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The state legislature is proposing an Omnibus K-12 Education Bill that doesn't do much to improve North Branch schools' circumstances. Superintendent Dr. Deb Henton told her School Board the district will "see a bump in the basic aid formula" which lawmakers propose to hike $20 in per pupil funding for 2012-- but reductions in other areas are proposed. She said the "redistribution" of available pots of money outlined in the bill does little to help North Branch.

Lawmakers are also crafting new rules for tenure and seniority as they relate to public school teaching wages, layoffs, etc.

"We will need to pay attention," Henton stressed. The changes released so far will certainly generate more personnel paperwork and record-keeping. The idea of a mandated "pay freeze" for teachers statewide has been dropped, she reported.

Special education funding formula rates are proposed to decrease from 4.6 percent to 2 percent.

There's still time to weigh in with your local legislators on education funding, Supt. Henton added. The omnibus bill can be reviewed on the house.mn or senate.mn websites and there are e-mail contacts to local legislators.

The school board also took a look at questions that might be used in a levy survey the Board is investigating doing. The survey right now is 32 questions. The company putting it together will get the Board's suggestions and concerns about the proposed survey content and Henton will have the Board take another look before deciding to go forward. The Board is hoping to collect information in its deliberations on whether to offer another levy ballot question to residents.

The Board also applauded work done by some staff members on the special Q Comp program North Branch participates in. The legislature created Quality Compensation to reward districts monetarily, that can show enhanced staff training, academic achievements and other goals being met.

The staff recognized for their extra effort in addition to regular school duties included: Julie Cotton, Pam Hendricks, Jan Kozlovsky, Dona Yetter, Carolyn Slater.

The Board learned May 20 (tomorrow) is Community Service Day. You'll see students doing cleanup all over town, the first graders are going to The Villages, and middle schoolers are performing at Uptown Maple Commons.

Taher Dining got the nod for food service provider again. There were two bids submitted. The district is accepting bids for insurance for liability and property as the current carrier "dropped" the district after a couple of accidents, Supt. Henton announced.

Donations officially acknowledged included:

ERA Muske/Forest Lake gave a $250 scholarship donation; Pheasants Forever-Wyoming MN, $750; Students cooperating with North Branch Rotary generated $360 from the homeless sleepout event; North Branch Water & Light gave $300 and NB Lioness group gave $200, both to Community Ed for the summer concerts series. The Sunrise River School Principal also was presented with a new flag by Valerie Nelson, of VFW Auxiliary Post 6424 in North Branch.

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