Board approved the 2020-2021 School Year calendar and the 2020 Pay Equity Report.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2020 at 5:00 pm in Franklin.